Does the thought of baking a cake conjure up a nightmare vision of a 15-ft layer cake, scrolled and fluted with decorations fit for a king?  If the word “dessert” just throws you into a cold sweat, the inside scoop on desserts is: they're actually simple to make. And with the right help...well, just a piece of cake.<p>In the end, desserts are no harder to make than entrées. And with <i>Desserts For Dummies</i>, you'll cut even a Wedding Cake recipe down to size, flip Crepes Suzette with aplomb, and throw together a batch of Chocolate Truffles your local chocolatier will envy. And with this handy, down-to-earth guide from a leading pastry chef and a former <i>New York Times</i> restaurant critic, you'll discover the proper way to read a dessert recipe, organize your ingredients, and also how to:<ul><li>Think like a sweet chef—including basic tips on measuring, weighing, presenting, gauging cooking time, and pairing desse rts with meals<li>Stock a pantry, and use leftovers creatively (such as caramel and meringue)<li>Set up a kitchen—including tips on counter height and ovens<li>Select the right cooking tools and how to use them</ul><p>Before you know it, you'll start creating desserts that you've only dreamed of, like:<ul><li>Pies and tarts—including Mom's Apple Pie, Banana Cream Pie, Raspberry Tart, and Linzertorte<li>Puff pastry, cream puffs, and éclairs—Classic Puff Pastry, Profiteroles, Napoleons, and Eclairs<li>Crepes and blinis—including Crepes Suzette and Chocolate Blinis with Diced Bananas<li>Custards and puddings—including Zabaglione, Vanilla Pastry Cream, Traditional Bread Pudding, and Rice Pudding<li>Homemade cakes—including Whipped Cream Layer Cake, Classic Chocolate Mousse Layer Cake, and Yellow Chiffon Cake with Chocolate Frosting</ul>With over 130 delicious recipes to choose from, plus sixteen pages of color photos, a summary cheatsheet of baking essentials, black-and-white how-to illustrations, and humorous cartoons along the way, <i>Desserts For Dummies</i> brings the world of delicious, elegant desserts right to your kitchen. And a little magic into the lives of your friends and family.