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Unclefay
Posts: 155
Cake book?
September 2010
Hi everyone!
I am looking to buy a decent cake book. Not cup cakes but larger cakes suitable as an adult's birthday cake. A bit pretty and fancy, not just a boiled fruit cake. I guess I'm looking for cake decor rather than an actual recipe, but I don't want a cake decorating book with royal icing and fondant like wedding cakes. I have some of that sort already.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
jackicam
Posts: 225
Cake book?
September 2010
I've been referring to Rose Levy Beranbaum's "The Cake Bible" for a few years now. It's not exactly a picture book though there is a pictorial section with a selection of yummy looking cakes featured in the book. I love this book because it's technical - in an easily explained way and has quite a lot of cake, icing, and filling recipes. I got the Blue Ribbon Cookbook by the way - what a great book! And it's a great read as well.
Unclefay
Posts: 155
Cake book?
October 2010
Yes, I have Rose Levy Berenbaum's "The Bread Bible". It is also quite technical and often refers to flours we can't get here, which makes it a bit frustrating. I haven't seen it on the shelves in the book stores I've visited, but will try one of the others. Any excuse to wander through the cookbook section!
jackicam
Posts: 225
Cake book?
October 2010
Lol! I found a bookshop in Sydney that just sells cookbooks - my eyes popped out and my heart nearly stopped....then I got into big trouble with my husband when the credit card bill came.
Jeff
Posts: 602
Cake book?
October 2010
Unclefay, you might find some of those flours here. http://www.basicingredients.com.au/catalog/
It's not the easiest site to navigate but they do have quite an extensive range of flours and baking related items.
Unclefay
Posts: 155
Cake book?
October 2010
Thanks Jeff, I am already a member of Basic Ingredients and have bought pure rye meal flour from them before to make proper dark rye.
Rose Levy-Berenbaum cites BRANDS of flour in her bread recipes. eg "Use only King Arthur, Gold Medal or Pillsbury". Even looking at USA foods site these aren't available. Not that I'm that bothered. I reckon we make pretty good flour here in Australia and am happy to use what I can get at the supermarket or bread making supplies store.
Jeff
Posts: 602
Cake book?
October 2010
Oh, I see what you mean, at least now we can get "cake" flour here as well as plain and self raising, I would think that our flour is better than theirs and not GM either!
Charlie15
Posts: 217
Cake book?
November 2010
Hi Fay! How are you my friend?
I don't know any cake cookbooks. But I do have a chocolate cake that is nice looking and comes from The Pastry Queen. I would love to share it.
Also try www.tasteofhome.com they have great recipes here for everything and a picture for almost any recipe. There are different forums. The main one I go on are Kitchen Chat or Recipes. Just ask and ye shall find. On Kitchen Chat tell them CharlesR_female sent you.
Hope to talk again soon.
When it comes to flours...don't worry about the name brand just the type.
Jeff
Posts: 602
Cake book?
November 2010
Charlie, even the "types" have different names here. For example our Plain Flour, is your All Purpose Flour, our Self Raising Flour is your Self Rising Flour etc. etc., so it can make recipe conversion a little tricky sometimes.
Charlie15
Posts: 217
Cake book?
November 2010
Yes I see. Our types have different names also.
I like at times to mix my flours, part this and part that.
I make a good lassy bread and have taken some of the white flour out and put in brown, just to give the bread some colour. Also helps in taste.
