Customer Reviews

Icebox Pies (Non)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lauren Chattman is going for maximum nostalgic gusto here--note the term "icebox" instead of "refrigerator" or "fridge." With her delightful "Icebox Pies," Chattman turns the spotlight on a sorely neglected dessert subject--and rightly so. The pies herein are scrumptious to look at, and I can attest to the fact that they are easy as, well, pie, to make!

Chattman has a loosey-goosey, conversational style in her text, but this is clearly a woman who knows her way around the kitchen. When she tells the reader what to do, she doesn't just say, "Do it"--she explains her thinking and experience behind the directive. This makes you feel that you're in capable hands, as indeed you are.

I really liked the additions of crust and sauce recipes. I was particularly intrigued by the inclusion of a crust recipe which uses crunched-up ice cream cones as the main ingredient--what a simple yet brilliant idea (wish I'd come up with it myself!). There are old favorites in here, as well as desserts with a new twist: Pumpkin Mousse Pie, Piña Colada Pie, White Chocolate Ganache and Banana Pie, Ricotta Cream Pie with Blood Oranges, Couscous and Apricot Pudding Pie, and so on. The more traditional pies include Rich Chocolate Mousse Pie, Chocolate-Mint Sorbet Pie, Coffee Heath Bar Ice Cream Pie, and even a yumilicious-looking S'Mores Pie.

This slim but well-researched volume is an excellent choice as a hostess gift for the folks with whom you're going on vacation--or as a special treat for your favorite dessert-maker. Everything in here looks do-able, and the results are very, very good in every way.

The description of no-bake and no-fail pies is a bit misleading, since about half (if you exclude the ice cream pies) of pie fillings have to be cooked in a pot on the stove. However, it is true that these pies always work no matter how clumsy you are in the kitchen. You must leave these pies in the refrigerator or freezer for several hours to finish the recipes. Most of all, they taste good and are easy to do, since you never bake them.

I am glad somone wrote this book. The whole spectrum of old fashioned pies that do not get baked has virtually disappeared; to get a recipe, you will need to consult a cookbook that is at least 30 years old. This is ashame, as many of these pies are easy to do and taste fabulous, and are definitely worth doing in your home (but probably not as a restaurant dessert). There is a lot of history in this collection of pie recipes.

The first chapter has 15 recipes for pie crusts. Fortunately for us clumsy people, all of them are based on cookies or crackers that you crush in a food processor. No doughs or rolling pins here. You just press it into a pie pan and bake for a few minutes. My complaint here is that all of them are either very sweet (from using packaged cookies, which is very clever) or strongly flavored (from graham crackers). I could not find one that was relatively neutral in flavor.

There are roughly 70 or so pie recipes. They include mousses and custards (20), chocolate (17), fruit (10), ice cream (17), showstoppers (7). The crusts and finishing touches are listed as suggestions at the end of each pie filling recipe, so you get to choose what you want and can vary them if you want. The fillings are mainly based on cornstarch (custards and pastry cream), whipped cream (cream pies), whipped egg whites, and gelatin (variously bavarian cream, chiffons, mousses, etc., although the author does not always use these terms as appropriate). There are many varied fillings, including a few cheesecakes and some fruit pies.

My complaints are few. Some of the caption texts are pastel colored fonts which are sometimes hard to read. Some of the cooking procedures are unusual and called for extra steps, but are easy to follow and always worked. There is also an occassional lack of detail in the procedures, such as making caramel or mixing melted chocolate into a cold substrate like whipped cream.

I collect cookbooks and this is one of the best! It's easy to follow and the "no-bake" recipes are just outstanding. I truly love the photography in this book (by Duane Winfield--an obvious talent). The strawberry cheese cake pie on page 36 is-to-die-for and so simple! My pie almost looked as good as Mr. Winfield's picture!

I am of the opinion that summertime desserts should be light and cool; they should also be quick and easy since most of us would rather be sunning at the pool, working in our garden, or just enjoying the beautiful weather; we don't want to spend precious time in the kitchen cooking. I recently purchased Icebox Pies by Lauren Chattman, and have been delighted with this book.

Icebox Pies has colorful pictures of numerous decadent pies, all either chilled or frozen. There are recipes for 15 easy to make crumb crusts, which are much quicker than the rolled kind. Of course there is a plain old graham cracker crust which all of us need to make from time to time, but the boring stops there and the remaining crust recipes are much more exciting. The fillings are innovative and absolutely mouthwatering - there is something for every taste here. Ms. Chattman has even included toppings and garnishes so that the pies are suitable for serving at any dinner--from a simple and casual family barbecue to a fancy dinner party.

Besides the colorful pictures, I like the comments on each recipe which give suggestions on ingredients or helpful hints on each particular recipe. The book is well-written and organized. There is an introduction that gives information on the making of icebox pies and also describes icebox pie ingredients. The table of Contents and Index are both excellent.

Although most of the recipes are quick and easy, they don't call for disgusting convenience foods like frozen whipped topping. Ms. Chattman is a real chef and knows what good food is supposed to taste like. She has used her imagination to come up with beautiful, decadent pies that have a minimum of ingredients and can be made ahead. My family loved the Pina Colada Pie and the Rich Chocolate Mousse Pie.

My only problem with this book is that I want to make all 100 recipes every time I look at the book, and can only make one at a time!

tasty combinations, wonderful pictures and yes you can convert to low calorie desserts espectially weight watchers style. All you need do is exchange lite cool whip for heavy cream, and in some pies use the pre made low fat crust in the stores.

Just in time for the summer season of family gatherings and backyard barbecues comes Lauren Chattman's Icebox Pies: 100 Scrumptious Recipes For No-Bake No-Fail Pies. From Coconut Cream Pie; Toasted Almond Semifreddo Pie; Rocky Road Pie; and Frozen Milky Way Pie; to Mango and Coconut Ice Cream Pie; Coffee Health Bar Ice Cream Pie; Blueberry Icebox Pie; and Chocolate-Almond Icebox Pie; these are desserts that would be the perfect topper for any warm weather dining experience, indoors or out! If you are looking for a special dessert for a special occasion, or just some extraordinary toppers to daily family dining, then check out Lauren Chattman's Icebox Pies!

Although the recipes sounded tasty, I returned this book as most of the recipes contained high fat ingredients (lots of cream and butter) and could not easily be modified with lower fat items. If you have fond recollections of simple Eagle Brand-type pies, this book is not for you.