Short & Sweet

Rating:
Summary: Quick and Simple
Review: A large number of recipes are presented in this book; you will find almost anything you are looking for, from cakes to custards to pies. I must say, however, that this is a family cook book. The simplicity of the desserts make them suitable for the kids, a family gathering, etc, rather than a formal event where you would like to prepare something extravagant. The recipes do call for alcohol and not many of them turn out as you would expect even if you follow the recipe to the letter. Some baking timings and temperature are inaccurate as well, so you have to use your own experience and judgement in that matter. A nicely done book over all with an introduction for every recipe. Few photos, though, if you are the type who likes to see the finished product before attempting your hand at it.

Rating:
Summary: Not family friendly...
Review: I bought the book thinking I could create wonderful desserts for my family, with more frequency than I currently do. To my disappointment, most of the recipes contain one or more alcoholic ingredients, which usually are not cooked off. No wonder the author loves her desserts, they give her a buzz! I can't serve these to my kids. I found the book a bit too "lush"ous for me.

Rating:
Summary: simple, mouth watering desserts
Review: If you like simple, easy to follow recipes that are quick to prepare, this is the book for you. There aren't any hard to find ingredients and even a "non-baker" like myself can whip up these desserts.

Rating:
Summary: Short and Sweet Is Only the Beginning
Review: Melanie Barnard is a sensible cook with a twinkle in her eye--or that's how it appears from this book. The recipes are practical and straightforward, easy to make and few require hard-to-find ingredients. But at the same time they are innovative and appealing, obviously written by someone who understands food and what pleases dessert lovers. Try this book. There are plenty of recipes for the sophisticated dessert lover as well as someone who likes things a little more down to earth.

Rating:
Summary: Short & Sweet But Not For Everyone
Review: While looking for a few recipes to try, I noticed that most recipes did not require ingredients that would be hard to locate or the cost of the recipe not worth the results. I did find it interesting to note the number of recipes that required alcohol. Not a large amount, but still a far number, especially if you plan on making any of these for children.

I found that the super simple, such as Grilled Pound Cake with Nectarines, were truly done in a flash and tasted every bit as good as they looked. Something like this could be made for a small party without the host or hostess being gone for too long. As recipes got more involved, the taste remained good but not all results were exactly as expected.

Was Mrs. Barnard successful in her objective? For the most part I think she did. The recipes were scrumptious and as the book is titled, sophisticated. If you're looking for easy yet impressive desserts to make for dinner guests, I think you'll find plenty to choose from. Read the instructions carefully and give yourself a little extra time just in case.