Semi-Homemade Desserts

All of Sandra Lee's books are beautifully done! I love how she has a picture of every recipe in the book, makes you want to get into the kitchen and start cooking.

I am a big Sandra Lee fan. I now tape her show daily and try a lot of her recipes. I like her mainly because she caters to those of us that want great tasting food and desserts that don't take all day to make and don't have a lot of ingredients. This dessert book is really versatile, there are desserts for everyone. I have to say that the desserts that I like best are the ones that jazz up a plain old boxed cake mix, and the ones that use ice cream and frozen treats. I never imagined plain cake mix could taste so good! I have made some of these recipes for get-togethers and really WOWed people. They thought I bought the fancy cake, or ice-cream cake at a store! When I told them I made it at home they automatically assumed I slaved in the kitchen all day. I love the pictures in the book because they give you creative ideas about what you can do-even if you don't use that specific decoration she uses. I also like the fact that she gives so many ideas for using angel food cake. Angel food cake is easy to buy already made at the supermarket, and has no fat. For those of us trying to watch our figures (or entertaining others that are) it's a great treat. I have used these recipes in a pinch when I find out I have to make a dessert in a hurry and they've been a hit every time.

I have tried at least 6 desserts since I bought this book - everyone has been easy and great. I have given the receipe out to at least 5 people.

I admit I was skeptical when I first saw her show on the FoodNetwork since I can be a food snob at times. But she converted me two years ago when she made her Harvest Walnut Cookies where one package of white and one of devils food cake mixes is used. I made the cookies and they were a major hit and a cookie that I make as gifts. So I felt I should check this cookbook out and I ended up buying it and am so glad I did. Nowhere does she say she cooks/bakes low fat or 'healthy'. Her desserts are fun and decadent and not meant to be eaten daily. Anyone with common sense would know this from watching her show on desserts. An added treat in this book are the awesome photos that are so clear and representative of the real item. The cookies I made/make turn out looking like the photos. Pages 68-86 are photos and recipes from Katie Couric, Anjelica Huston, Queen Latifah, Jamie Lee Curtis, and others that are ALL great as well as super easy to make. Besides Harvest Walnut Cookies I also recommend her Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bark, and Lemon Spritz Squares which are light and refreshing. Am going to get this book as a gift for some friends who work outside the home but who want to be able to make fun, easy and delicious treats for get togethers. Its a great cookbook that I love having in my vast cookbook library.

What can you say about a lady who can make a full meal, including dessert, and cocktails all wonderful tasting, and with items you may already have in your pantry. Now she brings her talent to her desert title. Sandra Lee is the master of making dining get togethers in a no stress way. Once you try her recepies, you'll wonder why you ever did it from scratch again!