Dreaming Up Deliciously Dimunitive Dessserts

Guest Blogger: Chris Manganaro We often find ourselves fixated with the size of many things in our lives. From our cars and homes to who got the larger piece of cake, everyone always wants to have the bigger piece of the pie in life. What we do not often consider is the idea that good things come in small packages. Due to the fact that people often dismiss this perspective, we sometimes miss out on what really matters. It all comes down to greed. This applies just as easily to dessert, which is something that some people cannot get enough of. They want to have their cake and eat it too. Well, with a recipe like Piecaken from Christy Beaver and Morgan Greenseth's book, Petite Treats, you can do just that. Greenseth and Beaver both show an understanding of the might behind miniature things. Their cookbook, as well as the business which sparked it, were formed on the basis of this thought. The desserts in this book may be small, but they pack a powerful punch both in flavor and presentation. By presenting so much to the senses in such a compact way, the book and desserts speak volumes in their own tiny voice. The book itself is small in comparison to other cookbooks, but not so small as to be impractical. The words are still easy to read and the pictures included are good quality. Another bright side to its smaller size is the fact that there is less white space on the pages, making the book feel full. The use of pictures which relate to the recipe at hand also help to fill the white void without overwhelming the reader. This is all done to compliment the size and enhance the readers experience. Speaking of enhancing the experience, there are side bars on most of the recipes which are labeled as "sweet tips" and are there to assist the readers baking needs. In some cases these tips are rather necessary while other times they are partially silly, pushing the reader not to waste anything. Due to the brevity and wit of the boxed words, they come off merely as gentle prodding and clarification. They are but another part of the books charm. One should have no trouble navigating their way through the recipes in this cookbook. It is split into simply defined sections with an easy to navigate table of contents. The little blurb between sections shows off the writing style and mood of the authors quite well. This is a book written for everyone from hobby bakers to vegans, who will find many recipes that can be altered for them. You do not need to be a seasoned veteran of the kitchen to use this book. Everything is laid out concisely, but also with enough detail that anyone should be able to prepare these desserts. The only downside would be the fact that the book does not have an equipment guide, but this is easily remedied as long as you read through a recipe first as the necessary equipment is mentioned within them. Not everyone's kitchen contains mini scone and whoopie pie pans after all. In the end,there are no small cooks, just petite treats! For more great recipes and culinary travel join 100,000 worldwide subscribers at http://www.marialiberati.com Get your copy of the Gourmand World Award Winning book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking:Holidays &Special Occasions-2nd edition