August 5, 2013
For bakers with tiny urban kitchens who are short on time, or simply have an aversion to a sink full of dishes, Ruperti’s title is the ideal guide. Broken down by baked good—including muffins and scones, cookies, cupcakes, and party cakes—the book walks readers through more than 100 scratch-baking recipes that require only one—yes, one—bowl, with the majority of prebaking done in less than 15 minutes. Decadent, company-worthy selections that are designed to impress (and that suggest hours of work in the kitchen) include a chocolate tart with sea salt, sour cherry almond clafouti, and individual molten lava cakes. Muffins go beyond the basic blueberry or corn with recipes such as buttermilk cake-donut muffins, and peaches and cream streusel muffins. Headnotes include mini-memoir moments, ranging from the author’s high school days and waitressing days to her experiences as a pastry chef, personalizing this delightful, well-designed and well-photographed title. Agent: Judy Linden, Stonesong.
October 15, 2013
When you're craving sweets, not dirty dishes, turn to Ruperti's new collection of recipes for baked goods prepared in a single mixing bowl. Simpler and more visually appealing than Nicole Rees's Baking Unplugged, this book includes several recipes mixed directly in the pan in which they're baked and charming "tiny cakes" perfect for small parties. Oatmeal raisin scones and classic chocolate chip cookies aren't the best you'll ever eat, but they're so convenient, you'll hardly notice. Ruperti (The Complete Idiot's Guide to Easy Artisan Bread), who previously worked for the television show America's Test Kitchen, recommends a digital scale for accuracy. VERDICT Highly recommended for weeknight and last-minute baking, especially for readers with small, unequipped kitchens.
Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.