The cover photo says it all, really. A gorgeous chocolate layer cake piled with berries, being given its finishing touches by a smiling Jo Seagar. In a brief introduction to Jo Seagar Bakes, Seagar explains that her purpose in writing it is to play the role of a mother or grandmother, standing by and providing the tips and tricks gained by experience to make the cook look good when the final product is served!
The recipes are pretty much all sweet, some of them decadently so, and cover biscuits, scones, slices, muffins, loaves and cakes.
I’m liking
The range of recipes! Some are immediately recognisable, like the no-flour chocolate chip peanut butter biscuits, or coconut rough, caramel slice, or peach and cream cheese muffins. Some are promising alternatives to recipes I already use – I can’t wait to try scones without rubbing in the butter, and the shortcake using lemon curd as a filling. And some are really different – kumara and orange cake with cream cheese icing, or the fat-free cake using a pureed tin of apricots in juice (tried that one, fantastic). I’ve made three recipes so far, and all of them have worked without a hitch. Plus the pictures are beautiful and there’s a ribbon placemarker. What more could you ask for?
Things that made me go hmmmm
It’s unashamedly old-fashioned, which is all good when it comes to baking but does mean that it’s not aimed at those with allergies / intolerances. There are a few (about 10) gluten-, egg- or dairy-free recipes in the book, and you can find them in the index.
Every so often there’s a page with no recipe on it, just a wise saying against a picture background. I found this annoying in a recipe book.
I wondered whether there is room in the market for another baking book, given the number already out there, but perhaps the drawcard is Jo Seagar herself.
The conclusion
A beautiful and inspiring addition to any baker’s bookshelf, whether experienced or new to the hobby. The number of recipes in here will keep the tins full and family supplied with treats for a long time to come!
