Home Baking by Jo Wheatley

'For me baking is about memories: old ones, new ones and ones yet to be made. I love how the smell of fresh bread baking can give you that cosy feeling and for me, there's nothing more welcoming than entering the house of someone who's baking.'    
                                                                       — Jo Wheatley in the introduction to her book, Home Baking.

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I must say I concur with Ms Wheatley, there is something very enticing about the smell of baking! About 30 years ago, when I put my first home on the market, I made sure there were goodies baking when the house for open for inspection. It sold immediately! It may have simply been serendipity, or it may have been the delicious aroma of my baking, all I can tell you is that the would-be purchaser was beaming as soon as he entered my home!

The winner of the Great British Bake Off and author of A Passion for Baking says that she gave a great deal of thought to the recipes that she would include in this, her second baking book. She writes that she loves food and spends most of her time talking about it, thinking about it and making it (sounds like me!) and her mantra is 'never trust a skinny cook'.

There are chapters dedicated to biscuits, bars and cookies; bread and scones; cakes; baking with children; crumbles, tarts and pithiviers; quiches, pasties, pies and savoury puddings; quick and simple baked goods; baking for special occasions; supper bakes; and teatime treats. 

Standout recipes for me include bite-sized parmesan, chilli and rosemary biscuits (page 18); blueberry brioche rolls (page 31); stem ginger cheesecake (page 74); Roquefort, leek and potato pie (page 146); and the chicken, chorizo and potato frittata (page 212). 

Home Baking by Jo Wheatley, RRP $39.99, Constable & Robinson (Murdoch Books). Thank you to the publicity team at Murdoch Books for giving me the opportunity to review and road test this title. Roll up your sleeves and turn up the oven!