The Art of Cookies, an introduction
to creative cookie decoration, is a book that belongs in every mama's
kitchen. Brightly illustrated with photographs that guide the user through
the art of decorating cookies, the photos are so appealing that children
will be drawn to select their favorite cookie design. Together, both
mom and child will establish traditions and form memories that enrich
our lives.
The authors offer core recipes for
cookies and muffins, but their emphasis is on freeing the imagination
to decorate with memorable designs. With step by step illustrations
as well as traceable stencils, they offer cookies for all holidays.
For December, there are angels, stars and snowmen, Santas and trees,
some designed as tree ornaments. There are dreidels and menorahs for
Hanukkah.
This is a book for all seasons,
however. Other holidays are represented, from the rockets bursting in
air for July Fourth to creepy crawly spiders and ghosts for Halloween,
as well as Easter bunnies, Valentine's hearts and the plumed gobbler
traditional at Thanksgiving. Not content with covering our holidays,
there are cookie designs for birthdays, baby showers, some for sports
fans and fashion plates. There are even flowers on sticks, should you
want to plant a springtime cookie garden on your table.
Included in the pages of the book
is a clear instructional section on icing and decorating that gives
the techniques that will ensure success even for the less artistic.
There are tips on rolling and cutting dough, suggestions for edible
materials that are suitable for decorating a cookie or muffin.
Happily, this is a paperback, but
one on heavy stock paper to withstand a little splattering - sure to
happen to a much-used book.
NOGA HITRON was a successful jewelry
designer before turning to cakes and cookies. She is the proprietor
of Cookies for Fun, a thriving decorative cookie business selling to
gourmet food and fashion shops throughout the world.
NATASHA HAIMOVICH is a food stylist
with a degree from the Culinary Program at New York’s New School.
She is a cooking and styling editor for food magazines and a creative
designer and food stylist for several international culinary publications.
Review by Diana Farrell Serbe
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