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Don't bother with any other dessert cookbooks: this is the
one. Lee Bailey's Country Desserts is filled with simple,
luscious, unpretentious desserts that'll make you wet your
pants. I've made scads of these desserts and I've yet to make
one that didn't turn out exactly as described or that didn't
melt in my mouth.
The genius of this cookbook lies in the combination of old-fashioned,
easy-to-execute recipes and beautiful photography. The cookbook
itself is oversized, and the pictures and even the type are
generously sized as well (so it's easy to read while you're
in the throes of whipping or handling a hot pan). The layout
is both stunning and simple: two full pages of breathtaking
photographs, followed by two pages of the recipes depicted
(it speaks well of the recipes that they fit in a compact
space).
Every single recipe features a large beautiful photograph.
Bonus: all of the desserts are simply presented--there's no
hard-to-duplicate froufrou crap masking an otherwise unappealing
dessert. There's not one bit of presentation that even a kitchen
klutz couldn't reproduce. For instance, none of the 32 ice
creams is garnished with anything fancier than a fruit slice
or a sprinkle of nuts. Most of the desserts are photographed
in simple dishes and natural light. Lovely.
If it sounds like I'm gushing, it's for good reason. This
cookbook is the shit. Cake and ice cream, custards, cobblers,
pies, cookies, candies, fresh fruit--Lee Bailey's Country
Desserts has it all, and it's all sure to please. There's
even a chapter devoted to extra-easy recipes for the kiddies.
And if you're new to baking or outfitting your kitchen, Mr.
Bailey has even included an appendix of favorite equipment.
What a nice man!
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