Dessert Bible, The

Rating:
Summary: The Art and Science of Desserts
Review: This is a wonderful book that could not have come into my life at a better time, with the holidays approaching. Mr. Kimball has taken the guess work and fear out of even the most complicated desserts, so I can be assured of perfection. Because he explores both the art AND science of cooking, the book is very readable and enjoyable whether you're in the mood to bake or not. And talk about comprehensive...every heavenly dessert I know is in this book and many I'm dying to try! Thanks, it's going to be on the giving list for several of my favorite cooks this Christmas.

Rating:
Summary: The Curious Baker
Review: This is one of the most interesting cookbooks I have ever read. There is much here to criticize, but there is much more to admire. All things considered, this book is a valuable addition to your bookshelf.

The main problem here is the title of the book. It should be called a Baking Bible, because it covers all the major areas of baking, including cakes, pies, cookies, custards, frosting, tarts, soufflés, puddings, and ice cream. The word "dessert" I do not think conveys the proper comprehensiveness of this cookbook.

Another rather irritating problem is that the recipes are unusually finicky. They have more steps and are more involved than most other recipes. There are extra instructions and steps you usually will not find elsewhere. The author also adjusts standard recipes to suit his own tastes. For example, he often cuts back the amount of sugar, but when I do them, I have to add the sugar back to get the "right" taste. He likes chewy brownies, but when I did the recipe, the texture sort of reminded me of that colored modeling clay we played with when we were kids. So, when you do one of the recipes, make sure you read the header information so you know what he is changing and why. Also, since he is fiddling around with standard recipes, some of them no longer, strictly speaking, qualify for the classic definitions. The frozen lemon soufflé, for example, belongs in the chapter with the Bavarian cream (since that is what it is, regardless of the name).

On the other hand, your chance of success when doing any of the recipes is very high. The author has a good feel for what works and what does not, and also what the average home cook is and is not capable of. Note that some of the recipes are difficult, and have some touchy steps; however, he always clearly notes these steps. Of more importance, he clearly indicates how to tell when something is done and ready to be taken off the stove or out of the oven (you cannot cook by the clock); this by itself is worth the price of admission. My personal pet peeve about cookbooks in general is that the soufflé recipes usually do not work; the author does an admirable job of demystifying the process. All this makes for recipes that are very long and have a lot of explanatory material, which can be daunting to the average home cook.

The most interesting feature of this book is the extensive recipe testing that the author documents. Have you ever wondered what would happen to various recipes if you change the amounts or type of ingredients? How about trying to improve a specific recipe? The author has done all things, and you can read about them. For most recipes, there is an accompanying essay about the search for the proper recipe. This gives the amateur chef plenty of grist for the mill. Whenever I need a recipe, I usually reach for this book first. It is the most used book of my cookbook collection, because I know that the recipes work as specified by the author. It is also an excellent learning tool. When I need to know something (for example, why my pot de crème recipe from another cookbook did not work), this is the book I reach for. Besides: the material relating to the author's tests are extremely interesting and fun to read about; this is one of my favorite cookbooks.

Rating:
Summary: Sweetheart of a Book
Review: Well, Chris Kimball has done it again! As I own all of Kimball's books, I have been anxiously awaiting for this one, and it has not disappointed me. This cookbook is wonderful for all ranges of cooks - beginner to gourmet. He takes the time to explain why he uses certain ingredients and processes - which is fascinating reading for both the above. I especially enjoy the WHAT CAN GO WRONG? section in this book. With everyone so busy these days, these additional warnings are much appreciated. This dessert cookbook has all my favorite recipes - from simple bar cookies to lemon curd cheesecake.There is something for everyone. This book is on my son's Christmas list, as he also loves Kimball's books. He enjoys all the explanations, uses and ratings of cooking equipment from pans to mixers. This book is a must for every cook and should be added to everyone's Christmas Wish List!