The Weekend Baker: Irresistible Recipes, Simple Techniques, and Stress-Free Strategies for Busy People

I'm a cookbook junkie on a short bookshelf leash so when I found out about this book, I checked it out of my library before I grabbed my checkbook just in case I was being lead astray by another pretty cover. Boy, did I underestimate this book! If you have an interest in baking, buy this book, buy it now, buy it for baking friends! I did. It looks like a simple list of recipes that you probably already have in any number of other baking books, and really it is, but what makes this book so useful is that it's like all the best recipes in those books are condensed into one easy to read, easy to follow and easy to grab reference. It saves me time not because of any earth-shattering shortcuts, but because I don't have to sift through 10 baking books to find a recipe I want to make or spend time figuring out how I can spread out the recipe over time -- that's already done. And the author is fabulously reassuring that yes, you can do this if you have a few minutes, and yes, it will be worth it! My only complaint: an index of recipes at the start of the three main chapters would make finding a particular recipe even quicker. Currently, I have to mark them with post-it flags, making my book look like it's eating a tibetan prayer flag. Thanks for putting the fun back in baking!!

I love to bake but I prefer recipes that aren't very complicated (a little challenge is fine) and that contain common ingredients so I'm not running around the grocery store trying to find this one item no one has ever heard of. This cookbook has met my requirements! She has it divided into three sections: the first being quick desserts to whip up for unexpected parties, guests, etc., the second being recipes that you can prepare parts of ahead of time (which she also shows you how to do that with other recipes in other chapters), and the last section are recipes that require a little more time. At the beginning of the book she lists common cooking tools and ingredients that you might want to stock your cabinets with. I have made the mini elephant ears which were eaten quickly and this week I am trying the chocolate chip cookies. I love how she explains the baking process in the recipes and I couldn't be happier with this book!

The author's vast experience with baking comes through in this family-friendly treasure chest of recipes. She provides very useful guidelines for home baking in her chapter introductions and encouraging anecdotes and advice in her head notes. Each recipe starts with do-ahead steps, which are great for those of us whose schedules require that we bake in time installments. Let your dough rise in the fridge overnight! It will be perky and ready to shape into bread in the morning! We made the Buttery Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls for Thanksgiving, and everyone raved. The dough for the rolls was some of the easiest I've ever worked with. It was fun for the kids to see how successful dough is supposed to look and feel at each step. (Note: If you make the rolls plain rather than using one of the suggested herb or cheese flavorings, add an extra pinch of salt.) We also made the Velvety Pumpkin Tart. It's richness is balanced by the (easy!) gingersnap crust. We made it in stages starting 2 days ahead of Thanksgiving, following the do-ahead steps. Very convenient! We have a list of six more recipes we're dying to try, including Brandy Snaps, Three-Bite Whoopie Pies, and Pumpkin Half-Moon Pie Pockets. Large type makes the book easy to read, and wide margins left me room to write notes for the next time. Thanks, Abby!

After taking a long haitus from baking because of a busy work schedule, I suddenly found myself with a long-term houseguest who has a decided sweet-tooth, and this book has been a godsend! I have been baking cookies and brownies and cakes galore, to rave reviews: my husband and our guest have declared me a bloody genius! Everything I've tried has come out exactly as promised. Abigail Dodge's reassuring, conversational style is so refreshing, and she made me realize that I don't need huge blocks of time and a bunch of gadgets to get great results. I actually like to bake again. Thank you, Abigail!