After recently discovering I am allergic to wheat/gluten I have been trying the alternatives pre-made at Whole Foods, my local Health food store. That adds up. I have always enjoyed baking and missed that as well. Bette's books satisfy me in both areas. I can now bake again for myself and after the initial investment of the flours, turn out treats for much less than the pre-made items. Waffles, bread, cookies..yum! I have successfully substituted soy milk for any dairy in her recipes since that is an allergy too. If you are gluten free and debating the purchase of this book - I say go for it!

Those of us following a gluten-free diet often feel something akin to claustrophobia when it comes to food. Every day we're faced with so many goodies that we can't have. It's a great comfort to have a resource like this one at home when you walk past the bakery section of your local grocery store. Just knowing you *can* go home and bake something sweet and tasty
opens up your world a little.

And these recipes do work; some are complex, many are very simple, which means the book answers a range of cook's skills.

While it is true that the recipes are based on mixes made from a wide range of sometimes exotic flours -- usually available through an American health food store -- it's not fair to condemn any of Bette's books for this. You're just not likely to find most gluten-free flours for cheap in your grocery store, at least not this early in the millennium.

My 11-year-old daughter has adopted this book as her kitchen companion. She turned out a wonderful cake on her first try. For those of you with children stuck with a gluten-free diet for life, there is no more essential skill to pass on to them than cooking -- and no better passion than a love of cooking -- that will support them through a lifetime on a specialized diet. This book makes a great starting place for cooking with kids, as well as being a suitable cookbook for adults of all skill levels.

Those of us following a gluten-free diet often feel something akin to claustrophobia when it comes to food. Every day we're faced with so many goodies that we can't have. It's a great comfort to have a resource like this one at home when you walk past the bakery section of your local grocery store. Just knowing you *can* go home and bake something sweet and tasty opens up your world a little.

And these recipes do work; some are complex, many are very simple, which means the book answers a range of cook's skills.

While it is true that the recipes are based on mixes made from a wide range of sometimes exotic flours -- usually available through an American health food store -- it's not fair to condemn any of Bette's books for this. You're just not likely to find most gluten-free flours for cheap in your grocery store, at least not this early in the millennium.

My 11-year-old daughter has adopted this book as her kitchen companion. She turned out a wonderful cake on her first try. For those of you with children stuck with a gluten-free diet for life, there is no more essential skill to pass on to them than cooking -- and no better passion than a love of cooking -- that will support them through a lifetime on a specialized diet. This book makes a great starting place for cooking with kids, as well as being a suitable cookbook for adults of all skill levels.

This is such an enjoyable book. My daughter has enjoyed it since she was about 3 1/2. We often conclude by going in the kitchen and making the very cake that hedgehog had so much trouble with. The recipe is simple enough for little ones and really does taste delicious - - even without frosting. I highly recommend this book. It's a fun experience for you and your child.

My son (approaching 5) has loved this probably since he was 3. Whether or not he got the "lesson" at the beginning, the artwork is wonderful and the story about making a mess close to every child's heart...Can't wait until the next one by this team comes out in paperback.

My second grade son has been stuggling to learn to read. I bought this book for him after his older sister bought a hedgehog as a pet. The family interest in hedgehogs encouraged him to read this adorable story. He has read it repeatedly. He reads it to his parents, siblings, and any of the family pets that will sit still long enough to listen. :-) I was pleased to see the positive values shown by the main character, Hedgehog. He doesn't lose patience when his friends cause him problems and he is always careful not to hurt their feelings. He never lets on that their help was not helpful at all, and lets them believe they were invaluable to him. This was a great example of friendship. I was also pleased with the fact that Hedgehog, being male, showed that is alright for a boy to like to cook. I want to teach my sons to cook for themselves so they want starve when they are on their own.

We checked this book out so many times at the library, we bought copies for us and to give as birthday gifts. Sweet story about cooperation of making cake and celebrating! I love Helen Oxenbury's soft watercolor illustrations - another great choice is "Going on a Bear Hunt"

It is funny that the description of this book online says the main character is a boy, when in fact the author leaves the gender to be decided by the reader. My children (3 boys & 1 girl) love this book, and no one ever says anything about boy or girl. We have given this book many times as a birthday gift and have always had rave reviews for it. Highly reccommed for every house with children!

It's interesting that some reviewers identify the child as aboy, when the author has in fact written and illustratied this storyto be gender-neutral. The child (and animals, for that matter) can be either male or female -- and that was the author's intention, as described in a note in the book. When the main characters in so many children's books are male for no reason other than the fact that Male is the default gender in our world, how nice for girls to be able to see themselves in the main character of this story (and how nice for parents to not have to change names and pronouns to provide a more balanced perspective when reading to our children).

I have baked cheesecakes for over 30 years, and regard this book as the best. I haven't found a bad recipe in it yet, just good, really good and oh my! I love the way you can mix and match different crusts and toppings. I like the information in the beginning of the book, and I can't live without at least one piece a year of the "Is it Cheesecake or Is it Fudge?" cake!!

My great-uncle gave me his old hardcover version of this cookbook and after making just 2 cheesecakes with it (the no-bake daiquiri and the orange-brandy), it replaced "The Joy of Cooking" as my primary dessert cookbook.

The book is extremely helpful in it's layout. Rather than include a crust recipe along with every cheesecake recipe in the book, this cookbook lists one recommended crust recipe and the page it can be found on with each cheesecake recipe, but you can also mix and match to suit your tastes (I personally preferred an Oreo-crumb crust to the vanilla-wafer crust the book suggested for its dark chocolate cheesecake). There are also sections for toppings and glazes, and there is also a section on no-bake cheesecakes, and even a few recipes for cakes that aren't "real" cheesecakes, but contain cream cheese nonetheless.

Most of the recipes in this cookbook are more complicated than the 3-step cheesecake recipes you find on the back of cream cheese boxes in the supermarket, but the difference in quality is unbelievable. I made the pumpkin cheesecake for an office Thanksgiving party, and it was such a hit that 3 co-workers paid me $25 apiece to make one for each of them for the holidays!

There is a type of cheesecake in this book for every taste out there, from apple to chocolate to walnut. The only thing missing is recipes for savory cheesecakes, which I've seen in some food catalogs, but that's such a minor quip it doesn't dectract from the usefulness of this book. All in all, if you have ever tried cheesecake and loved it or even remotely liked it, you'll find something in this cookbook to satisfy you.

I've owned this book for nearly 20 years and it's become ragged from all of the use it's gotten over the years. If you think cheesecake is tricky or hard to make, read this book. I've learned all of the tricks to making beautiful and delicious cheesecakes of many varieties. Every holiday I'm asked to contribute dessert to the dinner - - of course, they're asking for cheesecake. Try it - - it couldn't be easier.

"On a knotty little hill,/In a dreary little funk,/Mrs. Biddlebox rolled over/On the wrong side of her bunk..." What a terrible morning, dark and dreary. An ill wind "mussied up her hair", her chair creaked, the tea was bitter, her crumpets, stale, and the birds' singing was giving her a headache. But Mrs Biddlebox is not one to sit and complain. She's a woman of action and decides to turn this awful day into a scrumptious treat. "I will cook this rotten morning!/I will turn it into cake!/I will fire up my oven!/I will set the day to bake!" And so she gets busy collecting the gloom and grubbies, a filthy shadow, the damp, dank fog, the low, gray sky, and just a ray of hidden sunshine to sweeten the pot. "So she whipped and whisked and beat it./She rolled the day out flat./Mrs. Biddlebox laughed gleefully;/Her hands went pat-pat-pat..." At last she was ready to put her cake into the oven, and bake that sad, bad day away..... Linda Smith's rhyming, lyrical text is charming and engaging, and filled with rhythm, energy, and humor. Marla Frazee's swirling, dark and expressive illustrations complement the text beautifully, and together word and art sends a positive message that won't be lost on little ones. Don't let a bad day get you down... take control, and turn it into something wonderful. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Mrs. Biddlebox is a read-aloud crowd pleaser kids will beg to hear again and again, and is sure to become an instant favorite at your house.

In author Linda Smith's two year battle with cancer she may have learned more than her fair share about "waking up on the wrong side of the bunk" but she also learned about how to use her talents to deal with those "dreary little funks." She has given us the delightful story of Mrs. Biddlebox, a very clever and talented witchey lady with a big curly black ponytail who, one day, wakes up in a very dreary funk indeed! Even the singing birds give her a headache. She decides "I will cook this rotten morning! I will turn it into cake! I will fire up my oven! I will set the day to bake!" With a wealth of magical know-how Mrs. Biddlebox does exactly that and the results are tasty! Marla Frazee has illustrated the enchanting Mrs. Biddlebox to perfection and helped to create a wonderful picture book filled with humor and whimsy that is guaranteed to cure any dreary funk that might come your way. Enjoy!

I chose this book because I liked it and, particularly, because my family loved Smith's previous title, WHEN MOON FELL DOWN. With its purposely gloomy-looking cover, MRS. BIDDLEBOX was a bit of a sell for my three-year-old (whose tastes usually run more to the FROGGIE titles), but as soon as I started reading it to Meredith, she was enthralled. My seven-year-old enjoyed it too. The illustrations are adorable and a perfect compliment to the extended metaphor of the text. It is a wonderful book about making the best of a bad day.

That first time I sat down with MRS. BIDDLEBOX, I had to read it three times . . . and I enjoyed every one of them!

Pam Munoz Ryan's Mud Is Cake pairs a fun rollicking rhyme with classic paintings by McPhail. The rhyme also helps kids think about words and alternate meanings they represent.

A truly delightful picturebook recommended for beginning readers age 2-5, Mud Is Cake features a series of whimsical metaphors by Pam Munoz Ryan, which are brought to life through David McPhail's gentle, playful color illustrations. The power of belief and using one's imagination are central to Mud is Cake, which is a brief, simple, and enjoyable treat -- and especially suitable for parent/child bedtime reading.

"Mud is cake/if you pretend/and don't really take a bite./And juice is tea/with a fairy queen/if you act it out just right." Pam Munoz Ryan takes us into the charming world of child's make believe in this gentle and whimsical picture book. A box can be a hideout, and a stick is a wand. A tree is a spaceship, your tub is a boat and the "couch is a store when you display a variety of shoes." And you can be a tiger, prowling and growling, or a kitten, curled on someone's lap, a hero, or a champion, or even the one who runs away, if you want. David McPhail's captivating, bright and colorful illustrations complement the text beautifully and engage the reader. Together word and art send a simple message: Let your imagination run free and have fun. "You can be most anything/in dreams, or wide-awake./If you agree that juice is tea.../...if you believe/that mud is cake." Perfect for preschoolers, Mud Is Cake is a sweet and simple, timeless treasure that little ones will want to read and act out again and again. "

The number one favorite of hundreds of books read to my four small children, (now honors graduates of Boston University, American U., and Syracuse U.) Panda Cake teaches lessons, rhymes, tells a story, entertains and remains memorable 20 years later. Wonderful illustrations and particularly great for younger brothers or sisters. Hands down the cutest relatively modern children's book we have ever read.

I had this book as a child and my children now read it. It is a fun and whimsical way to teach children the joy of reading. It's an absolute "10"

PANDA CAKE is a wonderful story put to ryhme. "Now, a panda cake is a special cake, it's not like any you've eaten; it has apples and roots and bamboo shoots and clover honey for topping!" And when momma panda sends her two sons out to buy the ingrediants she is surprised when only the younger of the two returns with all the ingrediants, followed by a lot of angry animals. Come to find out, big brother has taken mommas money and gone to the fair after obtaining the ingrediants from other sources, i.e. the pig's apple tree, the goat's bamboo shoots, the bird's cherries, etc. Filled with fun dialogue, mostly in the first person view of the little brother, and clever black and white drawings, the reader is licking his lips for a taste of mommas cake and nodding at her patience and ability to make the awkward moment a triumph!

I don't believe in trying dozens of recipes to the same item to the the best one. This collection is truly a collection of the best and FOOLPROOF recipes, and the only recipes I use over and over again

Many of us are short on time when it comes to cooking and baking. When I want or need to bake - whether it be for a special occassion or no reason at all, I want my recipe to turn out great. The confidence I have in the recipes in this book assure me every time, that whatever I choose to make - it will be fabulous!

How many cooks make lavish chocolate terrines, but would be stumped by lemon meringue pie? How many different gourmet shops do you go to when you want to make something special? It's time to put away your pastry bags and your ramekins -- you need look no further than Murray Jaffe's new book for simple, scrumptious desserts.

The array of recipes in "The Perfect Recipe Baking Book" is wonderfully refreshing in its simplicity. The classics are all here: coconut macaroons, devil's food cake, blueberry pie. Jaffe, a self-described obsessive baker, provides foolproof directions for perfect desserts. His apple pie can beat the pants off of any hazelnut praline cheesecake. And best of all, the ingredients are guaranteed to be available in your local grocery store. No more scouring the city for Poire Williams or dried golden cherries! This really is the only dessert cookbook you will ever need.

I found this little pound cake cookbook by accident here on Amazon.com, and I am so happy I did. The author, Bibb Jordan explains what the meaning of pound cake is, it's origins, and how to make the "perfect" pound cake. I have a website for Home Baker's and I choose to include on my site a wonderful recipe from this book: Chocolate Truffle Pound Cake. This cake is amazing, like so many of the other ones in the book. I also make a recommendation on my site for home baker's to definitely purchase this book. I highly recommend it for the "Pound Cake Lover", and anyone who loves to bake wonderful pound cakes.

I would like to make one suggestion to the author, and that is to include how many servings the cakes make. Otherwise, the book, like the pound cakes are perfect.

This tiny little book is filled with more info on this country's most beloved cake than any other cookbook I've found. It has clear and concise recipes with a cake for every taste. If you love poundcake you have to get this book!

If you love pound cake and are looking for something different to do and eat this book is great! try the awesome marble pound cake recipe.

Spot the Dog books are a favourite with my girls. They love the simple stories that they can relate to (hiding, baking a cake, playing with others etc) and the lift-the-flaps always bring screams of delight even though we've read them many many times. As they grow I'm sure they'll be one of the books they learn to read with. The words are simple and the font easy to read. Lovely books to cuddle up with your children on your lap. They are also big enough to hold up and read to them as they sit in back seat on car trips.

Spot and his mom make a surprise birthday cake for daddy dog in this fun book. Kids love liftng the flaps and seeing what's underneath (mine liked the mouse who says "I need some cheese.")

After shopping for the ingredients and mixing them up back at home, Spot has great fun icing the cake with LOADS of chocolate--it gets all over the table as well. Festooned with multi-colored frosting and bones, the finished product is a delightful surprise for dad. You'll find this delightful as well! With 22 pages, 20 flaps, and big colorful pictures, this is a surefire hit for the toddler set!

I am a first grader in Lockport, NY. My name is Joshua. I have read all of the Spot lift-the-flap books. My favorite book is Spot Bakes a Cake. I liked when Spot helped his Mom bake the cake for Dad. I hope Eric Hill writes 500 more Spot lift-the-flap books!