Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads

Pros

• A large volume of bread recipes.
• Great source of ideas for experienced bread bakers.
• Some unique recipes.

Cons

• Instructions and ingredient amounts not always trustworthy.
• Instruction layout can be confusing.
• Sourdough starter instructions are lacking detail.

Description

• Over 700 pages.
• Published by Simon & Schuster.
• 300 bread recipes.

Guide Review - Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads

Originally published in 1973, Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads is a classic in every sense. With over 700 pages, Bernard Clayton gives eager readers 300 recipes for popular yeast breads, sourdough breads, and specialty breads. This book is a fantastic resource, but it's not without its problems.

There are two issues that need to be addressed in future volumes of this book. The first issue is recipe accuracy, especially for the sourdough starters. For one recipe, Mr. Clayton recommends using a 1 quart glass jar with a tight fitting lid to mix and store approximately 3 cups of sourdough starter. What he doesn't explain is that the starter is going to foam and expand. The glass jar will explode if closed tight and the foam will spill over onto your counters if the jar is left open.

The second problem with Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads is the layout of the instructions. Each bread recipe has directions for making it by hand or mixer and by processor. The way each section is divided up, including the different rises, makes finding the correct instructions for what your are doing confusing.

Aside from these two problems, Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads is a great resource book. Reading through all the recipes and their variations is inspiring. The instructions at the end of the book for building an adobe oven are a real eye-catcher for anyone who's wanted to bake bread outdoors.

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