Great British Bakes: Forgotten Treasures for Modern Bakers

by Mary-Anne Boermans, Sue Perkins (Foreword)

Simple recipes for cakes, biscuits, pies, puddings, and desserts that celebrate Britain's glorious baking heritage, from Great British Bake Off favorite, Mary-Anne Boermans  Food writer and baker extraordinaire Mary-Anne Boermans has delved into the UK’s fine baking history to rediscover the long-forgotten recipes of our past. These are recipes that fill a cook with confidence, honed and perfected over centuries and lovingly adapted for use in 21st-century kitchens. Here you will find such tempting delights as Welsh Honey Cake, Lace Meringues, Rich Orange Tart, Butter Buns, Pearl Biscuits, and Chocolate Meringue Pie. They are triple-tested recipes that do not rely on processed, pre-packaged ingredients, and they are all delicious. And Mary-Anne reveals the stories behind the bakes, with tales of escaped princes, hungry politicians, and royal days out to sample the delicacies of Britain’s historic bakeries. This very special collection sits confidently among the best of British cookery writing, with recipes that have stood the test of time and that will both surprise and delight for years to come. With a foreword by Great British Bakes and Supersizers Go... presenter, Sue Perkins, this book is perfect for fans of Great British Bake Off , Victorian/Edwardian Farm ; Supersizers Go , and readers of Mary Berry, Clarissa Dickson Wright, and Rose Prince. Also included is fascinating new research into the history of Chelsea buns, the date of the first doughnuts, and more.

Genres: Cookbooks, History, Food, Food and Drink, Nonfiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 2013

Reviews

[JennaL · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best cookbooks, by far, I've bought in the past year or more. If you enjoy the background and history behind a recipe as much as the actual nuts and bolts, this is well worth getting your hands on. (And I say that as someone who paid for overseas shipping because I couldn't find it here in the States!) Each recipe has been rigorously research with an academics scholarly zeal, with allowances made for modern tastes and grocery store availability. Written by an author with a seriously deft hand at story telling (any writer who can capture both intelligence AND nearly the 'voice' of Pratchett's Nanny Ogg is my kind of writer!) as well as huge wallops of talent in the kitchen. The author, at least in my view, really should have won her season of The Great British Bake Off, and the book illustrates why. Innovated flavors and ideas, all perfectly married to the history of each recipe.

Even better, while this cookbook is in no way a 'gluten-free' cookbook, because it is written in the far more sensible weight based approach of the UK instead of the incredibly frustratingly more common volume method of American cookbooks, they have been a complete doddle to rework for the sake of my celiac damaged system. Every recipe I've tried has been a rousing success, and even better, every single recipe is something I want to take a crack at at least once.

This is a cookbook that in addition to the cooking it inspires, the writing and storytelling that goes hand and hand with the ingredient list and how-to makes this just as much a 'curl up on the sofa with a mug of tea for a long lazy evening of reading' bit of brilliance. It's a book you want to buy more than a single copy of - one for day to day cooking and at least one more to keep splash and stain free for 'good'. It's also a book I'll give to friends - partially to share the goodies, but also in an attempt to ensure my own copies don't go walkabout by overeager 'borrowers'.

Beyond anything else, this simply can't be Mary-Anne Boermans only foray into writing. She is too talented for this to be her one and final creation. And even if I have to keep paying the large overseas shipping fees, I'll do so happily as long as she keeps writing them. If you aren't 100% sure if this book is your cup of tea, she has an equally brilliant blog, Time To Cook Online, (http://timetocookonline.com/) to check out before ordering the book.

Great recipes, great trivia, great writing, and a lovely and light humorous 'voice make this a pretty perfect book all round.

[Kayli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This chunky guide to historical British baking is a must for anyone who loves vintage and/or British baking! Mary-Anne Boermans is a Great British Bake Off alumnae (season 2 - 2011) and spent time researching, compiling and testing out historic recipes from as early as the Tudors, possibly even earlier but I can't remember. Technically I only read the history bits since she incorporates a little about the baker behind the bake, context to the period and just general facts. I did skim the recipes I was particularly interested in and tabbed the ones I want to actually try. There is also a helpful tips and tricks section in the front where she discusses ingredients and Baker's notes. I loved reading this book when I was feeling slumpy and Mary-Anne has that warm, caring British Nan vibe. You know, the one who thinks tea solves everything and is just a little too obsessed with Chelsea Buns? Though I now know much more than I will ever need to know about Chelsea Buns. I gave this book four out of five stars - we only lost a star because some parts were too long winded.

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, for a while.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best cookbook I have read in a long time