Pies & Tarts (Maida Heatter Classic Library) (Hardcover)

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Key Phrases: vegetable parer peel, flat dessert plates, chilled beaters whip, Grand Marnier, Granny Smith, Key Lime Pie (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

There is no better way to impress a houseguest than with a dessert by Maida Heatter. While this is not a cookbook for beginners (some of the recipes run three pages in length), those who venture forth to try Heatter's masterpieces will not be disappointed. The Queen of Desserts, as she has been called for decades, has included handy cooking basics, from the best way to wash blueberries to how to tell if you really have a pint of strawberries (it will actually measure a quart and will weigh a pound). Her recipes are the stuff of heaven: Savannah Banana Pie with Macaroon Crust, Coffee and Cognac Cream Pie, Pear and Almond Tart, and Washington State Cherry Cobbler. Heatter's recipes, while on the longish side, are simple to follow. You'll pick up tips for making pies perfect and learn the difference between a buckle, a crisp, a cobbler, a crumble, and a betty. The book goes beyond tarts and pies to include other desserts such as bread puddings, flans, soufflés, ices, sorbets, and mousses.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing; 1st edition (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0836250753
• ISBN-13: 978-0836250756
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #536,275 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT BUT NOT FOR BEGINNERS, March 21, 2000

By A Customer

While this book is excellent and the recipes, though long, are usually easy to follow, they can still be difficult and I would recommend that a beginner start with an easier, more basic book. More advanced bakers, however, should love this book. While it concentrates on pies and tarts of all kinds, Ms. Heatter also details cobblers and crumbles, custards and glaces and much, much more. She also gives us practical advice, such as the correct way to wash fruit, etc. Real pie baking is an art, so be prepared to put a lot of time and effort into these recipes. It will be time and effort very well spent. I, myself would have preferred illustrations of some of these delicious concoctions.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, February 22, 2000

By	MELINA RAZI (Greece) - See all my reviews

Easy to follow instructions. Every recipe I tried was a success. The lack of pictures is a minus. I strongly recommend it

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I could not bake without Maida!, August 17, 2007

By	E. MAZZONE-CLEMENTI (California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a disastrous cook. But I'm becoming quite the accomplished 'dessert chef' (at least home baker!) thanks to Maida Heatter. I have her book on Cakes as well as this one on Pies and they are both invaluable resources.

All the techniques you need to memorize are in the front of each book, thoroughly and descriptively written so that the most lowly of beginners can understand. Things you might take for granted as common-sense or common-knowledge but are really essential for a good result are spelled out clearly. It might take some time to read all this (slowly... carefully...), but it is time well-spent.

Maida has a wonderfully cheery and over-descriptive style that suits my tastes and inspires me to not only cook but also eat that which is written!

The only drawback is the lack of photos. For some, this might be a big problem. For those with good imaginations, the rest of this essential baker's manual makes up for it in practical content and delicious fail-proof recipes.