Guest Author - Anita Burroughs

Book: Classic Home Desserts
Author: Richard Sax
Date of Publication: 1994
Pages: 688

I was driving in my car in 1994, when I heard an interview on National Public Radio conducted by Terry Gross who hosts “Fresh Air”. She was interviewing a cookbook author by the name of Richard Sax, and within less than a minute, I was hooked by this charming young man talking about his newest book, Classic Home Desserts. He was describing one entire section in the book on bread puddings, and I immediately knew I would be buying the book and making one of these desserts as soon as humanly possible.

This dessert cookbook has turned out to be one of my favorites of all time. Sax spent over ten years researching home desserts from all over the globe, and compiled this anthology of desserts made at home by mothers and grandmas, rather than from professional pastry chefs. The result is a stunning collection of easy to make recipes that you’ll make over and over again.

One of my all-time favorites in the book is the Cornmeal Biscotti. I have probably made thousands of these Italian cookies over the years as a personal chef, and I hold this recipe responsible for at least five of the extra pounds I carry around with me. Unlike many other biscotti recipes I have tried, the dough works beautifully, and the taste is an unusual blend of anise and almonds.

Another of my favorites is an apple coffee cake (Margaret’s Apple Cake), which is the single best coffee cake I have ever tasted. I once offered this to one of my guests, who declined, saying he was sufficiently full after the meal. He was coaxed to have a small bite, and proceeded to eat three large pieces. He then sat at my table for a half an hour, copying the recipe down by hand so that he could serve it to his guests at his Bed and Breakfast Inn. The cake literally melts in your mouth, and is a snap to prepare.

If you’re looking for recipes off the beaten path, try the Buttermilk Silk Pie, which is in essence a beautiful custard pie. The French Canadian Maple Sugar Pie came as a surprise to me, made with brewed tea and the surprise ingredient of cider vinegar. It was absolutely heavenly, although a small sliver will do given the richness of the dessert.

I could go on and on, but I’ll just share with you a few more of my favorites in the book. These include the Hungarian Walnut Filled Crepes with Warm Chocolate Sauce, Deep Dish Rhubarb Cherry Berry Pie, Santa Fe Bread Pudding with Wine and Cheese, and the Lattice Toped Peach-Berry Pie.

I’ve only made a few duds from the book, and these include the Chocolate Spice Bread Pudding, Andrea’s Polenta Cake and Marie’s Fall Fruit Compote. I found these recipes to be somewhat lackluster.

My mother-in-law, who is a caterer, once told me that if you find one jewel of a recipe in a cookbook, that purchase was a worthwhile one. I agree with her completely. In adding Classic Home Desserts to your home library, you’ll have a book with dozens of home runs to choose from.

Sadly, Richard Sax died far too young in his 30’s in 1995. I can’t imagine the wonderful books he would have continued to write had he lived. I still fondly recall the interview he did with Terry Gross on the radio, and I’m glad I stumbled onto it that day.