Anonymous wrote:Take a couple of classes at Sur la Table. They have them pretty much every day, you work in a small group, and it's quite helpful. They give you technique tips-it's not just about the recipe of the day. Nothing like hands on experience.
Where are you from that doesn't use an oven? Seems like most cultures have some form of bread, and in Asia there isn't much bread but there are cookies and desserts. Just curious.
Seconding the bolded above. I took a pie-baking class this spring (not at Sur la Table, but probably a similar experience), and the hands-on aspect, as well as watching what a professional was doing, and hearing her say "here's where you think you're going to screw up...but you're not!" were absolutely invaluable. I was terrified of making pies before the class, and now I'm very confident. I've made three pies in the comfort of my tiny apartment kitchen since then, which I never thought I would have done. A cookbook wouldn't have given me that experience or confidence.