Good Housekeeping Chicken!

April 1, 2004
Offering a surprisingly wide range of desserts, this colorful, spiral-bound cookbook will find a welcoming audience among both novice and seasoned chefs. Most of the basics are here-Jelly Rolls, eclairs, Peach Cobbler, Banana Cream Pie, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, Angel Food Cake, Carrot Cake (and a deluxe version, which includes crushed pineapple), Gingerbread-as are some twists on the familiar, like Jeweled Fruit Galettes (instead of fancy fruit tarts), Brown-Butter Peach Tart (for those weary of traditional peach pie) and Peanut Butter Cupcakes (in place of the usual chocolate and vanilla). The authors give preparation and baking time for each recipe, along with specific instructions ("do not over-beat"; "press plastic wrap onto surface to prevent skin from forming"), and even nutritional information for each dessert, including calories, protein, carbohydrates, fat, cholesterol and sodium. Although chefs seeking sophisticated or exotic sweets might be disappointed with this fairly typical roundup, the collection proves that there's something to be said for the consistency-and tastiness-of the tried-and-true.