Monday, October 12, 2015

Fall 2015 Bake From Scratch magazine

I have been a magazine junkie for as long as I can remember. I started with Tiger Beat and Teen (Teen published my first letter to the editor when I was still in junior high) and worked my way up to Seventeen, Glamour, and then Newsweek and Time when I decided to become a journalist. Years later, when I became editor of a local magazine, I bought even more magazines because I wanted to see what "the big guys" were doing, and I have always been eager to check out new magazines I hear about. I hadn't heard a thing about Bake From Scratch magazine, but I saw it on the newsstand  recently and decided to flip through it. I have this rule: if I open to three pages and don't see anything I care about, I'm done. Through. You've got three chances to get my attention, and that's it. Lately, I've noticed how very similar magazines have become. Christmas magazines? I've seen those pretty wreaths and candy-cane-covered trees a million times before. Fall cooking magazines? Oh, who doesn't need one more article on how to cook the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. The anything-with-Vintage-in-the-title magazines? If I see one more article on chalk paint, someone is going to get hurt. (My, that sounds snarky for a Monday morning, doesn't it? Sorry!) But I've said all that to say this: I reached for Bake From Scratch magazine and loved everything I saw. That Apple Spice Cake on the cover? What a great and yet somehow moody photo.

Inside the magazine, I found a Vanilla Buying Guide, and I needed that. You know how the Barefoot Contessa always tells everyone to use "the good vanilla"? I've always assumed she means expensive, only-available-in-the-Hamptons vanilla, so it was lovely to read about the history of vanilla as well as the difference between the various pure vanillas and extracts.

As I flipped through the magazine, I already knew I was going to buy it, and then I saw this feature on scones. And aren't they beautiful scones?

And here are some more beautiful scones, and guess what? The magazine has 12 whole pages of beautifully photographed scones and recipes! Sweet Potato Sage Scones? Pear Chai Spiced Scones? Vanilla Bean and Cardamom Scones? I think I'm in love. The magazine costs $12.99, and I wonder if that's a sustainable price level for such a publication, but it turns out the publisher is Hoffman Media, which has a long history of making successful business decisions and so far has done just fine without my input. Hoffman is also publisher of our beloved Tea Time, and as I flipped past the page from the editor (some guy named Brian), I flipped back and realized the editor is one of Phyllis Hoffman's sons, Brian Hoffman. So if you're a passionate baker, scone maker, and/or magazine junkie, be sure to check out this magazine. My husband and I call it the Garden & Gun of baking, and I'm so impressed with this first issue and wish them all the best.

14 comments:

  1. That dies look like a lovely magazine! Those scones look so good - the Cheerios I'm munching right now seem very dull by comparisons!

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  2. Goodness! I've never seen that! And the price would have put me off...but with the pedigree, I'll look for it. Would love the scone section! Nice to hear of your evolution through journalistic country!
    Ruth

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  3. Oh, I am liking this mag! Haven't seen it yet but you have my attention! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Went to Amazon and ordered it with my reward points - I love the "spoil me" things I can buy with guilt-free cash-free points! Appreciate the recommendation, looks like a keeper in the recipe cabinet. Thanks! ♥

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  5. The cover reminded me of King Arthur Flour's new magazine, Sift. I'll have to look for this new magazine. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

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  6. I also just bought "Bake" last weekend. The hefty price tag might be a stretch for some people, but it is coffee-table worthy. The paper it's printed on is like fine art material, and the images have this beautiful look about them (and, yes, Ginger...reminiscent of KAF "Sift"...already into my second issue of that!). I can't wait to try some new scone recipes...they are all so different and interesting. Love it! Cherie

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  7. I thought I was seeing a little"give" in my clothing and then I got on a role of baking and making recipes I had longed to try. I am in such trouble!

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  8. Angela, this made me lol! "If I see one more article on chalk paint, someone is going to get hurt."
    Ok, now I'll stop laughing. It really looks like a great, the items seem to jump off the page. Drizzles of frosting on scones is something I haven't tried, would be nice for company. Thanks for the intro to the new magazine.

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  9. Oh, this magazine sounds wonderful!
    Back in my "bookstore days," I enjoyed any magazine from Hoffman Media - they sure had such interesting photos, recipes and stories and I was "in!"

    Their price was higher (bookazine pricing) but I found a way to justify it. Your review reminded me how much I enjoyed reading them. Thanks so much for sharing, Joanie

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  10. ps Angela: your chalk paint comment was hilarious! I look at some HGTV / design websites and CHALK PAINT is all the rage!
    The other big discussion: paintings of cows, yeh-or-nay?

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  11. Got the magazine and love it!!
    Just working on the sour dough starter!!

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  12. Does anyone know what the subscription price will be, assuming subscriptions will be offered?

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  13. Kudos to all you bake from scratch devotees. I will never understand how a cake mix and canned icing will ever measure up to honest baking. I'm also tired of hearing "but it saves time lament".
    Just as easy to create something memorable. Lovely magazine, Great photography..

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  14. I just found your sight. I, too, am a magazine junky. And I, too, have become disenchanted with the recent selection. During the past holiday season, I bought only 2 - very unusual. I have purchased and read cover to cover both the new SIFT and Bake from Scratch. Both publications are quality hand material and the recipes are wonderful. I also like the fact the King Arthur publishes a correction page for the back issues.

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