I have been a fan of the original Artisan Bread in Five, and I have loved the New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day even more. The benefits to the newest version is that you make a multiple batch dough, then use it over an undisclosed amount of time making homemade artisan bread even easier than before. The only issues I have now are being sure to not bake up all the batches at once because I can't wait, wondering why I don't have a pretty little Danish dough whisk, and finding something big enough to store the dough in for a few days. It may be a good idea to purchase the six quart food storage set usually sold with it on Amazon, or all three as a gift.

I love the tips and recipes for gluten free breads, and the clear and understandable language of the book. The photography is beautiful, but doesn't get in the way of the great and reliable recipes. The recipes we have made from this book have turned out lovely, and were more experiences than baked goods. Every child should know the beauty of bread dough and the feeling of flour between their fingers.

  Peruse or Buy The New Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day on Amazon.

At first glance, this cookbook is pure fun. It's the first cookbook my Preschool aged daughter is drawn to because of the originality, use of color, and festivity. The cakes are beautiful on the outside, and then you open them up and there is a whole new dimension.

Once you start to get into the details of the book, you can quickly tell this cakebook isn't for those who are drawn to simplicity. Each cake requires the baking of at least two or three different cakes and then mixing the cake crumb with icing to sculpt shapes inside the cake. Some use the same batter, just adding food coloring to a part or separate portion of the batter, sometimes baked in a separate pan. 

The first cake I baked from this seemed to be one of the more simple cakes, with a brownie bottom layer and strawberry cake top layer. I spent two days baking, and the cake just ended up tasting mediocre. The crumb was dense, and there seemed to be too much batter for one layer resulting in a pretty huge strawberry cake layer we tasted, then tossed.

It seemed there was more focus on the designs and decorating of the cakes rather than the actual recipes. She does have original decorating ideas, and mentions some useful time saving tips (freezing portions of colored cakes for later use) but I don't make cakes often, and would make cakes of this caliber even less. The cakes are cheery and so fun if you have the time and patience, but I am more drawn to simplicity and focusing on the experience of eating the cake rather than its presentation.

  Peruse or buy Surprise Inside Cakes on Amazon.