Elegant 'Créme Brulée' creations demystified - libro de recetas para postres - TA: dessert recipes book

Hispanic Times Magazine, August-Sept, 1998

Doing the "talk-show-circuit" from New York to California is Debbie Puente, whose elegant new cookbook, "Elegantly Easy Crème Brûlée and Other Custard Desserts" is off-the-presses and selling out at bookstores nationally.

"I wrote the book because I saw there was a real need for it! Crème Brûlée seems to be everyone's favorite dessert, but not many people know how to make it, or how easy (and inexpensive) it is to make. All you need is fresh cream, eggs, sugar and vanilla for the classic version."

Puente is a Southern California-based writer, editor of the online newsletter, Foodstuff, and Food Community Moderator for Prodigy Internet.

"Elegantly Easy Crème Brûlée" is her second book, following the 1996 publication of the popular "Deceptively Simple" -- which was nicknamed "The Busy Mom's Cookbook."

Her 70-plus recipes for variations of crème brûlée desserts takes the mystery out of making this rich and captivating after-dinner culinary elegance. Among the delectables are Orange Cardamom Crème Brûlée, Rose Scented Crème Brûlée, French Lemon Custard Crème Brûlée, Pumpkin and Spice Crème Brûlée, nonfat Crème Brûlée, and on and on, something for every taste palate.

These delicate, silken, and sinfully rich desserts blend the cool velvet of custard with a crisp, caramelized topping. Puente not only takes the complexity out of making these delicacies, but also includes other custard-based desserts such as bread pudding, rice pudding, and flan in her elegant new cookbook. It is published by Renaissance Books, with beautiful color illustrations throughout, and sells for $12.95.

Debbie Puente is offering her newsletter subscription free to anyone who has e-mail. Her web page -- creme-brulee.com.