Nothing equals the satisfaction of home baking, and this technique-led collection contains over 400 recipes to inspire the home baker. It takes you through all the processes from keeping your kitchen stocked with the right ingredients and equipment to baking blind, making a lattice top for a pie and mixing the perfect choux pastry. The recipes range from simple shortbread to the more complicated lemon coconut layer cake. Also included is a section on breads and bread making - from everyday loaves to classic international specialities. A comprehensive techniques section covers all the equipment, ingredients and skills you will need: try making a sun-dried tomato plait as a modern accompaniment to a steaming bowl of pasta, or prepare a tempting teatime treat such as Italian almond biscotti, or pumpkin pie. With recipes for biscuits, bars, buns, tea breads, cakes, gateaux, pies, tarts, low-fat cakes and bakes, everyday breads and classic bread recipes, this book is a one stop reference that should meet all your baking needs.