Covering all the traditional teatime favourites such as ginger biscuits, fruit cake and blueberry muffins to more special-occasion treats such as light-as-air meringues, black forest gateau and chocolate chiffon pie, this compilation of 500 recipes is a must for every home baker. A clear and concise introduction outlines the principles behind successful baking, including the importance of accuracy, preheating the oven, advance preparation, careful timing and how to line tins, to guide both novice and experienced cook to the best possible results. Also included are invaluable cook's tips and suggested variations to encourage experimentation and to enable the reader to adapt recipes to suit their tastes and to improve their baking techniques. Every delicious recipe is accompanied by a beautiful colour photograph to both inspire and guide, and the simple step-by-step instructions ensure perfect results every time.