Cookbook: A Passion for Desserts

I Love Desserts

A Passion for Desserts

by Emily Luchetti

In this stunning book, Emily Luchetti shares her vast knowledge, invaluable techniques, and inspired innovation in sublime seasonal dessert recipes that are straight-forward and easy-to-prepare. Home cooks will catch Emily's 'passion for desserts' and forever treasure baking for family and friends. —Flo Braker, author of The Simple Art of Perfect Baking and Small Miniatures

Ripe peaches, velvety caramel, tangy grapefruit, warm custard. Working as a professional pastry chef, writer and teacher for over 20 years, Emily Luchetti finds it impossible not to spend at least some portion of her day thinking about something sweet.

In her third dessert cookbook, Emily shares over 80 delicious dessert recipes that are sophisticated yet simple to prepare, with easy to follow, step by step instructions. Organized around the seasons, Emily's recipes make the most of flavorful ingredients harvested at their peak of ripeness. Strawberry parfaits layered with honey cream in Spring; buttery slices of poppyseed cake bursting with ripe raspberries or cool plum granita in summer; celebrate autumn's harvest with warm spiced apple crépes and pumpkin upside-down cake with cranberry pecan topping; and, the ultimate nightcap on a cold winter's night—Double Chocolate Hot Chocolate.

An introductory chapter describes which equipment you really need and the best items to stock in the pantry. And a chapter of frequently used recipes provides the building blocks for creating each dessert—from the simplest pudding to the most elegant cake. Perfect for all levels of ability, A Passion for Desserts will help home cooks discover their own passion for baking with its delightful recipes and melt-in-the-mouth photographs. It's a treat for the senses and the perfect way to share the sweet life with friends and family.

About the Author

Emily Luchetti honed her skills as the pastry chef at Stars restaurant. Twice, the James Beard Foundation nominated her as the best pastry chef in the country in 1993 and 1994. Her books include, Stars Desserts (nominated for an IACP cookbook award) and Four Star Desserts (nominated for a James Beard Foundation cookbook Award). Now the pastry chef at Farallon in San Francisco, she contributed the dessert recipes for The Farallon Cookbook. She and her recipes have been featured in numerous publications including, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Martha Stewart Living, Fine Cooking, Self, Shape, Ladies Home Journal, Family, Circle, Better Homes and Gardens, McCalls, Newsweek People, and Food Arts.

Ngoc Minh and Julian Wass are a husband and wife photography team who shoot food and lifestyle projects for a variety of domestic and international magazines, including, Real Simple, Elle Decoration UK, Martha Stewart Living, House Beautiful and Travel + Leisure.

Buy the Book!

A Passion for Desserts
by Emily Luchetti
Chronicle Books
192 pages with color photographs thoughout
$35.00 hardcover
ISBN: 0-8118-3178-7