Great Whole Grain Breads [Hardcover]

I came across this book at the public library, and I brought it home because the bread recipes looked wholesome and delicious... and because I was intrigued by the casserole bread chapter. I never saw so many recipes using that method! I tried a casserole rye/potato bread and we all thought it was delicious, and I esp. appreciated the lack of kneading it really saves on time.
This book is now in my wish list for Christmas.... I want more time to pick and choose than the library can give... there is nothing like the smell of fresh bread baking!

I checked out this book at the library as I had read a review stating it was a good book for those seeking to bake whole grain breads. It has many good recipes in it; however, the majority (80% in my view) is mostly bread or white flour with a smaller percentage of whole grains. I was disappointed only because I was expecting something different. I attempt not to use white flours and many of the recipes had a higher white flour content than whole grains. The Yeast raised honey cornbread is 100% whole grain and is wonderful. I enjoyed reading the book but still consider Peter Reinhart's Whole Grain Breads the benchmark. This would be an excellent book for those wishing to add some grains to their diet.

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For an excellent cookbook on how to bake scones, corn bread, croissants, pretzels, popovers, quick breads, tortillas, pizza dough or traditional loaves, then this may be the book for you! With more than 250 recipes for both sweet and savory breads, check out this book.

Beatrice Ojakangas is a chef and author to numerous cookbooks. Some titles include: "The Great Scandinavian Baking Book", "Scandinavian Feasts: Celebrating Traditions throughout the Year" and "The Great Holiday Baking Book". She has also appeared on television with Julia Child, on her television show: "Baking with Julia Child", as well as also being on Martha Stewart's Living. She has written numerous articles for newspapers and magazines including Cooking Light, Family Circle, and Bon Appetit. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota.

The recipes in this book are easy-to-follow. Ojakangas gives excellent step-by-step tips on how to mix and knead the dough and how to handle whole grains. In the introduction, there are numerous tips to help the novice cook develop a passion for baking breads. There is even a section on Flour sources, in case you are unable to locate a specific flour in your neighborhood.

The book is broken down in chapters depending on the type of breads you are looking for, including: stir-and-pour breads, no-knead casserole breads, whole wheat breads, rye breads, oat breads, barley breads, cornbreads, multiple grain breads, buckwheat breads, triticale breads, sourdough breads, coffee breads and sweet rolls, whole grain breads with fruit, whole grain breads with vegetables, cheese breads, little breads, flatbreads, quick breads and more!

Despite no color photographs in this book, there are some illustrations to help show you what to do.

The recipes all sound delicious, and my favorites are: apple-filled brioche, seven-grain bread, malted Christmas bread, English farmhouse loaf and orange-rye casserole bread.

If you are looking for an all-purpose book on baking any type of bread, then I suggest you pick this book.