The book:
Chocolate Desserts by Pierre Herme
Written by Dorie Greenspan, photography by Jean-Louis Block-Laine; Hardcover, 304 Pages. Little-Brown

A passion for chocolate
Chocolate. Can the mere mention of any other food invoke such longing, desire and emotion? Of all the comfort foods, nothing quite soothes the psyche like chocolate. In a world that seems continually more divisive, a love of chocolate is something shared by most people on every continent – young and old, rich and poor, sophisticated and primitive.

Pierre Herme, France's foremost pastry chef, obviously has a passion for chocolate, in all of its glorious forms. In this book, brilliantly written by Dorie Greenspan (who also wrote the fabulous Baking with Julia), readers are introduced to a comprehensive chocolate dessert recipe collection that ranges from simple to spectacular.

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A scan of the table of content tells all you need to know: Chocolate Cakes Plain and Grand; Chocolate Cookies Simple and Sophisticated; Creamy, Crunchy, Nutty and Fruit Filled Chocolate Tarts; Puddings, Creams, Custards, Mousses and More Chocolate Desserts; Truffle and Other Luscious Chocolate Candies; Ice Cream Scoops, Coupes, Sundaes, Splits and Frozen Chocolate Desserts; Hot and Cold Chocolate Drinks; Base Recipes; Dictionary of Terms, Techniques, Equipment and Ingredients.

Some of the recipes are basic and easy to accomplish; others a bit more complicated. No matter, the instructions are clear and concise enough so that even beginners should be to accomplish the recipes in the book, if they apply themselves. The introductions from both Pierre and Dorie set the reader up for what to expect from any given recipe.

Also included are tips on how to best store the desserts after they are created and for how long. Those who love to entertain will especially appreciate the advice on which recipes, or recipe elements, can be prepared in advance.

So next time you have a chocolate craving, don't just settle for a candy bar -- make it count! Dig out a copy of this book and create something extraordinary.

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About the author: Cheri Sicard is the editor of Fabulous Foods, a favorite net destination for recipes, cooking tutorials, health and fitness information, holiday and entertaining ideas, celebrity chef interviews, cookbook reviews and more. Sign up for their free cooking and recipe newsletters! www.FabulousFoods.com.