Title:	Chocolate for Beginners
	Author:	Kate Shaffer
	Published:	November 12, 2019, Rockridge Press
	No. of Pages:	252
	Cover Price:	$19.99 Paperback, $6.99 Kindle

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Anyone who likes to play around a little with chocolate will appreciate Kate Shaffer’s Chocolate for Beginners. The cookbook includes an excellent chapter called Chocolate 101, as well as information on how chocolate is made and origins of chocolate. Also included are fundamental techniques and basic instructions on melting and tempering chocolate.

The best part of the cookbook, of course, is the vast assortment of ethereal chocolate treats. Every chocoholic will be pleased, and anyone who wants to serve something chocolate to friends and family will have trouble choosing which chocolate treat to make first. There are chapters including candy, cakes, pies, and tarts, as well as mousses, cookies, and puddings. Favorites include: Peanut Butter Cups (everyone’s first choice), several different kinds of ganache, and heavenly truffles. Her techniques in the early basic chapters make it possible to successfully follow the easy-to-read recipes, and turn out beautiful chocolate delicacies.

There are step-by-step photographs for the basics, which is very helpful for beginners. However, there aren’t many photographs of the actual recipes. This is the only drawback to this excellent cookbook. While the few photographs of the recipes are beautiful, more are needed – lots more.

All said, this is a “must have” for chocoholics and chocolate lovers who want to learn how to make yummy treats in their own home. Even those who know a little about chocolate and have successfully made chocolate specialties in their homes will learn from the great information and tutorials that Shaffer has included in this book. Highly recommended; this cookbook makes a great addition to a complete cookbook collection.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.