How to Raise a Loaf

This is not just a cook book for bread, this is an entire story and life lesson on ALL THINGS BREAD! What a masterfully crafted book with gorgeous photos and details. Want to bake bread, learn all about it and love everything as you create your own loaf? This is THE BOOK then! Get all floured up and learn to raise the perfect loaf!

Thank you so much Laurence King Publishing Ltd & NetGalley for my complimentary eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

How to Raise a Loaf: and fall in love with sourdough is a tutorial guide and recipe collection by Roly Allen. Due out 26th May 2020 from Laurence King publishing, it's 112 pages and will be available in flexibound format.

Although not isolating at home (I'm a healthcare worker for my day job), I've certainly traveled and eaten out much *much* less (as in not at all) since the lockdowns. This means that I've had a lot more time to devote to reading, writing, knitting, sewing, gardening, and other crafty pursuits. I was happy to receive this eARC because making a concerted effort to learn to make sourdough had been on my to-do list for years.

A very general introduction in plain language includes the basic who, what, why, when, and how to's. The author has a very down to earth and engaging manner of writing that is fun and encouraging. He does emphasize the potential physical and mental benefits of doing something thoroughly and well. Sourdough takes time. The continuity and rhythm of doing something which requires action (even simple action) over time can be a significant source of routine in world where everything feels very unsettled, upside down and backwards. His basic starter was unusual in my experience (comparing his method to the tutorials on youtube) in that it starts by stacking the deck in favour of the microorganisms by introducing both natural yogurt and a source of fructose. The introduction includes a couple of short easy-to-follow technique tutorials as well as a solid subchapter on necessary equipment.

Extras, fancier presentations, alternate starter routines, and other artistic enhancements are covered in the following chapter. The author also includes a good troubleshooting section and commentary on different types of containers for baking as well as tips and tricks for getting the best results.

The recipes are varied and well presented. Ingredients are listed in a bullet style list. Measurements are standard (metric) with American units in parentheses. Step by step cooking instructions are well formatted and easy to follow. The loaves are beautifully photographed (including a number of photo-series tutorials to help with clarity in some steps). There are numerous wildly different loaves here (14 by my rough count). The Provencale fougasse with olives was the first we tried after a couple of successes with the starter loaves. It was chewy and "toothsome" and disappeared whilst it was still warm.

The author has also included a short glossary and resource list for further reading.

All in all a very accessible guide, clearly and well written with good clear photos. I'm impressed and pleased at my success with the techniques presented by the author here.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Baking bread may seem like a daunting activity, especially when it comes to a new ingredient like sourdough.

The book itself is beautiful: it is full of close-up pictures of sourdough bread and the fonts are very stylish.

I really liked that the book includes step-by-step instruction with pictures and used straight-forward non-nonsense vocabulary. I personally find it confusing when recipe books talk about specific tools that I am not familiar with so this was a refreshing approach!

Secondly, this is not just a recipe book, it is a mindfulness book as well. Roly shares a lot of personal wisdom with the reader. I was surprised to see this but at the same time it made a big difference in my life. So now not only do I know how to bake sourdough but I also feel like a new person!

In How To Raise A Loaf, Roly Allen brings a refreshing approach to sourdough baking, from ingredients to techniques, you will find yourself immersed in his words. This is a great accessible book for the whole family!

Disclosure: I’d like to thank Laurence King Publishing Ltd for an advanced copy of How To Raise A Loaf And Fall In Love With Sourdough by Roly Allen. This is my honest review.

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A brilliant guide for the beginner and more experienced Baker. This covers everything you could possibly need to know. It is well presented, well written and great pictures. Step by step instructions, written in plain English and no jargon. Wonderful for everyone to try there hand at, which I encourage as there is nothing like the smell or taste of home baked bread.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Having baked bread occasionally over the years I thought it was about time I got serious and attempted sourdough bread. This book gives some excellent advice and, in my opinion, pitched at the right level for a novice or more experienced baker. There is plenty of guidance on techniques and problems that you may encounter on your baking journey. My sourdough starter is active and it’s time to get baking. The book has some excellent recipes and I look forward to trying some of them in the coming months.