The Perfect Pie: More Than 125 All-Time Favorite Pies & Tarts

Inclusive to a fault, this compendium of more than 125 recipes for pies, tarts, strudels and fruit dumplings makes a handy reference for bakers old and new. Along with enticing recipes for such treats as Old-Fashioned Apple Pie, Baked Alaska Pie and Mixed Fruit Clafoutis, Purdy (The Family Baker; Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too) provides abundant, clearly written instructions. Many of the recipes come with several variations (so that Old Fashioned Pumpkin Custard Pie can also be transformed into Vermont Maple Sugar Pumpkin Pie, New England Squash Pie or Southern Sweet Potato Pie), and Purdy includes an extremely thorough section on crusts, arguably the most difficult aspect of pie making. Basic pastry instructions are excellent, and more complex techniques--such as how to make a lattice top--are covered in depth. Purdy also supplies advice on freezing the various components, and each recipe includes suggestions for advance preparation. In other words, even the pie-phobic have no excuse for not trying their hands at traditional favorites such as Linzer Torte or newfangled concoctions such as Chocolate Honey Chiffon Pie. (June)