The National Trust Book of Pies By Linda Collister

3 April , 2025 by Hannah ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Whether you’re in the mood for a comforting classic – Shepherd’s Pie; Cheese and Onion Pie; Apple Pie – or something a little more surprising – Chicken and Tarragon Pot Pie; Spinach, Goat’s Cheese and Walnut Suisses; Pear, Hazelnut and Cardamom Cream Pie – these tried and tested recipes will have everyone coming back for more.

With tips on making the perfect pastry every time (as well as advice on using the ready-made variety), these mouthwatering pies are easy to eat and a joy to create. Sumptuous fillings, which can be as simple as fresh fruit with a sprinkling of sugar or some tasty cheese with slow-cooked onions, make all these recipes guaranteed crowd pleasers.

My Thoughts:

If you love a pie and want the recipes for some delicious sounding pies, this is the book for you. When I say I was salivating just reading through the different recipes and there are 55 of them, from savoury to sweet, I literally cannot wait to make to be honest with you most of them. Some of the recipes I have made before like shepherds pie and apple pie and I love cooking so this has given me something fun to try. I cannot wait to try the puff mince pies at Christmas time. I like this book as it has so many different recipes to try, it is an easy step by step guide on how to make the pie and the hand drawn pictures give it such a homely feel. Just something homemade can make such a difference to yourself or a loved one. It is a must have item for any cook in their kitchen. It has given me a boost to start baking again.

I received this ARC copy for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

The Parisian Christmas Bake Off By Jenny Oliver

30 January , 201630 January , 2016 by Hannah ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

jenny oliver

Welcome to the most celebrated patisserie competition in Paris – ready, steady, bake!

Watching snowflakes settle on the Eiffel Tower, Rachel Smithson’s cosy English village feels very far way – as, thankfully, does her commitment-phobic ex, probably already kissing someone else under the mistletoe. But Rachel hasn’t come to Paris to mope she’s come to bake. Hard.

Because the search for Paris’s next patisserie apprentice is about to begin! And super-chef judge Henri Salernes is an infamously tough cookie. But Rachel isn’t about to let her confidence (or pastry) crumble. She’s got one week, mounds of melt-in-the-mouth macaroons and towers of perfect profiteroles to prove that she really is a star baker.

As well as clouds of flour, and wafts of chocolate and cinnamon, there’s definitely a touch of Christmas magic in the air… Rachel hasn’t come to Paris looking for a fairy-tale romance, but the city of love might gift-wrap her one anyway…

My Thoughts:

I was given this book as a swap, I liked the look of it and it looked like a nice easy read which it was. Yes, I know Christmas has been and gone, I know some people will only read books about or related to Christmas at Christmas time but I really don’t mind reading them whenever. This was such a lovely little read, I had to read something quick inbetween review books so it kind of broke it up for me. I loved reading about all the cakes and bakes the competitors were making. There are also some recipes at the back of this book, which is nice. I may even try and make some myself.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Parisian-Christmas-Bake-Off/

The Art of Baking Blind By Sarah Vaughan

12 June , 201512 June , 2015 by Hannah ♥ 1 Comment

This title will be released on August 13, 2015.

There are many reasons to bake: to feed; to create; to impress; to nourish; to define ourselves; and, sometimes, it has to be said, to perfect. But often we bake to fill a hunger that would be better filled by a simple gesture from a dear one. We bake to love and be loved.

In 1966, Kathleen Eaden, cookery writer and wife of a supermarket magnate, published The Art of Baking, her guide to nurturing a family by creating the most exquisite pastries, biscuits and cakes.

Now, five amateur bakers are competing to become the New Mrs Eaden. There’s Jenny, facing an empty nest now her family has flown; Claire, who has sacrificed her dreams for her daughter; Mike, trying to parent his two kids after his wife’s death; Vicki, who has dropped everything to be at home with her baby boy; and Karen, perfect Karen, who knows what it’s like to have nothing and is determined her façade shouldn’t slip.

As unlikely alliances are forged and secrets rise to the surface, making the choicest choux bun seems the least of the contestants’ problems. For they will learn – as Mrs Eaden did before them – that while perfection is possible in the kitchen, it’s very much harder in life.

My Thoughts:

Thank you to lovereading for sending me an advanced copy of this book. I love any books that involve food so this was a definite must read for me. There are five main characters (or should I say bakers) in this story including Mrs Eaden, I thought it was clever of Sarah to entwine Mrs Eaden’s story in to the five bakers stories. Mrs Eaden’s story is very sad and tears may be shed as she touches on a particularly fragile subject, but I won’t go into any more detail as I don’t want to spoil it for those of you that haven’t yet read the book. I found relating myself to some of the other baker’s stories. I got particularly hungry reading about all the cake, bread, pies and pastry making and I had to go and find a biscuit. I love baking so I really found this book enjoyable.

If you would like to have a look at lovereading’s website, please click on the link below:

http://www.lovereading.co.uk/

If you would like to purchase the book once it has been released, please click on the link below:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Baking-Blind-Sarah-Vaughan/

The Sweetest Thing By Cathy Woodman

15 March , 2015 by Hannah ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

If only everything in life was as simple as baking a cake…

Jennie Copeland thought she knew the recipe for a happy life: marriage to her university sweetheart, a nice house in the suburbs and three beautiful children. But when her husband leaves her, she is forced to find a different recipe. And she thinks she’s found just what she needs: a ramshackle house on the outskirts of the beautiful Talyton St George, a new cake-baking business, a dog, a horse, chickens…

But life in the country is not quite as idyllic as she’d hoped, and Jennie can’t help wondering whether neighbouring farmer Guy Barnes was right when he told her she wouldn’t last the year.

Or perhaps the problem is that she’s missing one vital ingredient to make her new life a success. Could Guy be the person to provide it?

My Thoughts:

Love, Love, Love this book so much. This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone novel, which is what I have done but now want to read the series. I have read one of Cathy’s books before and fell in love with the style of writing and also they way it is just a nice, calming read. I love the fact that Jennie is a baker and makes all of these amazing cakes, I really felt like I knew her and what struggles she went through day to day. Cathy has a brilliant knowledge about farm animals, which was an added bonus. Look forward to reviewing her other books.