'Savory Baking: Warm and Inspiring Recipes for Crisp, Crumbly, Flaky Pastries'
by Mary Cech
Photography by Noel Barnhurst
Chronicle Books -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Baking doesn't have to be a sweet thing, as Mary Cech proves in her new cookbook "Savory Baking." The veteran pastry chef turns traditional pastries upside down with recipes for seafood strudel, Yukon gold brown betty and caprese-salad-filled profiteroles in this mouthwatering book.

You don't have to throw out everything you know about baking to feel at home in Cech's kitchen. Instead, you'll use your skills to whip up creative twists to the classics.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Takeaway tips: Check for doneness at least 5 minutes before the suggested time. Brush excess flour off of pasty dough before baking to ensure there's no burnt floury taste.

Quality of pictures: Noel Barnhurst's up-close photos of crumbling muffins, moist shortcake and colorful, chunky chutney are so gorgeous, we'd like more.

We tested: Chile-Cheese Gratin Sandwiches



Jalapenos give this quick cheese bread a subtle kick, and a slathering of cheddar topping (cheesy butter really) turns it into a decadent treat. The recipe for this cheddar bread is a snap once all the prep work is done. Cech combines a stick of butter with a cup of sharp cheddar cheese, a quarter cup of Romano cheese and salt, garlic powder and Worcestershire for this spread she likes to broil on top of slices of bread and tomato.

(One bugaboo, the recipe called for peeled "mild green chiles" which we couldn't find in the Mexican aisle of our grocery store. The only place we found anything labeled "mild green chile" was at Trader Joe's.)

Worth the investment: This is a book for those who like to bake and are willing to go out on a limb and try new ideas and flavors. If you're looking for a basic baking manual, this may not be for you.