Book excerpt: "Belinda Jeffery baked her first cake at the age of five or six, standing by her beloved mother's side. Ever since then, baking has been her passion. In Mix & Bake, she shares 120 of her favourite recipes for cakes, scones, muffins, biscuits, slices, quick breads, pies and tarts, in the hope that they will become your favourites too. The sweet-toothed will be unable to resist macadamia and chocolate chip brownies, a gooey butterscotch peach cake or a mocha cake with shards of coffee bean brittle. Make a simple meal out of dill, ricotta and parmesan muffins by adding a big bowl of salad, or rustle up some pumpernickel and polenta soda bread to serve with soup on a chilly afternoon. Belinda's encouraging words and clear instructions will inspire even the most inexperienced baker, while her gentle advice gives every chance of success. Beautifully illustrated with photographs by Belinda's long-time collaborator Rodney Weidland, this compendium of timeless baking recipes is bound to become a much-loved and well-used addition to your kitchen bookshelf."