Book Review- Planet Cake

Cake decorating books are my current craze. This book is a true beauty from the world famous bakery Planet Cake, the Elle magazine of cake decorating books. The pages are thick and glossy with exquisite pictures. However I am highly skeptical of the claim on the blurb that this book appeals to beginners. I'm no beginner but I wouldn't be able to attempt some of the cakes or cupcakes in this book. Some of the creations require more artistic than cookery skills.

The beginning of the book is useful. It has step by step pictures of basic techniques using fondant and ganache, e.g. covering a cake, making bows.

And it also features a good troubleshooting page, e.g. how to deal with stains and air bubbles. For me though it is more of a feast for the eyes than a practical book.

Princess Cake

Leopard Print Boot

Handbag

I mean, amazing right? No doubt, but not very do-able at home. Unless you are really artistic and have a heck of a lot of time and patience. In the book's defence they don't skimp on detail and have plenty of step by step sketches but I still don't think that would get me through.

I did find a few decorations I thought I would attempt:

Monster Cupcakes

The instruction page for monster cupcakes

Bow Cupcakes

Great British Bake Off Book!

If you haven't heard of the Great British Bake Off I would describe it as X-factor meets Masterchef with a touch of the quaint Delia air about it. I would consider myself a pretty good amateur chef but I would be crying into my royal icing standing before the two judges, Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. Boy do they know their stuff! After watching a few episodes I've decided I need to up my game and focus on perfecting some of the more technical elements of baking. This book is a really good mix of exciting new recipes (Chocolate, fennel and ginger tart) and back to basic recipes (the 'perfect' Victoria sponge) with good 'step by step' instructions. The book covers all elements of the show, cakes, desserts, biscuits, savoury pies and sweet tarts. Most of the recipes are original, many were featured in the show and so are presumably the finalist's own recipes. Call me a simpleton but I also love the nice glossy pictures. A cookery book is only as good as the last recipe you've made so I'm going to try Stilton, New Potato and Spinach quiche tonight and shall let y'all know how it works out! This is a book that you could imagine your grandmother having, covered in sticky fingerprints and dried-on cake mix.

Donal Skehan- Kitchen Hero

I've been reading Donal's blog since.... Easter 2010 I think and I've gotten so many great recipes off it. There is a great mix- from the very adventurous (suishi and dim sum) which are fun to try, to reliable family staples (Swedish cinnamon buns). I was delighted to get Kitchen Hero as a present off my cousin and would highly recommend it. In the same vein as the blog it has a great variety of recipes and highlights include the nasi goreng, the whoopie pies and the vodka penne pasta.

His TV show is back tonight after a brief hiatus and is the Foodie TV highlight of the week!