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Saturday, August 13, 2011

cookbook review: The Artisan Bread Machine by Judith Fertig


Author: Judith Fertig
Publisher: Robert Rose
Soft Cover: 317 Pages
Photos: yes

Chapters/Sections:  Using Your Bread Machine, Classic White Breads, Whole-Grain Breads, Flavored Breads, Sweet Breads, Sourdough and Slow-Rise Breads, Flatbreads and Pizzas, Savory Rolls, Sweet Rolls, Festive Breads, Gluten-Free Breads, The Artisan Bread Machine Pantry, Bread Machine Ingredients A-Z, Resources

Unique or Cool Features: A fabulous section at the beginning of the book entitled Using Your Bread Machine.  This is a comprehensive section on how to use your bread machine, no matter the model.  Fertig includes hands-on tips and information on "how-to's" like timing, temperature, size, measuring, scalding, adding ingredients to your bread machine, kneading in, topping, forming, and filling.  You will also find info on letting the dough rise, baking, cooling, glazing or icing as well as what to do if you forgot to add something.  There are tips on storage of the bread and cleaning your machine.  Plus, there is a handy chart on which cycle to use when.  In the back of the book are two more helpful sections, one being the Bread Machine Ingredients, A to Z and the other being a Resources page in which you can find websites and phone numbers for some bread machine manufacturers so that you may be able to locate that long-lost instruction manual...or have questions about discontinued models.

(a few of the many) Recipes Destined for my Kitchen:  Bolillos, Chipotle, Cilantro, and Pepper Jack Bread, Bacon, Green Onion and Blue Cheese Bread, Cheddar Beer Bread, Cheddar and Green Olive Bread, Brewhouse Bread, Orange-Caramel Sticky Buns, Almond-Filled Bear Claws, Pan de los Muertos, Sweet Applesauce Bread, Ciabattini, Iced Almond and Cherry Babka

My Thoughts/Review: Once upon a time I had this crazy notion in my head that using a bread machine was cheating, somehow.  That all changed one day last autumn.  I've come to think of my old, trusty bread machine as an indispensable tool in my kitchen.  I enjoy the fact that I don't dirty bowls, utensils, or my counter excessively.  I'm not exclusive, I mean...sometimes I just need to get my hands into some dough and feel the love...or sometimes I give my KitchenAid a chance at the fun...but I do love my bread machine.  This is the perfect book for those who either already love their bread machine, those who want to fall in love with their bread machine all over again, or those who are interested in using one for the first time.  There are so many types of recipes.  From ones that can be baked right in the machine to doughs that you let the machine mix, knead and rise for you before you turn them out and shape or form them yourself.  Many recipes have ingredient amounts for different size loaves (depending on the capacity of your machine or the size of the loaf you want to make).  I will be keeping this book close at hand and making the most of it.  A++.

Recipes I have already tried: 
Pan de Mie (Pullman Loaf) 
...yay, I finally bought a lid for my pullman pan!
Bacon, Green Onion, and Blue Cheese Bread

about the author:  Food/lifestyle writer and cookbook author, Judith Fertig, spends a lot of her time these days working life in a tiara - as one of the BBQ Queens. With co-author Karen Adler, she has written eight barbecue books, including 300 Big & Bold BBQ & Grilling Recipes and 200 Fast & Easy Artisan Breads: No-Knead, One Bowl. Fertig’s food and lifestyle writing has appeared in Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Vegetarian Times, Natural Awakenings, Better Homes & Gardens, Saveur, Country Living, Cooking Pleasures, Family Fun, Coastal Living, Southern Living, Family Fun, La Vie Claire, and Cooking Light. Judith's work has appeared internationally in Country Homes and Interiors (London), The New York Times, and The London Sunday Times.

Judith recently ended a six-year run as a columnist for the James Beard and Association of Food Journalists’ award-winning Kansas City Star newspaper. She has taught culinary classes throughout the country, does TV spots around North America, and her professional culinary training includes La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine in Paris, the Cordon Bleu in London, and a Ph.B. (Doctor of Barbecue Philosophy) from the prestigious, if fictitious, Greasehouse University. Judith is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, Slow Food, The Kansas City Barbeque Society, and IACP. She lives in Overland Park, KS

*I received a free copy of this book to review from the publisher.  All thoughts and opinions stated in this post are 100% mine.
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Would you like to comment?

  1. I don't have a bread machine but I know there is no smell much better then baking bread!

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  2. I have a bread machine and absolutely love it. In fact, I have dough for burger buns rising in it right now. I would definitely buy this book - looks great Heather!

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  3. I love my bread machine, but have thought about downsizing to the smaller version now that it's just me and my husband at home most of the time.

    Over the last year I have baked a fair amount of gluten-free breads, but I didn't realize that you could do so successfully in a bread machine. I want to check out this book for that reason alone. I'm so glad you reviewed this one :)

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  4. since I don't make bread, I don't consider a machine cheating. Of course, I don't own one...but my brother does! Maybe a should borrow that thing...

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  5. I do not own a bread Machine yet. It is on my wish list for sure!

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  6. I've owned a bread machine since they were first available. I haven't used it for a long time though. Maybe I need to lug it out!
    Here's My WC

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  7. Your breads look delicious - especially the one with bacon, green onion and blue cheese. What a great combination of ingredients. I like this author a lot. One of my favorite food books this year was her Heartland. She's a good writer with a great taste for the best in good food.

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  8. I am just like you -- I bake bread multiple ways using different tools/machines or my hands. This book sounds like winner for both experienced bakers and newbies. Oh and your photos are mouth-watering!

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  9. Excellent looking book, I love making bread and this looks great!
    Karen

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  10. I don't have much interest in baking bread, but if I did i would have to get this book. That bacon, green onion blue cheese bread wouldn't last long here. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. I love my bread machine and am always looking for new recipes. This book sounds so interesting, I love the varieties of bread that you mentioned.

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  12. Bread baker that I am not, perhaps it is high time I invest in a bread machine. (especially since I know now that it is not cheating:) Perhaps, if I gain some confidence using the machine, I will graduate to hands on bread baking (I can still dream)

    Thank you so much for this review Heather. A few more nudges, and I think I will be there. The weather cooling will probably help too:) I will certainly check this book out since I am sure it also includes bread machine recipes.

    Thanks for sharing...That Bacon, Green Onion, and Blue Cheese Bread looks awesome!!!

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  13. I have been craving Monkey Bread -- of all things -- for weeks. This really makes me want to bake some, even without a machine.

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  14. I love baking bread - mostly only when it comes out right :) That monkey bread is beautiful!

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  15. I love my bread machine, so I bought this book a while back. I've only made bagels from it so far, but I'm ready to try out some more! All of yours look delicious! I really wish I had a slice of that Monkey Bread for breakfast...

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  16. Thank you for this! We have a bread machine and love it.

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  17. Since I am so lazy about making bread, I should buy a machine. Of course then I would eat the bread...
    ;-) It looks like a great resource.

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  18. Thanks so much I missed your review; we were away for a week. I use and love my bread machine all the time but prefer to bake in teh oven. Ordring this one for sure.
    Rita

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  19. My son gave me this book for my birthday. While researching about this book, your post came up; you wrote everything I could have said. Can I include a Hyperlink to your blog  when I post my next bread recipe.
    Rita

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  20. Yes Rita, I do not mind. =)  I'm glad we were on the same wavelength w/ this one! =)

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