This book is definitely a beginner's guide; as I was hoping for more variations on sauerkraut recipes, which was not included. It gives the basics and makes it look easy to do, which is encouraging. The author also includes recipes that can be made with the fermented products, including several baked items, which was surprising. Some of her recipes (including sauerkraut) call for Water Kefir, which I have never heard of before. She includes a recipe to make Water Kefir but it requires Kefir Grains, which she says can be ordered online. This is frustrating, especially if you want to make the recipe right away. Other than that, the pictures are lovely and the book is a good starting point.
It says "A Beginner's Guide" but also "Making Your Own". So it's puzzling that recipes are included for using items such as tempeh and fermented black beans while recommending that you buy them rather than make them. That doesn't make sense. I liked the book though and will make some of the recipes.
A straightforward introduction to making your own fermented foods, with pictures of the finished recipe and clear instructions. I'm surprised by how seemingly easy it is to make mead, honey wine and need to remember this book for its apple cider wine vinegar and cucumber pickles recipes.
While there were several fermented items I'm not interested in, this seemed a solid guide to the fermenting process. I hope to try some of the recipes before I have to return this book to the library.
A good book, however I was hoping for more science and background with the recipes which she did not provide. I also found it a little strange that on multiple recipes she advocated just buying the food instead of making the recipe that followed.
I was really excited when I got this book from my library, I love fermenting foods and I wanted to know more.
Overall this book wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I was expecting. From the title I was really expecting a book that laid out the science and technique of fermenting, as well as gave me some yummy handy recipes. And while there is an abundance of recipes in this book, there is little to no instructions in the art of fermenting. This book is not for beginner fermenters, though from the recipe collection it tries to be. This is a book for someone who already knows what they're doing.
So I was disappointed with this book, maybe other people would enjoy it more and find a use for the recipes. I personally didn't feel like any of them were that interesting. And in the end I gave this book 3 stars.
Discusses the basics of fermentation. A chapter begins with a form of fermented food or drink and follows with easy recipes. The ingredients are easy to find. Nothing in here that you'll have to search high and low for.