Review: How could there not be `any room?' for these delicious desserts?
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 22, 2012
Chef/author Diane Bricker provides something in this sparkling, warm-hearted book of favorite recipes that immediately endears her to the reader - and cook.  She is down home in style of writing, in practicality of preparation and baking, and in keeping the great desserts she shares from her own experiences as a life long cook and mother and caterer her personal recipes for her favorite (and uncomplicated) desserts. The pleasure she derives in creating and serving these gems to her family and friends now extends to us - but then after reading and following her recipes she has become one of our friends!  Aiding her cause I her editor Alex Bricker (yes, the association is correct!) and photographer Cherryl Hewett who makes Diana's creations almost jump of the pages in her colorful photographs of the finished dishes.The spectrum of desserts is immense, varied, and the equal of any of the highfalutin expensive restaurant dishes.  Here are the recipes for such original ideas as Piña Colada Cake, Irene's Irish White Cake, Cappuccino Brownies, Versatile cheesecake (who know it could be so simple to assemble?), Pie in the Sky (aka Berries on a Cloud), Cherry Dump Cake, Grandma Jerrie's Pumpkin Cookies, Chocolate Birthday Cake with Butter Cream Frosting, Brownie Peanut Butter Trifle, 3 Ingredient Lemon Ice Cream Dessert, German Chocolate Cheesecake and more and more.  Diana divides her recommended deserts between Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter.Once she has teased our palette sufficiently she sets out to give us a bit of personal experience with each recipe, her decisions on how she varies it, then lists the ingredients needed and follows that with explicit instructions on how to concoct the little miracle including how to garnish it and present it.  There is so much honest love in this book of shared secrets that it immediately answers its own title - ANY ROOM? - Of course - get going on all of them.  Grady Harp, November 12