Comprehending the Components of Baking - Bake from Scratch

      Nicola Lamb’s enchanting debut, SIFT, delves into the core elements that create the foundation of exceptional bakes while guiding readers through the techniques that are integral to her delightful recipes.

      SIFT is the type of book you want to cozy up with, cup of tea in hand, ready to immerse yourself in the delightful realm of baking. However, it goes beyond simply being a recipe collection; it serves as a guide encouraging you to cherish the baking process as much as the final product. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned baker, this book offers valuable insights, inspiration, and a reminder of the magic that emerges from blending ingredients.

      Nicola's baking journey is filled with passion, nostalgia, and a profound affection for sharing the joy of the craft. Reflecting on her experiences, she mentions, “SIFT is dedicated to my Nanny Carole and her brownies, which my sisters and I loved growing up. I suppose that was my first taste of how much joy baking can bring to others and its symbolism of care and love. Though I did some baking, often with Carole (who handled most of the tough parts), it wasn't until I moved to London at 18 that I embraced baking as a hobby.”

      Before fully committing to a baking career, Nicola experienced moments of uncertainty but quickly discovered that her love for baking only grew deeper. She shares, “A few years later, just before I entered a professional kitchen, I feared that making baking my 'career' instead of a hobby might ruin it, but my passion has only intensified!”

      Photographs from SIFT by Nicola Lamb, Copyright ©2024 by Nicola Lamb, Photographs copyright ©2024 by Sam A Harris, Published in the U.S. by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

      Nicola trained in some of the most renowned kitchens and collaborated with experts like Dominique Ansel and Yotam Ottolenghi. She brings extensive experience to this book, combined with a warmth and approachability that makes you feel right at home. “I owe everything to the incredible mentors in my life—from the chefs who guided me as I cautiously added eggs to choux paste to writers like Harold McGee, Paula Figoni, Francisco Migoya, and Samin Nosrat, among others, whose works I’ve delved into. I’m immensely thankful.” It's evident from the beginning that for Nicola, baking is a deeply personal voyage based on learning, exploration, and a considerable amount of patience.

      Regarding the most challenging recipe she has tackled, her work with hand-laminated croissants stands out. “Crafting a recipe for hand-laminated croissants that yields outstanding results took quite a while,” she reflects. “I began that recipe in 2020, and it took so long to perfect that I doubted my skills as a pastry chef!”

      Even with years of experience in a bustling production bakery making thousands of croissants weekly, Nicola found that adapting that high-volume method to a home kitchen was no simple task. She recalls that determining necessary adjustments in the formula drove her to understand ingredients more profoundly. This experience not only influenced her croissant recipe but also inspired a new way of documenting her creative process in her weekly Substack newsletter, Kitchen Projects, and later in SIFT.

      “With SIFT, I aimed to create the book I wished I’d had when I began baking. Back then, I found many large, complex books aimed at professionals intimidating, but I desired more detail than what home baking books usually included, which often gloss over technical specifics.” Her aim was straightforward: to provide approachable, reliable base recipes with sufficient technical detail to educate and empower bakers to comprehend the rationale behind the methods. The outcome is a resource you can rely on repeatedly, whether you are a beginner or honing your skills.

      Illustrations from SIFT by Nicola Lamb, Copyright ©2024 by Nicola Lamb, Illustrations copyright ©2024 by Nueker, Published in the U.S. by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

      The initial section of SIFT reads almost like a love letter to the science of baking, which will likely charm anyone with a similar passion. This part of the book provides extensive insights into baking's fundamental ingredients—flour, eggs, sugar, and fat—as well as guidance on texture, color, rising processes, and technical aspects like temperature, indicators of doneness, and correct techniques.

      Nicola elaborates on the function of each ingredient with clarity. For instance, when discussing eggs, she doesn’t merely outline their components; she immerses you in the realm of fat, protein, and water, illustrating how each element collaborates to create something splendid. It’s captivating, and even though it may sound somewhat technical, Nicola's inviting tone encourages you to engage more deeply.

      If you’ve ever been curious about the reasons behind rising, how