Retro Desserts, by Wayne Harley Brachman, is one of my favorite cookbooks. I love Brachman's easy writing style and the illustrations of the desserts are fantastic. He dots the book with bits of trivia about the names and origins of dishes. I only wish that the book was even longer! This is not Brachman's newest cookbook, but it is an excellent one. The recipes are all his versions of favorites from the '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s, and include everything from Grasshopper Pie to Diner-Style Strawberry Shortcake.
We've featured one of the recipes from this book here at Slashfood recently, homemade Oreo cookies. It's hard for me to say what my favorite recipe is, though. Belgian waffles? Cream-filled chocolate cupcakes? Homemade graham crackers? The strawberry chiffon pie that is featured on the cover of the book is excellent, too. By and large, the recipes are easy to follow and clearly written. As with most baking books, it's important to be precise to ensure that you get the best result - and you probably won't be disappointed.












