The say that cooking is art and baking is science and because of that I have always steered clear of baking. When I cook I prefer to never follow recipes, instead to learn about the concept and basic structure of a dish and then prepare my own unique version. There are very few rules to cooking, and the few that do exist can easily be broken with good results. On the other hand, baking always seemed ridged and formulaic to me. Deviations from a basic recipe can quickly lead to a disaster. At one point I searched for the basic rules of baking, but never finding them I removed baking from my normal pursuits. That is until I was given a copy of Alton Brown’s book I’m Just Here for More Food: Food x Mixing + Heat = Baking as a gift.
Rather than take the traditional approach to a book on baking and just presenting recipes, Alton Brown takes a more scientific approach and presents the basic techniques and concepts behind baked goods. The book teaches and then illustrates through recipes first the rules of baking and then how to break them. In no time at all I was applying my same cooking techniques to the baking and destroying its rigidity. It is still true that baking is more a science than cooking, but after you know the rules deviations are possible and the results are very predictable. Over the last couple of years I have found that this book is my goto resource for anything I wish to bake. Before starting I read the chapter related to the item I wish to prepare, I learn the basic rules and ignore the recipes. I then start into my general recipe research and slowly build my own deviation based on the basic rules for that items preparations. I have found this method has allowed me to explore baking in the same way I enjoy exploring cooking and with great results.
I’m Just Here for More Food: Food x Mixing + Heat = Baking is not a definitive text on baking, and there are others I have found since that go into much more detail, but I have yet to find a book that is accessible and well written on the subject or as much fun to read. Whether you are just starting out with baking or seasoned at baking from recipes I highly recommend checking out Alton Brown’s book, and using it as a starting point to expand your knowledge and experience on the subject.