If you never saw the show Sweet Dreams on the Food Network (which is, much to my surprise, still on the air even though it seems like it has been years!), you have been missing out. Hosted by Gale Gand, the pastry chef/owner of Tru restaurant in Chicago, the show was one of the very first programs to be entirely dessert and pastry oriented. And for any fan of baking, it was a must-see. Gand is extremely talented and is the author of a number of cookbooks, but in Gale Gand's Just a Bite: 125 Luscious Little Desserts, she tackles the types of bite sized desserts that are oh-so elegant and still rich enough to satisfy.
Impressive enough for any pastry chef to present after a really elegant meal, the recipes in the book are also- thanks to Gand's clear instructions - perfectly work-able for the home chef looking for something a cut above the average dessert. It includes lots of retro-inspired recipes that will take you back to your childhood, with (Caramel-Orange Rice Crisps) or without (Peppermint Stick-White Chocolate Bark) a twist. Among the other recipes are Cannelés, Blackberry Brown-Butter Financiers and Banana Brûlée Spoonfuls.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-28-2006 @ 2:07PM
Carolyn said...
Not to be the party pooper but I have her newest book Chocolate & Vanilla and have found it to be very disappointing. I'm still going through the recipes in her book so we'll see if more turn out better. I'd like to get the Just a Bite book because I do think she has wonderful ideas... its just that I'm not so sure if she thoroughly tests her recipes to make sure they come out right (good?). I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience?
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12-28-2006 @ 2:10PM
Natalie said...
I gave my sister this cookbook a few years ago and she loves it. It has oodles of tasty recipes. This year, I got her Gand's newest book with Chocolate and Vanilla based recipes. I was able to get Gand to sign it while at a book signing in Chicago. She is very lovely!
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12-28-2006 @ 3:02PM
peabody said...
I actually made the cover recipe.
http://www.culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com/2006/08/22/caramel/
It has some decent stuff. I've liked everything I have made so far.
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