Entenmann's Big Book of Baking Cookbook Review

Book Review

I'm so excited to be sharing my review with you about the new Entenmann's Big Book of Baking which just launched today. As a mom and blogger who enjoys family time in the kitchen, I frequently have the opportunity to critique world class cookbooks like this one. But I have to say this particular title, with its huge array of over 140 recipes for making a few things using store-bought Entenmann's Bakery goods but mostly creating desserts and baked treats from scratch, is probably my favorite to test bake and comment on to date. Read on to find out why this baking title is a stand out.

Not only do I love cooking and baking -- both with my kids and by myself -- I'm a native of the Northeast, so I grew up on Entenmann's bakery products when they were just an East Coast regional brand. In fact, though I live on the West Coast now, I still remember how thrilled I was a little less than 30 years ago when the brand was finally available in California grocery stores. Thus begins my love affair with Entenmann's, the rest is history.

What strikes me most about this new 2011 cookbook is that unlike many other branded cookbooks where the recipes require a high percentage of brand products, only a handful of baked treats in the Almost Homemade section call for Entenmann's ingredients.  Of these almost home cooked recipes, I look forward to trying Easy Baklava first, which you can quickly make using a store-bought Entenmann's Sour Cream Loaf Cake.

The other sections of the book include directions for recreating some Entenmann's classics from raw ingredients, such as the company's All Butter Loaf Cake, as well as a range of the most innovative and eclectic selection of donuts, danish, puffs, crumb cakes, muffins, loaf cakes, brownies and bars, cookies, pies, and novelty and special occasion cakes and desserts I think I've ever seen in one cookbook.

Every recipe is accompanied by beautiful product photography to inspire you as you bake. From old standbys like Chocolate Chip Cookies to unlikely but delectably-sounding combinations such as Chocolate Pumpkin Pie and Cranberry Sour Cream Brownies, you will find both the basic recipes we all love and some interesting new one-of-a-kind ones to try in this dreamy cookbook.

Entenmann's master baker Kathleen Robbins drew from 23 years of experience in developing and testing each of the recipes in this book. Today, as I write this review, I am baking Kathleen's Spicy Apple Muffins. Watch for separate post shortly to see how these muffins -- which smell awfully delicious right now -- turn out. In that upcoming post you'll also learn about what I do to this recipe to give it my own personal touch with a few ingredient substitutions and a unique presentation idea for serving this.

The news release that came with my review copy calls this a coffee table book, which it certainly is, especially for those that just love beautiful illustrated books. For example, the Candy Store Cake is a real work of art and so pretty just to look at. But, after seeing this and baking my first dessert from it already, I'd say this is one cookbook that is not going to be spending any time on my coffee table. That's because my teens and I will be in the kitchen using it to mix up an assortment of baked goods and a few no-cook desserts suitable for any meal or snacktime of the day, whether it's every day or a special occasion.

Entenmann's Big Book Of Baking is published by Parragon Books. Available online and in-store as a hardbound coffee table book, $16.99. Also may be purchased online as an ebook for $6.99 and an app for $4.99.


The Best News of All: Mommy Blog Expert is giving away copies of this great cookbook to TWO lucky winners! See immediately below for entry information.

Entenmann's Big Book of Baking

GIVEAWAY
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Just leave a comment below post & you're entered

HOW TO ENTER

Leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends October 24, 2011 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. Two winners will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email.

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying what you like best about the book reviewed. Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

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FTC Disclosure: Entenmann's provided me with a copy of the cookbook to facilitate this test and review. In addition, the brand is providing the giveaway prizes. However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Yeshiva Jewish Rap Rosh Hashanah Rock Anthem is Going Viral 648,000+ Views To Date

Celebrations

This YouTube Yeshiva Rap Dance & Song called Rosh Hashanah Rock Anthem continues to rack up an amazing number of views.  Filmed with the inspiring and beautiful Old City of Jerusalem as the backdrop, has got to be seen to be appreciated. If anything gets moms, dads, kids, teens and extended family into the Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Year holiday spirit, this Aish video likely will. I know I'm cooking my holiday brisket tonight as I listen and watch this!

Shanah Tovah to All My Jewish Readers!

Check out the video and leave a comment below telling how this rock video with a twist makes you feel. Share your favorite memories of Rosh Hashanahs past here, too, if you like.

FTC Disclosure: I did not receive any payment or other compensation in association with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.  

National Family Game Night on September 28 + Hasbro The Great Games Trade In Recycling Effort

Games

Win a Hasbro Scrabble Turbo Slam Game HERE

Now that fall is here and the summer's really over, it's that time of year again. Time to celebrate the third annual National Family Game Night this Wednesday, September 28. To mark this year's event Hasbro is encouraging families to get together for some friendly competition, quality time, and parent and child fun. There's even a program running to recycle your old board games. And, the company wants to know how your family plans to celebrate by posting pictures of your National Family Game Night celebrations of years past, as well as this year, on their Facebook page.

Image provided by Hasbro

Hasbro, a brand I grew up with as a Baby Boomer kid, figures prominently in my own children's lives too. We own many games from this company both those we have bought ourselves and others that I have received for review on MBE such as Scrabble Turbo Slam, Clue: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Edition, Sorry Revenge, and Pictureka. Hasbro also makes a variety of toys such as Play-Doh fun classic kid pastime that has been enjoyed for multiple generations.

 My son ready to play Clue: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Edition

iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Other Fun Hasbro Stuff going on right now:

THE GREAT GAMES TRADE-IN

If you haven't already heard, Hasbro is hosting a wonderful promotion called The Great Games Trade-In where you can print out $83 in savings coupons (coupons expire 10/9/11) good toward new versions as well as classic Hasbro games. You can also do your part to go eco green, by printing out pre-paid shipping labels to send in your old games to Recyclebank at no cost to you. The recycling program ends 9/30/11, so hurry to participate now.

AND

FAMILY GAME NIGHT SHOW ON THE HUB

Watch the new season of the Family Game Night show on The Hub on Friday nights. When you tune in you'll to see families playing and acting out over-sized versions of your favorite Hasbro games at 7 p.m. ET.  Check your local listings to confirm air time.

You can also find out more about how you can get in on the fun of Family Game Night on the web on Facebook and Twitter.

Tweet

FTC Disclosure: I sometimes review Hasbro games on this blog. However, for this particular post, I did not receive any payment or other compensation. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.