MY BOOKS

“Do you enjoy cooking? Baking? Does everyone enjoy eating your creations? Perhaps some have even suggested that you could start up a business with your food delights. Well, why not! Others have done it, and quite successfully, too. Why not you? V. Dale has degrees in food science as well as brewing and distilling. But her true love of working in the kitchen began as a child, when she helped her mother and her grandmother with the cooking and baking. She enjoyed the task, but also the positive comments from friends and family alike. It was rewarding to know that people really did enjoy her efforts in the kitchen. After working in the brewing industry for many years, this multi-talented author started her own bakery, so to speak, in her own kitchen. She reached out to the public, setting up a stall to sell her food delights. From savoury dishes like Corned Beef Slice, to the more sweet treats like Chocolate Banana Cake, V. Dale quickly established herself as a much sought after cook and baker.

However, it takes more than a good cook and baker to ensure a successful business. There are regulations to be followed to ensure that the product created is safe to eat as well as delicious. There is also the little matter of insurance and many more practical things to consider. V. Dale, cook/baker turned author, has outlined everything in her book, Baking at its Best: A guide for home bakers and would be entrepreneurs. And once you’ve thoroughly studied the very organised step-by-step guide to creating a successful (and safe) business in the cooking/baking industry, the author shares some of the more popular recipes that quickly sell out when she sets up her Sunday stall at the local market”.

“Chocolate. Aw, we all love it. Or, at least, most of us do. And what better season for chocolate than Easter? Well, perhaps any season is perfect for chocolate. But, you have to admit, the idea of chocolate seems to be attracted to the season of chocolate eggs and all kinds of other chocolate treats. So, why not make some? Like, Cookie Dough Brownies or Scotch Crème Egg Brownies or No Bake Fudge or Crème Egg Gateau. Of course, you don’t have to just make chocolate treats for Easter. There’s always the fruity Simnel Cake, an English fruitcake tradition that is catching the attention of fruitcake lovers around the world. And there’s the Lemon Bakewell Slice. But you would have to appreciate the history and tradition of the Bakewell treats, as, in the United Kingdom, the real Bakewell is second to none. And, of course, Easter isn’t Easter without Hot Cross Buns, though this delectable treat is now available just about any time of the year in some countries. 

V. Dale’s delightful little book, Baking At Its Best: Easter Treats, is an interesting collection of recipes, complete with some background detail as well as some anecdotes about each recipe in the collection. The recipes are clearly presented, with clear instructions on how to prepare and serve the food creation. And, believe it or not, for a book of sweet treat recipes, the author also provides a nutritional guide for each recipe. Note: The measurements are in the United Kingdom’s system of grams instead of the North American system of cups and fluid ounces. So, depending on where you live, you may have to do some conversions. 

“Picnic lunches, or even lunches at home, are a challenge in creativity, especially when children are involved. All those picky eaters with ever-changing mood swings and culinary likes and dislikes make meal planning, at any time of the day, a chance for failure. But, there’s no reason one has to stick with the standard lunchtime fare, either at home or on a picnic. There are other options: like Scotch eggs, corned beef pasties, cheese crackers, vegetable tarts, and so much more. And don’t forget the chocolate chip cookies, a must in any child’s diet.

V. Dale has done it again. Using much loved family recipes from her own kitchen, this author has created yet another delectable little cook book. Baking at its Best: Summer Picnic Recipes is a small collection, only fourteen recipes, but is packed with useful ideas that will entice others to create their own unique lunchtime treats for picnics or for home. Each recipe is well laid out with clear instructions. There is a colourful image to show the finished product and a useful list of nutritional contents. If the product has the potential to contain allergens, the author makes a note of that as well. For example, for the mini picnic sausage rolls, she mentions that some sausages contain sulphites, an allergen, and in some people this can cause an allergic reaction. Also, following each recipe, the author provides useful suggestions on how to alter the recipe to accommodate different dietary restrictions, especially allergies. I found this particularly useful as, with multiple food allergies, I’m always looking for ways to alter a recipe so that I can enjoy it, too. As always, a neat, concise little book packed with lots of delicious ideas”. 

“Baking at Its Best: Halloween Recipes for All the Family to Enjoy! by V. Dale is a book for all those who love baking. The twelve recipes in the book are Halloween recipes and will give readers an idea how to make their Halloween even spookier. Names like Scary Fingers, Witches’ Eyes, Graveyard Cake and more will put readers into the Halloween mood. The recipes are simple and each one has a list of ingredients, the method of preparation and nutritional information, how changes can be made according to dietary requirements, the equipment needed to make them, and finally a picture of the creepy cakes and cookies. This well planned and well laid out Halloween recipe book will definitely be a novel treat for youngsters during Halloween.

The thought of bringing out a book on Halloween recipes is unique. The pictures of the cookies and cakes will capture the feel of Halloween. The recipes suit all ages and abilities and children will find it interesting to experiment with these recipes along with their parents during Halloween. The author has thrown in a couple of show stoppers like the Graveyard Cake and a few others which will add to the eeriness of Halloween. Each recipe’s details have been listed methodically, making it easy for readers to try out, and the idea of giving options in case of dietary requirements is excellent. Trying out these recipes and making these delicious treats will be fun for both parents and children at Halloween. For all those who celebrate Halloween, this recipe book will bring out their creativity in a fun way”.

Christmas. It’s a busy time of year, full of activities, gift exchanges, gatherings and, of course, lots of good food. What would a gathering, at Christmas time no less, be without the wonderful array of Christmas goodies? There are the traditional favorites like shortbread, mincemeat tarts, fudge, and gingerbread. And then there are some creative and rather decorative additions to the list, like a no-bake Chocolate Orange Christmas Pudding, Christmas Tree Cupcakes and Chocolate Brownie Trees. These treats not only look good on a tray of goodies, but they taste good, too. 

V Dale is well known in her community for her delectable treats. She’s a very creative and industrious baker. She is also known for her little recipe chapbooks, celebrating the different seasons of the year and the good food that goes along with each season. Her latest book, which she claims is the last in this series, Baking at its Best: All Things Christmasy, explores the joy of Christmas foods. Not just the sweets, because there’s also a recipe for Boxing Day Pizza which thriftily uses Christmas leftovers to make another variation on a favorite pizza theme. The recipes are well chosen and carefully laid out with a good description of the procedure. There is even a colorful photograph to illustrate the finished product, a health and nutrition guide, and an alternate ingredients list (for some of the recipes) to accommodate those people with various eating intolerances or allergies. For anyone who loves to bake and loves to create delicious and unique Christmas treats, this little chapbook is a must-have.