Anna Olson - Bake with Anna Olson: More than 125 Simple, Scrumptious and Sensational Recipes to Make You a Better Baker

Id like to ask you a little question: Do you like to bake?

Y ou may have thought I was going to ask you something like Do you like desserts? or Do you love breaking into a crusty, warm loaf of fresh bread? But the most important question is, simply, Do you like to bake? because the answer is so important. Success stems from that simple Yes.

Perhaps youre a seasoned baker, or maybe youve only ever dabbled in baking, having played with just a few recipes, or perhaps you consider yourself an intermediate baker and are feeling ready to expand your baking repertoire. Whatever your baking experience and skill level, I have some great new recipes for you to try in this book!

The art of baking is not about the end result (okay, maybe it is, just a little bit), but about the journeythe process of taking relatively basic ingredients and transforming them into something wonderful. We should all have some activity that makes us happy and fulfills us (or even distracts us) when we need it. Some people play golf as a hobby, others garden. But bakers know that its about more than having an enjoyable pastime. Baking is about sharing: we bake not just for ourselves, but also for others. That act of sharing is an important part of the experience, and can even be the key motivator sometimes. And lets not ignore the personal sense of satisfaction you get when youve mastered a new recipe or technique, because baking is also about learning.

This book will allow you to find recipes by flavour and type, but you can also treat it a little like a textbook, seeking out recipes according to their required skill levelwhether that means sticking to a level that youre comfortable with, or aiming for a level that might challenge you, allowing you to improve your baking skills and so become a better, more confident baker.

In a nutshell, your baking success will come from practice. You will continue to learn as you try new recipes and will improve your techniques by remaking your favourites. But ultimately, it is the sharing that will be your motivationif youre in doubt about picking up your baking apron, just think of the smiles and nods of appreciation for your efforts that await you!

So, in answer to the little question I asked you before, I dearly hope the answer is Yes! And now, lets bake together!

Anna