Sugar Pie & Jelly Roll: Sweets from a Southern Kitchen

First of all, the the illustrations are nice. That always makes me like a cook-book more for some reason. The baking tips, and how they are organized is really nice too. This cookbook has it all when it comes to Southern snacks. From Peach Ice cream, to cream puffs to candies, and more. She captures the true Southern spirit. The story telling is nice, and there are some unique and interesting recipe's here too- like Fig Cake, and Shoofly pie.

You cannot grow up in the south without being called "sweetie pie", "honey" or "sweet pea" or any derivitive thereof. Sweetie Pie and Jelly Roll combines this time honored tradition with a cookbook of favorite southern sweets. Interspersed between the recipes are memories of southern life. I think my favorite cook books are those that combine good food with good storytelling. The recipes cover candies, crumbles, pies (Peace Pie is a favorite), cakes, desserts, puddings (real cooked puddings...yummy) and sauces. You cannot pass up trying Christmas Orange Cake, Shoofly Pie, and Peannut Brittle ...all very easy and wonderful to eat. The watercolor illustrations enhance a very delightful book.

I've only tried one of the recipes so far and it was good, but the additional value of the book is the way it looks, the illustrations are really charming and the design, flawless. It would make a prefect gift.

The desserts in this charming book are simple to make, gorgeous to look at, and scrumptious to eat. Ms. Gourley's childhood years on a North Carolina farm are remembered with an embracing warmth, and lovingly filled out with old recipes from family and friends. If that isn't enough, her art is as mouth-watering as her desserts, especially the divider sections of the book. Each section opens with a double-page spread watercolor of fruit ripening on trees, and the deftness of her brushwork is almost oriental, but with an added American exhuberance. I guess you can tell I loved this book. I bought one copy for myself, several more to give as gifts, and I'm certain that anyone who buys or receives this book will be delighted. And they will soon be in the kitchen, making magic.