Readers who know Malgieri as the author of such drool-inducing books as Chocolate
, Perfect Cakes
and Cookies Unlimited
may be surprised to find the phrase "all under 300 calories per generous serving" on the cover of his new cookbook. Has the renowned pastry chef gone healthy? Only a little bit—and with nary a sprinkle of Splenda or spoonful of "buttery spread" in sight, Malgieri and Joachim (A Man, a Can, a Grill
) offer 125 simple recipes for chocolate desserts; cakes; pies and tarts; puddings, custards and soufflés; fruit desserts; iced and frozen desserts; and cookies that happen to be lower in calories than most. Some recipes are for traditional desserts that are naturally low in calories and fat (Blueberry Pie, Peaches in Red Wine, Biscotti), while others use lighter ingredients, e.g., a combination of whole eggs and egg whites (instead of egg yolks) or low-fat dairy products (Chocolate Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Icing, Ginger Lovers' Pound Cake). The authors only go so far with their "light" approach, though: real butter and even real heavy cream appear in several recipes—the result being a well-rounded recipe collection for delicious and fairly guiltless treats. Photos. (On sale Oct. 17)
