Review
America loves cheesecake-and the growing trend is evident in Joyce Ryan's America's Best Cheesecakes: 150 Delicious and Easy-to-Prepare Recipes. Whether creamy, firm, flavored or layered, cheesecake takes on many "identities" as its many formulas are shared.Ryan includes some interesting flavor twists on the old recipe standbys, including those for Eggnog Cheesecake, Apple Pie Cheesecake, Tiramisu Cheesecake, and even a Peanut Butter & Jelly Cheesecake. The appealing dessert is divided into categories of those recipes prepared with either fruit, spirits, coffee, or chocolate among others. Most appealing is Ryan's chapter on 'Special Cheesecakes' with such interesting names as Greek Cheesecake (includes honey), and a Carrot Cheesecake that uses a bit of Curaao liquor.A chapter is devoted to "Success Tips," followed by the summarization-"Ten Cheesecake Commandments," which combined provides a nice guide for first-time cheesecake cooks. America's Best Cheesecakes makes a good kitchen companion for those who take their cheesecake "seriously." -- From Independent Publisher
