The head River Cottage baker, Daniel Stevens, who put together THE RIVER COTTAGE BREAD HANDBOOK spends over 40 pages on mastering the basic loaf. “These compact yet comprehensive hardcover volumes, part of a series written by experts in the River Cottage fold, inspire and instruct with their English charm, deploying a chatty hand-holding that nudges you through the process. 'If you think of the best in homemade jams and preservers and the pleasure in eating your own produce, then you are ready for this book.' Infinitely more engaging than your average American canning book, such as Better Homes & Gardens You Can Can!' “A canning and preserving book for the home cook who likely wouldn't call themselves the ‘canning’ type. Corbin demystifies the preserving process in this authoritative, and beautiful, book.” “Be prepared to make space on your cookbook shelf for these practical, passionate guides. Everyday Food, Favorite New Cookbooks, December 2010 Though readers may not go to the lengths of building their own clay oven (included here in detail) Stevens's accessible take on the subject is sure to inspire confidence, an appreciation for the craft, and a willingness to experiment.“For a touch of the homemade every day, try the River Cottage handbooks.” Tips on storage (never in the fridge!) and leftovers (croutons, bread crumbs, Spanish migas) and a one-page troubleshooting guide guaranteed to get earmarked ensure bakers reap great rewards from their labor. Once a baker has mastered Stevens's basic bread recipe, they're free to spread their floury wings and attempt Italian ciabatta, a rich French brioche, or even the intimidating croissant. Accompanied by detailed photos of key steps in the bread-making process, Stevens patiently guides readers through the steps of crafting a toothsome loaf, explaining the qualities of various yeasts and flours, the particulars of hand-kneading, the cons of letting a stand mixer do your work for you, and tips on shaping dough into the desired shape. Daniel Stevens shortens the learning curve for would-be bakers in this informative introduction to making great bread at home.

Containing only flour, water, yeast, and salt, bread is a simple dish that can take years to master.

The river cottage bread handbook