cover image BROWN SUGAR: Soul Food Desserts from Family and Friends

BROWN SUGAR: Soul Food Desserts from Family and Friends

Joyce White, . . HarperCollins, $27.95 (320pp) ISBN 978-0-06-620973-9

In this follow-up to Soul Food, White turns her attention from main courses to dessert. The recipes, gathered from all over the country, conjure up the homespun style of African-American cuisine sprinkled with a healthy dose of brown sugar. The titular ingredient is a common thread throughout— in the effortless Banana Cake and in the simple, successful Rum Raisin Oatmeal Cookies, one of several easy drop cookies. Both are examples of White's unassuming style, which features step-by-step instructions for everything from a simple cookie to a showy layer cake topped with frosting. In sidebars and notes, White provides information on techniques like canning and ingredients. Also included are piecrust, puddings and custards, along with the traditional Buttermilk Biscuits, homemade candies, ice cream and some refreshing fruit desserts. The book successfully combines reminiscences and stories with tradition and culture reflected in heritage recipes. (Feb.)