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- Verified Buyer
You'd think that with over 100 recipes, that would be enough to satisfy the throngs of peanut butter loving bakers, and you'd be right. But, this is more than just a cookbook full of savory and sweet concoctions. It's a cookbook first, but before we get to the recipes, and OH, WE WILL, the first section of the book contains such a wealth of baking information that I would hardly call it "just" a cookbook.Key ingredients, cooking methods, tips, and tricks contains information that Averie has gleaned from reading about and experimenting with cooking and baking over the last several years. More detailed than the newbie baker is probably looking for, it satisfied my scientific mind. It includes everything from how to organize your space while baking, what the difference is between browned butter and melted butter, why you should chill cookie dough, the best brands of chocolate and peanut butter (thoroughly tested even), to making your own vanilla extract. Following that, the list of equipment and tools is a valuable asset for those who are new to cooking or are just setting up their first kitchen. I don't think there is anything missing from the exhaustive list (not even plastic wrap is left off!), and the asterisk denoting tools that are used in recipes in the book is especially helpful.And then, the recipes. Ten chapters with 100+ recipes from savory to sweet, baked and no-bake, cookies and sauces; I can hardly think of a type of food that is missing. Each recipe has a brief description and at least one, usually many photos. There are also great little personal stories about the recipe, often from Averie's childhood in the Midwest, which I personally loved and made me feel nostalgic while reading them. Just as an example of the level of detail in the recipe sections, the cookie chapter starts with a "Cookie Top 10", includes several recipes, and ends with a section on troubleshooting cookie baking. And the final coup comes at the end, with 27 variations of homemade peanut butter!Though my love of peanut butter is perhaps on par with Averie's, I don't have nearly the sweet tooth that she does, and I can't eat dairy or gluten. Still, I've got a list of recipes I personally can't wait to try (adapted to fit my dietary constraints). In no particular order: Peanut butter cupcakes, peanut butter infused maple syrup (to use with EVERYTHING), vanilla extract, Molassed Ginger Spice cookies, PB&J Sweet Potato Fries (!!!), Cherry Peanut Butter, Basic Peanut Sauce, Thai Peanut sauce with spring rolls, Savory Peanut Butter hummus, and Rice Krispie Peanut Butter with Cinnamon and Vanilla.Bring on the baking!
