Sweet! is half an informative guide on the different kinds of existing sweeteners (sugar, honey, syrups, etc.), and half a recipe book. What I really like about this book is the fact that it tackles scientific aspects, historical trivia and wide range of the substance that makes our desserts sweet.
The book, in effect, made me change my perspective so that baking, to me, will never be the same again – all because I now look more carefully at the kinds of sweeteners (and other ingredients too, since this book gives some info on flours, eggs and other useful & necessary ingredients) that are commercially available in the market. Very nice to chew on.
I do have a problem with the actual recipe portion, though. Besides the fact that there are very few pictures here (8 pages of glossy paper in the middle of the book is sadly not enough space for the products of the 100+ mentioned recipes), I am having some trouble getting the ingredients Niall requires for his recipes (e.g. fine sea salt, unbleached organic all purpose flour). This is, of course, probably due to the fact that I live in a far off country, and therefore have some difficulties obtaining so and so ingredients xD
Otherwise, a really informative read!
Sweet!: From Agave to Turbinado, Home Baking with Every Kind of Natural Sugar and Sweetener by Mani Niall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars