Classic Home Desserts
By Richard Sax
Binding: Hardcover with dust jacket
Type of Cookbook: Classic, old timey and historic desserts cookbook
Photography: Limited, color food photography
Level of Cooking Skills Required: simple to intermediate
Contents: 350 recipes of varying lengths — English baking is strongly represented. Many of which have been passed down through the generations to find new life in updated and adapted American recipes. A number of other ethnicities are also represented. However, except for a few nods to Carribean baking, this book primarily contains European desserts and adaptations. There is a small chapter on World Pasteries, but, it is also devoted to European style pasteries. Most of the recipes start with a brief paragraph or two including historic information, nostalgia, recipe tips, or serving suggestions.
Pros: This is an amazingly large collection of quality recipes that possess Old World flare, but, have been adapted to meet modern standards of baking. They aren’t needlessly elaborate or too simple (to me this means a simplified ingredient list with missing spices…I refuse to sacrifice quality for a shorter ingredient list). Adaptations are done with considerable style, elegance and a respect to the original. And, I see this book easily working its way into my top 5 baking books.
Cons: For me…none. However, I could see some criticizing the photography. I enjoy the vintage feel that the photos portray. And, I find this very appropriate for a book on old timey recipes.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. I know I will enjoy the recipes the way that they’ve been printed. And, maybe even more for the adaptations that I will experiment with over time. I cannot believe that this book is no longer being published. It contains a collection of recipes that every good baker should have at his or her fingertips. I love the massive size and scope of this book. It is an amazingly brilliant blend of English baking, that turns to early American baking and then on to modern American baking. As well as, the Old World recipes that our grandmothers and great grandmothers passed on through the generations to be loved by all today. Some of these recipes might be saved for special occasions or holidays due to the traditional blanket we throw over them. But, they deserve to be baked every day. Why save such wonderful taste memories and delicious traditions to a couple times a year??
Verdict: A must-have cookbook that fills a very specific niche… and fills it brilliantly.
