Pastries & Desserts

IN MY VIEW, a meal is never complete without a dessert, be it cake, fruit, ice cream, or pastry. When serving a meal, try to pace the courses so your guests will be satisfied after finishing the entrée, yet will still be looking forward to dessert. Children seem to do this naturally, and in our home, no matter what the main course has been, my girls—even though they are now grown women—always ask, “What’s for dessert?”

In the following chapter, I have included most of my favorites, omitting only those that take an excessive amount of time to make. Most of these pastries and desserts can be made either completely or partially in advance, while others need only a quick, final assembly before serving. Since the final course often determines the success of a meal, knowing that you already have a marvelous dessert ready allows you to relax and prepare the rest of the meal with confidence.