I'm not sure how much my being a native Texan -- comfortable with the author's friendliness and familiar with many of the flavors and ingredients -- has to do with the fact that these recipes seriously appeal to my taste buds.

Rarely do I come across a cookbook where I feel compelled to try my hand at every single recipe. The presentation of the recipes in The Pastry Queen, combined with the photos reminiscent of a town I really, really enjoy, provides the impetus for me to do so. If that weren't enough, the recipe names really do the rest....

Breakfast Eats, Muffins and Scones

Jailhouse Potato-Cinnamon Rolls
Fresh Ginger Pear Quick Bread
Eddie's Autumn Pumpkin Bread w/Pecan Streusel Topping
Jonnie's Breakfast Granola
Kolaches
Mother's Day Pancakes
Individual Baked Omelets
Creme Brulee French Toast
Banana Bran Muffins
Peach Jam Scones
Chocolate Chip Scones
Apple-Smoked Bacon and Cheddar Scones
Essence of Orange Muffins
Whole Lemon Muffins

Pies and Tarts

Texas Big Hairs Lemon-Lime Meringue Tarts
Texas Big Hairs Chocolate-Hazlenut Meringue Tarts
Bourbon Pumpkin Tart with Struesel Topping
Fredericksburg Peach Cream Cheese Tart
Frangelico-Hazlenut Fruit Tart
Black-and-White Cranberry Tarts
Buttermilk Pecan Pie
Fourth of July Fried Pies
Aunt Mollie's Coconut Cream Pie
Chef Mark's Southern Comfort Apple Pie
Silken Chocolate-Walnut Tart
Grasshopper Pie

Everyday Desserts and Candies

Emergency Fruit Crostatas
Petite Pavlovas with Lemon Cream and Fresh Fruit
Hill Country Peach Cobbler
Individual Pear-Maple Cobblers
Mexican Chocolate Fudge-Pecan Cake
Mahogany Cake
Orange-Date Bundt Cake
Totally Rummy Pound Cake
Glazed Lemon-Cranberry Loaf Cake
Oatmeal Crisps
Cappuccino Cheesecakes
Mrs. Chisholm's Divinity
Coconut Cream Flan
Texas Pralines

Desserts for Special Occasions

American Beauty Cake
Tuxedo Cake
Larger-than-Life Praline Cheesecake
Bananas Foster Shortcakes
Strawberry Ricotta Cake
Peach Queen Cake with Dulce de Leche Buttercream Frosting
Cream-Filled Pumpkin Roll
Mini Apple-Cinnamon Loaves with Calvados Glaze
Espresso Creme Brulee
Toffee Bar Brownie Torte
Tiramisu with Homemade Ladyfingers
Dulce de Leche - Arborio Rice Pudding
Muchas Leches Cake with Sugared Almonds
Almond Bliss German Chocolate Cake
Seventh Heaven Chocolate Truffle Cake
White Chocolate--Snickers Mousse
White-on-White Buttermilk Cake with Jack Daniel's Buttercream
Tropical Carrot Cake with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting

Cookies, Brownies and Bars

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
Triple-Threat Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sugar Saucers
Chock-Full-of-Nuts Cookies
Cafe Chocolate-Cherry Bites
Caramel-Filled Brownies
Turbo-Charged Brownies with Praline Topping
Double-Ginger Chews
Ruby-Flecked Florentines
Dulce de Leche Macaroons
Snow-Tipped Sand Tarts
Texas Pecan Pie Bars
Blackberry Pie Bars
Lemon-Champagne Bars with Strawberry Brulee Topping
Bunches of Biscotti

Lunches and Dinners

Beer Bread
Rocket Rolls
Nuevo Texas Waldorf Salad
Rather Rich Corn Muffins
Apple-Almond Chicken Salad with Homemade Mayonnaise
Field Greens with Spiced Pecans, Goat Cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Chicken Satay with Yogurt-Cucumber Dipping Sauce
Caesar Salad Pizzas
Wild Rice and Chickpea Salad
Wild Mushroom Soup
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Texas Tortilla Soup
Gulf Coast Shrimp Quesadillas
Brie and Brisket Quesadillas
Rather Sweet Bread and Cheese Board
Green Chile Crab Cakes with Tomatillo Salsa
All-Sold-Out Chicken Pot Pies
Prosciutto Tostadas with Shrimp and Parsley
King Ranch Casserole
Ground Beef Gorditas
Savory Crab and Shrimp Cheesecake

Treats Kids Love

Sticky-Fingers Bars
Ginger People
Franny's Fave Peanut Butter--Banana Cream Pie with Hot Fudge Sauce
Peanut Buttercups with Peanut Penuche Icing
PB&J Cookies with Honey Roasted Peanuts
Mars Pies
Pretty-in-Pink Shortbread Pigs
Maple-Glazed Oatmeal Cookies
Jubilation Granola Chews
Pumpkin Yumkins

Drinks

Watermelon Lemonade
Frothy Vanilla Milk
Tommye Wood's Milk (Sure Packs a) Punch
Rather Sweet Sangria
Hill Country Guanabana Margaritas
No Bull Bloody Marys

Are you hungry yet?

Return to Part 1 of the Book Review for The Pastry Queen.

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS BY:

Title

Subject

Author

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well." - Virginia Woolf

More Resources

All brand names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.