Customer Reviews

Instant Gratification: No-Hassle Desserts in Just About No Time

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

 

 

This is a family dessert book designed and written for the home cook. The ingredients are easy to find and the recipes are simple and straight forward. Some of these recipes can actually be prepared in 10 mins and the results can actually be quite impressive. However, they call for a lot of sour and heavy cream, which are quite high in fat, and some call for a lot of butter as well. I was also disappointed by the lack of photography; I always like to see a picture of the finished product before attempting to try a recipe. The only photos you'll find in this book are on the cover.

A wonderful cookbook! I read the New York Times review for this book and placed my order immediately. My appetite was whetted by the scrumptious mexican chocolate pudding that I made the very night of the book's arrival. Although some of the recipes may not be prepared in the fifteen minutes estimated by the author, the recipes are quick, easy and delicious. The format of the book allows for fun dessert-making and more importantly, fun eating. Enjoy!

I often begin to think about making dessert too late and wind up just serving ice cream. But this book really makes quick dessert making easy! A minimal amount of ingredients are needed -- most are probably already in your pantry -- and they can be made just before dinner or even while the family is eating the main course. Great taste for miminal effort. And great ideas for doing new recipes with seasonal fruit. The apple or peach pizza is a real winner in my house!

The recipes in this book really are quick, easy to prepare and delicious. People might even guess that you spent hours in the kitchen! A wide range of desserts are offered, so everyone should find something tempting. Ingredients are usually kitchen staples and will be on hand in most kitchens. Good recipes for anyone who doesn't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

The introduction of "Instant Gratification" goes into the elements of a good 15-minute dessert, like a streamlined ingredient list and carefully-constructed recipes. Ms. Chattman also goes into ways that you can make your recipes go faster, like being organized and working deliberately. The 15-minute mark, by the way, doesn't include things like baking time or chilling time. It's for the actual work you have to do. The intro also discusses various time-saving kitchen implements and ingredients.

Only one of the chapters ("When You've Got to Have It: Unbelievable Desserts in 15 Minutes Flat") actually guarantees you a 15-minute time frame. The others might take you, oh... 20 minutes. Or 25. And the recipes aren't just quick, they're easy. They come with lists of equipment so you won't get caught short.

My only gripe with this cookbook is that some of the ingredient measurements are a little off. For instance, we found that the amount of gelatin called for in a couple of chilled recipes wasn't quite enough. Otherwise, however, the tastes are fabulous! For example, we made the White Chocolate-Mint Truffles. Bet you didn't think you could make truffles in just a few minutes, huh? Well, okay, we were dubious too. The only thing that took a little time with the truffles was chopping the white chocolate. Then you add some hot ingredients and melt it into one big mass. You add the mint extract and refrigerate. Once it's set, you sit down with a bowl of cocoa powder. You dig out bits of white chocolate goo, roll them into balls, roll them in the cocoa powder, and stick them in the refrigerator. That's it! And oh, were they delicious--as has been every single other recipe we've made from this book.

So if you sometimes need a dessert in a hurry, or just want to take a break and make something quick and easy, "Instant Gratification" is a great cookbook to have around!

I have tried several of the recipes, from the gingerbread squares to the rum-rasin sauce, and each has been a resounding success with my guests and family. The "Instant" in the title is a promise fulfilled 125 plus times over, and the "gratification" is big. Everyone who entertains on weekends must have a copy of this book.

Love this book. I have lots of dessert cookbooks but this one is my go-to. It's pages are splattered and full of notes about when I made something and how I may have changed it and how it turned out. From the Almond Scented Cream Cake which has been my daughter's birthday cake for the last seven years to Classic Scottish Shortbread I made for the first time yesterday each recipe is simple and easy and yummy!

I have found a couple of times when I needed to adjust amounts or the like and yesterday's shortbread needed a hotter oven than the 250* listed but no deal breakers in the batch.

This is a great resource for someone who likes to make dessert but is short of time or not interested in the tedium that comes with many elaborate recipes. Likewise, someone who is just getting started would appreciate the simplicity and straight forward directions, not to mention the use of pantry staples.