Dan Lepard’s Short & Sweet Giveaway #4
Following on from the whoopie pie experience in my last post, I’m delighted to announce that I have three copies of Short & Sweet to give away to my readers. Yes, that’s right, the publishers, Fourth Estate, have been very generous and are offering not one but three copies.
As already stated in my previous post, I’m very excited about this book. Dan Lepard’s renowned book The Handmade Loaf, together with his excellent baking forum and weekly baking column in the Guardian have established him as one of the best bakers in the UK. I ordered the book back in April and had to wait six long months before it finally arrived through my letterbox.
First off, this is a nice hefty book with over 550 pages and a distinctive tricolour cover. It’s bound in such a way that the page stays open at pretty much any point, most unusual and very welcome.
In true Dan Lepard style, the recipes are inspirational. I leapt straight to the chapter on cakes of course, but the book starts with the real staff of life – bread. Other sections include biscuits, desserts, savoury pies, yeasted sweet bakes and even a chapter on making your own sweets. Each chapter starts with a few pages of techniques; tips are scattered throughout the book. On reading the tips and techniques section of the cake chapter, I noted several things I was unaware of. I’m an inveterate forgetter of remembering to turn the oven on in time. I was particularly pleased therefore to discover that it doesn’t matter too much if you don’t place the finished cake mixture immediately in the oven. If you transfer it very gently, the “rise” should not be affected.
Dan uses some unusual ingredients in his cake recipes including rye and hemp flours, ground porridge oats and condensed milk. That and some unusual techniques make for an intriguing baking experience. Apart from the chocolate ones (of course), some of the cakes I’m looking forward to making include: cherry beet cake, sticky lemon & poppy seed cake, coconut milk layer cake and saffron peach cake.
Although I like to think of myself as a serious cook, I do find I like to have photographs in my cookbooks. It’s always nice to have an idea of what your aiming for and sometimes it’s the picture alone that seals the deal on whether you bake a particular recipe. This was my one disappointment with Short & Sweet, there are photographs and very enticing ones too, but they don’t cover every bake. A book mark ribbon would also be a welcome addition, but I guess I can live without that.
You can watch a 50 second video of Dan talking about his book here.
As regular readers will know I always give my own views on any items I review. In this case I bought the book for myself so you can be doubly sure that I do indeed think it’s a classic and will make an excellent addition to any baking library.
So, to the giveaway and your chance to win one of the three copies. You must leave a comment on this post answering the question below. You have until midnight on Friday 21st October when the giveaway closes. The winners will be randomly selected after this date. Apologies to oversees visitors, but this is only open to those with a UK or Ireland postal address.
What cake recipe do you consider to be indispensable in a cookbook?
Additional entries can also be made by (but you must answer the question above for these to be eligible):
- Following my blog via Google Friend Connect – leave a separate comment here telling me you have done so.
- Following me on Twitter – leave a separate comment here telling me you have done so with your Twitter id.
- Tweeting this message “win a copy of @dan_lepard Short & Sweet from Chocolate Log Blog @Choclette8 – bit.ly/pE6ARV” – leave a separate comment here telling me you have done so
- Liking this post on Facebook – leave a separate comment here telling me you have done so.
- 78 – Nursey
- 53 – Janice
- 37 – Dom
Stralisemiai
14th October 2011 at 7:13 amThe cake that should be a staple in every cook book has to be the good old chcolate cake, I adore it in any shape or form, with a twist, boozy, nutty, sticky or gooey! I am bias however, as like I said, I do like choclate. @stralisemiai
Stralisemiai
14th October 2011 at 7:13 amI have followed your fantastic blog through GFC, @stralisemiai
Stralisemiai
14th October 2011 at 7:14 amFollowing you on twitter @stralisemiai
Stralisemiai
14th October 2011 at 7:15 amI have also tweeted your fab giveaway and hope many others come to read your blog, I followed JanesGrapevine here after seeing her tweet on twitter.
@stralisemiai
Stralisemiai
14th October 2011 at 7:20 amI clicked the link to ‘like’ your facebook post, but it lead to your information page, I was unsure which bit to like, so.. I shared the Dan Leopards link you had posted on your wall. I am Rach Lines on facebook. (A picture of a pink troll – you can search me looking for user – stralisemiai to confirm this step)
Hope this is satisfactory, @Stralisemiai
GrapeVine
14th October 2011 at 6:36 amHave followed you with GFC (thought I already was, but apparently not) – Grapevine
GrapeVine
14th October 2011 at 6:37 amHave followed you on Twitter @janesgrapevine
GrapeVine
14th October 2011 at 6:37 amHave tweeted @janesgrapevine
Anonymous
14th October 2011 at 6:41 amtweeted @bospherous
simply.food
14th October 2011 at 6:53 amLiked your FB page.
simply.food
14th October 2011 at 6:54 amAlready following your blog.
simply.food
14th October 2011 at 6:54 amShared this announcement on twitter @simplyf00d
simply.food
14th October 2011 at 7:00 amFollowing you on twitter@simplyf00d
nicsnotebook.com
14th October 2011 at 8:06 amThis book looks and sounds amazing!! Every cookbook should have a fabulous chocolate cake recipe – my absol fav!!! 🙂
nicsnotebook.com
14th October 2011 at 8:07 amHave followed via GFC as Nicola (@NicsNotebook) I was already following via RSS feed! x
nicsnotebook.com
14th October 2011 at 8:08 amAm already following you on Twitter (@NicsNotebook) x
nicsnotebook.com
14th October 2011 at 8:08 amHave just tweeted your link as well x
nicsnotebook.com
14th October 2011 at 8:10 amHave added you as a friend on Facebook (Nicola McCandless) and once you accept, I will like your post 🙂 x
GrapeVine
14th October 2011 at 8:17 amNo book is complete without a classic Victoria sponge – so many other more advanced cakes are based on the technique. And a slight twist on the recipe or a change inpresentation can make it unique to the book.
Kath
14th October 2011 at 8:27 amI think it has to be a very good and very easy chocolate cake. Would you expect a different response?
kibibi
14th October 2011 at 8:36 amFollowed you on twitter @kibibidesigns, Google friend – Teresa murphy, request sent on facebook and your link has been posted on twitter. Every good cook book needs a fabulous chocolate cake recipe, the one your kids will love and people will ask you for, that gets used at birthdays, parties, and picnics and you never tire of. Teresa xx
CHOCOAJ
14th October 2011 at 8:42 amIt would have to be friut cake for me 🙂 @CHOCOAJ x
CHOCOAJ
14th October 2011 at 8:43 amI have tweeted your tweet and i am following as @CHOCOAJ xx
CHOCOAJ
14th October 2011 at 8:44 amFollowing on facebook as Amanda Letch xx
CHOCOAJ
14th October 2011 at 8:46 amI mean Fruit cake lol !
Anonymous
14th October 2011 at 9:57 am(My posts are not showing up so trying using Anonymous!)
There should be a robust sponge cake recipe because you can make so many variations.
@beachrambler
Anonymous
14th October 2011 at 9:58 amI am following via GFC – Hazel Rea
@beachrambler
kibibi
14th October 2011 at 9:59 ampost liked on facebook – Teresa murphy, @kibibidesigns x
Anonymous
14th October 2011 at 10:00 amI am following on Twitter – @beachrambler
Anonymous
14th October 2011 at 10:00 amI have tweeted – @beachrambler
simply.food
14th October 2011 at 10:12 amCake recipe simply a must in any book has to be devils chocolate cake that is full of chocolate.
Jennifer
14th October 2011 at 10:42 amI tried to think of something different from the cake most mentioned in the previous comments but as Chocolate Cake was my first thought it seems pointless thinking of something else. So there you have it – a very good chocolate cake is indispensable.
Jennifer
14th October 2011 at 10:44 amI follow you on Google Friend Connect.
Baking Addict
14th October 2011 at 10:50 amObviously a good chocolate cake 🙂 I would love to win one of these!!
Dom at Belleau Kitchen
14th October 2011 at 11:18 amI WANT THIS BOOK!!!… I think a perfect chocolate ake is what’s needed in a good cookbook
Dom at Belleau Kitchen
14th October 2011 at 11:18 amI follow you on twitter and blog
Dom at Belleau Kitchen
14th October 2011 at 11:19 amI have tweeted your message x
Dom at Belleau Kitchen
14th October 2011 at 11:19 amI have liked your facebook post x
Gary
14th October 2011 at 1:04 pmi think three are indispensible: basic sponge, basic chocolate and basic fruit from which many varieties can be created.
Gary
14th October 2011 at 1:06 pmI also follow your blog and follow you on twitter.
Mojca
14th October 2011 at 1:50 pmMany of the nice cakes Dan comes up with in The Guardian would qualify, of course. However, I think everyone needs one good foolproof recipe for a chocolate cake: a type which isn’t fussy, doesn’t require anything fancy and always works, that can be “dressed up” with a bit of cream or ice-cream or some nice frosting perhaps. But if we keep those who don’t like chocolate in mind (not too many, surely), then a good “everyday cake” is a must: a nice, moist, not-too-sweet, goes-with-everything type of cake, with everyday ingredients, perhaps with some fruit, that can be whipped up quickly when the afternoon urge strikes (or friends visit unexpectedly).
Melanie Heavenly
14th October 2011 at 2:02 pmJust tweeted your giveaway @queenocuts – hope I’m lucky
Katie
14th October 2011 at 2:17 pmOhh how exciting! This is a hard question. I think after much thought I’d say it wasn’t necessarily one type of cake recipe, but rather a cake recipe that the author/chef considers to be their signiture cake. The one they are most proud of or famous for. Everyone likes to be able to reporoduce a masterpiece 🙂
Deborah Richards
14th October 2011 at 5:52 pmI already follow you on twitter
I like to see a plain ‘maderia’ type cake in a cookbook with a list of useful adaptations that themselves can be further adapted. Basic recipes encourage imagination as does a lack of pictures: because you don’t have any idea of what they should look like ther can be no comparison or sense of failure, good for the confidence. Encourages everyone to have a go!
Chele
14th October 2011 at 6:09 pmWell my only way to enter is through leaving a comment so I’ll give it a go anyhoo. Of course I am going to say the most important cake recipe in any book has to be a chocolate cake, preferably one that can be added to for the personal touch … I rather think Nigella is great at those kind of recipes but I know that kind of goes against the purpose of your post here teehee
mummy24
14th October 2011 at 6:01 pmchocolate fudge cake
@ashlallan
mummy24
14th October 2011 at 6:01 pmi follow with gfc as mummy24
@ashlallan
mummy24
14th October 2011 at 6:02 pmi follow on twitter as @ashlallan
mummy24
14th October 2011 at 6:02 pmi have tweeted as @ashlallan
Jacqueline
14th October 2011 at 8:37 pmWhy a good chocolate cake of course Choclette 🙂
…. and I have all his unusual ingredients 🙂
Jacqueline
14th October 2011 at 8:39 pmI follow you on Google connect. Oh, I just noticed the whoopie pies, yum! Must go have a look after I do this.
Jacqueline
14th October 2011 at 8:39 pmI follow you on twitter 🙂
Jacqueline
14th October 2011 at 8:41 pmI tweeted your message 🙂
Jacqueline
14th October 2011 at 8:48 pmWhoops, didn’t realise my hubby was signed into facebook, so I have now requested a friendship through him. Re-did it for myself. Try not to report him. He is Graham snd not to blame, hehe. Oh and like button wasn’t working so I shared your story on facebook instead, which I figured is even better 🙂
Janice
14th October 2011 at 8:20 pmThe most important cake recipe for me is Nigella’s Chocolate Guiness Cake, it has never failed and is a big hit with men and boys! Oh dear that doesn’t sound right, I mean my husband and sons, of course!
Janice
14th October 2011 at 8:21 pmI’m already following you on Google Reader.
Janice
14th October 2011 at 8:21 pmI follow you on Twitter
Janice
14th October 2011 at 8:22 pmI’ve tweeted your giveaway.
Janice
14th October 2011 at 8:28 pmTried to like your post on FB but no joy, so sent you a Friend request instead!
Thanks for the giveaway.
Monica
14th October 2011 at 8:39 pmSponge cake for sure. And chocolate cake. Do brownies count? Cuz that should be there too.
Monica
14th October 2011 at 8:40 pmHave tweeted from @monicashaw
Karen S Booth
14th October 2011 at 8:44 pmI REALLY want this book!
My cake would be a classic, light, airy and fluffy Victoria Sandwich…….
Karen S Booth
14th October 2011 at 8:45 pmI already follow on twitter as @KarenBurnsBooth
Karen S Booth
14th October 2011 at 8:46 pmI have tweeted:
“win a copy of @dan_lepard Short & Sweet from Chocolate Log Blog @Choclette8 – bit.ly/pE6ARV”
@KarenBurnsBooth
Karen S Booth
14th October 2011 at 8:52 pmI have sent a friends request on FB as soon as you accept I will Like!
Heidi Roberts
14th October 2011 at 10:27 pmI think a nice fruit cake with brandy. @walpolegirl
Heidi Roberts
14th October 2011 at 10:28 pmI already follow you on twitter @walpolegirl
Heidi Roberts
14th October 2011 at 10:40 pmI have tweeted the message
“win a copy of @dan_lepard Short & Sweet from Chocolate Log Blog @Choclette8 – bit.ly/pE6ARV” @walpolegirl
Heidi Roberts
14th October 2011 at 10:41 pmI have sent friend request on faqcebook.
Baking Addict
14th October 2011 at 10:43 pmfollowing your blog
Baking Addict
14th October 2011 at 10:43 pmfollowing you on twitter (you can tell i really, really, really want this! 🙂
Baking Addict
14th October 2011 at 10:44 pmjust tweeted your message
A Trifle Rushed
15th October 2011 at 6:57 amAs I’m in full Christmas baking mode, a classic fruit cake is the most essential cake recipe!
I already follow you, but don’t have facebook or twitter.
Great competion!
nursey
15th October 2011 at 7:37 amI’m in retro mode at the moment, so am judging all cook books on the quality of their lemon drizzle cakes – got to be soft, not too sweet and with just the right amount of lemon!
nursey
15th October 2011 at 7:38 amam following via GFC
nursey
15th October 2011 at 7:39 amfollowing on twitter as @maxineflossy
nursey
15th October 2011 at 7:40 amhave tweeted @maxineflossy
nursey
15th October 2011 at 7:42 amhave shared your post on f/b!
Monica
15th October 2011 at 1:33 pmI have liked your post on Facebook. =D
celia
15th October 2011 at 9:05 pmI’ve got a copy on its way to me from Amazon, but how nice that they gave you copies of Dan’s book to give away, Choc! 🙂
Chele
16th October 2011 at 7:38 amYou are right – I do already follow your blog ;0)
Chele
16th October 2011 at 7:39 amAnd I do already follow you on facebook too!
happyfox
16th October 2011 at 8:19 amFor me, it would have to be a really good fruit cake. I’m still using a recipe I scribbled down from the TV some 20 years ago 🙂
@happyfox
happyfox
16th October 2011 at 8:20 amFollowing on Twitter
@happyfox
happyfox
16th October 2011 at 8:20 amTweeted @happyfox
happyfox
16th October 2011 at 8:20 amFollowing with GFC
souperior
16th October 2011 at 9:31 amI think it really is essential to have an ultimate chocolate cake in any cookbook – it’s an absolute must for me! Love Dan Lepard’s recipes so really hope I win a copy! 🙂
souperior
16th October 2011 at 9:32 amFollowing you on twitter (@FoodieEmma)
souperior
16th October 2011 at 9:34 amTweeted the competition link! (@FoodieEmma)
Working london mummy
16th October 2011 at 9:53 amfollowing your blog already!
Working london mummy
16th October 2011 at 9:54 amfollowing on twitter too
Working london mummy
16th October 2011 at 9:54 amhave posted to my facebook profile!
Working london mummy
16th October 2011 at 9:54 amhave tweeted the message !!
Working london mummy
16th October 2011 at 9:56 amNow for the fun bit – which cake recipe is indispensible???
a really good chocolate cake – non floury, intensely chocolatey, melt in the mouth. My best one so far is chocolate nemesis from River Cafe cookbook x
fingersandtoes
16th October 2011 at 11:48 amChristmas cake!
fingersandtoes
16th October 2011 at 11:49 amAnd of course I follow you on twitter as well.
eclairre
16th October 2011 at 12:26 pmA classic pound cake!
Johanna GGG
16th October 2011 at 1:13 pmam short on time so that is fine that I can’t enter the comp but I am excited to hear about this book – am a dan fan myself – hope you are enjoying chocolate week – will read that post when I have more time
Sweetpea
16th October 2011 at 2:29 pmA nice simple, rich but decadent chocolate cake recipe is always indispensable to me.
Sweetpea
16th October 2011 at 2:50 pmFollowing on twitter. Twitter name is totally_forked!
Cakefairyblog
17th October 2011 at 7:09 pmMy first thought was a chocolate cake, but as everyone has said that, I will say the next one that popped in to my head and that’s an easy peasy lemon squeezy lemon drizzle cake! Fruity and delicious my absolute go to cake, every cookery book should have a recipe for this! 🙂
Grazing Kate
17th October 2011 at 8:13 pmI follow you on twitter @grazingkate
Grazing Kate
17th October 2011 at 8:14 pm…and I’ve tweeted the competition…
Grazing Kate
17th October 2011 at 8:15 pm…and I follow you on googleconnect or whatever it’s called. Thank you for your comment on my birthday photo!
PS what kind of word is ‘mucation’ to have as the security word verification!!??
Hannah
18th October 2011 at 8:31 pmWhat a great review (and look at all of these comments!).
I haven’t read anything from Dan Lepard, yet. I’m still stuck somewhere between Elizabeth David and my Cordon Bleu books.
I don’t like to see a staple thing in any cookbooks – I look for originality and new ideas rather than re-hashing old recipes again and again (unless they have something radically different to say about them).
Kate@whatkatebaked
18th October 2011 at 8:43 pmI’m always intrigued to see a fruit cake recipe in cookbooks, just to see how different baker’s interpret this classic! Lovely giveaway, and so pleased you like the book- I’m a huge fan of Dan’s too!
Kate@whatkatebaked
18th October 2011 at 8:44 pm… and I follow your blog!…
Kate@whatkatebaked
18th October 2011 at 8:44 pm…and follow you on twitter…
Kate@whatkatebaked
18th October 2011 at 8:45 pm…and will retweet now!…
Rachel A
19th October 2011 at 6:58 amIt has to be a good basic Victoria Sponge, although a delicious chocolate cake is also pretty indispensible!
Gardenteacakesandme
19th October 2011 at 10:07 pmA good fruit cake recipe is essential, well thats my opinion!
@daisyangel1
Gardenteacakesandme
19th October 2011 at 10:08 pmI’m following on GFC
@daisyangel1
Gardenteacakesandme
19th October 2011 at 10:09 pmI’m following you on twitter too
@daisyangel1
Gardenteacakesandme
19th October 2011 at 10:09 pmI have tweeted too
@daisyangel1
Mojca
20th October 2011 at 3:52 pmWe also follow you on Twitter as @astroracoffee and have retweeted the competition reminder.
Sweetpea
20th October 2011 at 6:33 pmHave tweeted the competition reminder!
Sweetpea
20th October 2011 at 6:35 pmopps I’ve tweeted the competition reminder twitter name totally_forked.
Mitch
20th October 2011 at 8:59 pmHmmm… for me at my current stage in life it would be a failsafe birthday cake, one that will become your family birthday cake, able to be adapted but reliable and a bit special. @mitchdafish
Foodiva
20th October 2011 at 11:23 pmA must in every cook book? Definitely chocolate cake, of course! The book just won’t be complete without it.
Oh, in case you’re wondering, I have a UK mailing address too (in case I win…crossing my fingers!).
Foodiva
20th October 2011 at 11:30 pmI followed you on Twitter as @Divababu.
Foodiva
20th October 2011 at 11:31 pmI also tweeted about this giveaway!
Gillbla
21st October 2011 at 3:10 pmI follow you on twitter. I’m @gillbla
Gillbla
21st October 2011 at 3:11 pmI just tweeted as well
Gillbla
21st October 2011 at 3:16 pmI’ve followed you on google connect