Cookbook Giveaway: Baking Basics & Beyond, 2nd Edition, by Pat Sinclair

Pat's Homemade Buttercream Frosting Saved The Day!

The other night, my son refused to eat the roast chicken that we had cooked for dinner. When we asked him why he wasn't eating, he looked up casually and said, "The chicken is too dry. It doesn't usually taste like this. I think you messed it up."

Some parents might have plopped their child on the naughty wall for being so, ahem, honest - but I just burst out laughing. I was highly amused that my 6-year-old son knew the difference between a properly cooked chicken - and one that was indeed overcooked.

You see, I was fortunate enough to grow up in a family where both of my parents could cook. My dad was a grilled cheese connoisseur and he made killer potato chips from scratch. My mom was also an awesome cook - so much so, that she even owned her own restaurant for a few years while we were kids. But, not everyone grows up in a culinary-friendly household, which is why it's been so important for me to show my kids how to make their way around our kitchen.

Oftentimes, when I receive a cookbook to review, I let my children decide which recipes we shall try. I know that if I let them have a say in what I'm whipping up in the kitchen, they'll be that much more excited to help me make it - and eat it afterwards.

Apple Coffee Cake

So it goes without saying that they were thrilled when I got the chance to start baking recipes out of Pat Sinclair's Baking Basics & Beyond, 2nd Edition. As I read through the list of tasty treats that we could make, they narrowed their selections down to the Apple Coffee Cake, Chocolate Monster Cookies, and Banana Bars with Brown Sugar Frosting.

We made the Banana Bars with Brown Sugar Frosting first and I would love to show you a picture of this scrumptious dessert, but my little gremlins ate it before I could even snatch a single picture. It was like feeding time at the zoo over here! (If you get the chance to make it yourself, please do and send me your picture; I'll post it right here!)

Monster Chocolate Cookies, Image courtesy of Pat Sinclair

The best way to describe Pat's cookbook is in one word: simple. That's why I love it. There's nothing super sexy in here, there's nothing over-the-top, there's nothing to be afraid of. This is the cookbook that you want to buy for Bridal Showers. This is the cookbook you'll want to give to your children when they move into their first apartment. Why? Because Baking Basics & Beyond, 2nd Edition will actually teach them how to bake - and that's an incredibly cool thing to know how to do!

Want to win a copy of Baking Basics & Beyond, 2nd Edition? Then you're in luck. We have one copy to give away to our readers.

Here’s how the Giveaway Contest works:

1.) Like Us on Facebook. (or) Follow Us on Pinterest.

2.) Tweet this giveaway: New #Cookbook #Giveaway: Baking Basics & Beyond, 2nd Edition @AgatePublishing Contest ends 12/08/12, 4pm EST. #cookbook http://ow.ly/fieSQ

3.) Post this giveaway on your FaceBook wall: New Cookbook Giveaway: Baking Basics & Beyond, 2nd Edition, by Pat Sinclair. Contest ends 12/08/12 at 4pm EST. https://www.facebook.com/WeKnowStuff.US

 

The winner will be selected on December 8th at 4:00 PM EST using Rafflecopter.  We will post the winner on our Facebook page and notify the winner via email.  Please let your friends and family know about this incredible giveaway contest!

Thanks for reading,

Denine

 

Disclosure: I have been given a copy of   Pat Sinclair's Baking Basics & Beyond, 2nd Edition  for the purpose of this review. Opinions, however, are mine.