New England Farmgirl, by Jessica Robinson, Gibbs Smith Publishers, 192 pages, $40.
Farm fresh.
Those words bring images of bowls filled with fresh picked berries, bright orange carrots just pulled from the ground, chickens running free while cows graze in the background. These are the real scenes of Jessica Robinson's youth.
In the foreword for her book New England Farmgirl, Robinson explains her background of growing up on a New England farm and how that influenced her. Her passion for organic foods is clear in all she says and is the foundation for the recipes she shares.
Drawing on locally grown foods and traditional family baking, Robinson presents a variety of recipes that are inclined toward the sweet comfort food but still includes many hearty meals, such as Pop's Baked Beans and Herb-roasted Chicken.
Bread, by Dean Brettschneider, Jacqui Small LLP, 208 pages, $43.99 Bread might be considered a basic food to many but to baker Dean Brettschneider it is his passion. The feel of the dough, precisely measuring ingredients, knowing how to shape it, how long to bake it, and knowing when it is done are just part of his process of creating fabulous bread.
Flour, salt, yeast and water are the foundation for all breads, but like any creation how you build on that will determine how great the resulting product will be. With a look at the importance of each aspect of bread making, Brettschneider gives a detailed explanation of not only how to bake great bread but also why it works.
Chapters on equipment, ingredients, measurements and temperatures, all work together to complement the many recipes. The book includes step-by-step instructions combined with photographs explaining many of the necessary procedures.
Drawing from his experiences around the world, Brettschneider provides a huge assortment of recipes. From traditional sourdough to Christmas Stollen, he offers something for all tastes. Detailed recipes include options for variations and are all accompanied by colour photographs of the finished product.
