Quick Treats With Dessert Express

 image:  Barnes and Noble

If I had the time…and didn’t mind the calories…I would make dessert every day of the week.  Cookbook author Lauren Chattman has made the notion of this a little easier with Dessert Express:  100 Treats You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less.

Michael Hastings from the Winston-Salem Journal:

“Chattman is not only a seasoned cookbook author, but also an inventive cook who’s not afraid to try unusual flavor combinations or new techniques. Chattman developed five general strategies to tackle the challenge of 30-minute desserts. First is downsizing. Smaller quantities mean shorter preparation and cooking times. The small quantities have an added advantage of keeping sweet indulgences on a modest level. Her second strategy was to turn up the heat on many dishes. She figured out the hottest temperature for any dish to bake as fast as possible. That means her biscuit cobbler bakes at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Chattman’s third trick comes from professional pastry chefs. Use an ice bath or the freezer to quickly cool ingredients, like the tapioca and mango parfaits. The fourth strategy is “to think outside the oven” for ways to cook desserts that are traditionally baked, simply because the oven often takes too long for an “express” dessert. Chattman’s final strategy is to use quality convenient products to give her a head start. She avoids store-bought pie crusts and nondairy toppings because she doesn’t like the results. But she uses graham crackers as a base for chocolate marshmallow cookies, tortillas in warm cinnamon crisps and frozen pizza dough in an apple pizza. Of course, making dessert on a busy weeknight practically forces cooks to get organized. And for the organized cook, Dessert Express can offer a way to add a joyful ending to any meal.”

Hmm, maybe my dream of dessert every night of the week may soon become a reality.

You can purchase Dessert Express at Barnes and Noble, other booksellers and Amazon.