If bread is the staff of life, then this book by renowned artisanal baker Daniel Leader is every home baker's must-have cookbook. Featuring an amazing array of incredible delicacies made with yeast, Simply Great Breads is the perfect combination of easy and sophisticated recipes, with the keys to unlocking basics of working with yeasted doughs. Who can resist a collection of 50 mouthwatering treats, essential recipes for everyone who loves bread? The menu includes must-bake breakfast classics like crumpets and English muffins, and the three irresistible Bs: bagels, brioche, and bialys ... timeless favorites such as Parker House rolls, ciabatta, and challah ... plus waffles, cider doughnuts, beignets, babka, and monkey bread. Bakers of all skill levels will learn tips and trade secrets from Leader, who has shared his vast knowledge with people around the world. This book is a treasure for all of us who love good bread.  Whether you’re a serious bread baker or someone who’s always wanted to make bread at home but might have been too timid, you’ll find recipes to teach and inspire, to make often, and to share with family and friends. --Dorie Greenspan, author, "Around My French Table" Dan Leader has pulled off the nearly impossible trick of creating uncompromising but easy-to-prepare artisan breads. His common-sense approach to these uncommonly good treats will have even the most jaded baker sprinting back to the kitchen with renewed enthusiasm and inspiration. --William Alexander, author, "52 Loaves"   A "New York Times "Top 10 Cookbooks of the Year 2011 This book is a treasure for all of us who love good bread. Whether you're a serious bread baker or someone who's always wanted to make bread at home but might have been too timid, you'll find recipes to teach and inspire, to make often, and to share with family and friends. --Dorie Greenspan, author, "Around My French Table" Dan Leader has pulled off the nearly impossible trick of creating uncompromising but easy-to-prepare artisan breads. His common-sense approach to these uncommonly good treats will have even the most jaded baker sprinting back to the kitchen with renewed enthusiasm and inspiration. --William Alexander, author, "52 Loaves" When did bread become so complicated? Too many new bread books are thick with words, expounding on dry topics like the differences between a levain and a poolish. This slim volume, perfect for novices, contains just 28 recipes that manage to cover a lot of ground, from English muffins to ciabatta to chocolate babka. --"The Modesto Bee (CA)" Lauren Chattman is a cookbook author and former professional pastry chef who has written 10 books, including most recently "Dessert Express". She collaborated with former White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier on" Dessert University" and with Daniel Leader on "Local Breads", which won an IACP award. She has appeared on "The Today Show" and has sold over 50,000 books on QVC. She can be seen demonstrating baking techniques for Pillsbury on www.howdini.com.