The Practical Baker And Confectioner S Assistant

From the PREFACE. IT is with more than ordinary pleasure that I write the few words asked from me by Mr. Blandy as a preface to the Fourth Edition of the "Bakers' and Confectioners' Guide." The circumstances under which this edition is called for and published are unique, and reflect the greatest credit on Mr. Blandy. That a trade in which reading and study is so little respected should have already bought up three editions is a circumstance in itself remarkable enough, but it is more than remarkable when the text is studied. Mr. Blandy does not spare his trade, but talks out straight, and points out without flinching the sins and shortcomings to which it is addicted. I cannot agree with all the strictures set forth in the "Bakers' Guide," or subscrible to all the modes of reform the author suggests, but I can bear witness to the integrity and honesty of his opinions, and to the unselfish enthusiasm with which he has pursued the good and great work of reforming and educating the baking trade. He knows, as all reformers know, what it is to have his work disparaged and his motives misconstrued, but he troubles not, keeping his face well set to the work before him, and going heroically forward. He acts up to his ideal: "It is of no consequence whether the outside world says ' successful' to you or not; your concern is to get the 'well done' at the finish of the journey from the man inside your own breast." It is not a worldly-wise ideal this, it is rather heroic; but it is men with such ideals who do the pioneer work of the world, although the credit does not always turn their way. The original edition of the "Bakers' Guide," published in 1882, was not the first book published for bakers, but there had been nothing of the kind issued for about thirty years before the "Guide " appeared, and the older works were either forgotten or obsolete, and were only interesting as ancient literature. In each subsequent edition-and I have read them carefully-some new matter and new feature has been added; but the present edition-of which I have had the privilege of reading the proof sheets-is quite a vade mecum for the baker and confectioner, whether he is old or young, master or man. If I have a preference for the "literary" part of the work-those little paragraph sermons which Mr. Blandy can write so ingeniously and so forcibly-it may be because of a personal predilection of mine, but it is also because there is wisdom and wit in them, and because where they are not directly instructive, they are always stimulating and provocative of thought. Mr. Blandy is original in the sense that his individuality predominates in all he does and all he writes; he cannot, even if he tries, think of, write, or speak as the ordinary man, so that his literary work, however one may disagree with its purport, is always refreshing and always instructive. Since the last edition of this book was published the author has had the important experience of successfully teaching for several sessions a large class of bakers-workers, managers, and masters-at the Borough Polytechnic, London, and the result of his experience, or part of it, is now incorporated in the new edition of " The Guide." He has learned that bakers don't care about long arrays of figures and compound technical terms, and he has tried, and tried successfully, to teach technics in language as plain as possible. But as knowledge of technical terms is absolutely necessary to the student, all that are essential and some more have been incorporated in "The Guide," in dictionary form, for ready reference. The multitude of recipes given are useful to those in search of variety, or to those so situated that they must be their own instructors : to such this book will be a real guide. I could wish for nothing better for the baking and confectionery trades than that every young man would carefully peruse this new edition of the "Bakers' Guide," in itself it is a liberal education....

Including a large number of recipes for a wide variety of breads, cakes, biscuits and confectionery together with remarks on the art of breadmaking and chemistry as applied to breadmaking, written by a practical baker, confectioner and pastrycook. First published in 1888 and reprinted from the second edition of 1890 with additional recipes.

“Packed with joyful food writing, each recipe complemented by its history and stunning photography.” —Appetite Magazine With over one hundred iconic recipes, The British Baking Book tells the wonderfully evocative story of baking in Britain—and how this internationally cherished tradition has evolved from its rich heritage to today’s immense popularity of The Great British Bake Off. With lavish imagery and evocative narrative, the expert-baker author details the landscape, history, ingenuity, and legends—and show-stopping recipes—that have made British baking a worldwide phenomenon. From cakes, biscuits, and buns to custards, tarts, and pies, authentic recipes for Britain’s spectacular sweet and savory baked goods are included here—like pink-frosted Tottenham cake, jam-layered Victoria sandwich cake, quintessential tea loaf, sweet lamb pie, Yorkshire curd tart, and more. Illustrating the story of how British baking evolved throughout the country, many of the recipes have a sense-of-place heritage like Dorset apple cake, Whitby lemon buns, Cornish cake, Grasmere gingerbread, and Scottish oatcakes. Evocative and fascinating, this cookbook offers a guided tour of Britain’s best baking. “From the iconic Chelsea bun to the substantial Staffordshire oatcake, the bakes she highlights in the book epitomize comfort and reassurance.” —National Post