Review
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Title: Sweets and Treats With Six Sisters’ Stuff
Authors: The Six Sisters
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Non-Fiction/Cookbook
Year Published: 2015
Number of Pages: 170
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 13: 978-1-62972-079-1
Price: $21.99
Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association For Mormon Letters
Recently, my son and his family were visiting us from out of state. My two oldest grandchildren, nine and eight years of age, were in the front room when my copy of *Sweets & Treats with Six Sisters’ Stuff* was delivered to my home to read and review. As I glanced through the book, I was telling my daughter-in-law about all of the wonderful-sounding recipes contained therein. As soon as I put the book down, my grandson and granddaughter were happy to pick it up and start looking through it.
The pictures of the mouth watering desserts caught their attention, as page by page they were spellbound by the tantalizing pictures, and soon my grandson was excitedly reading off various recipe titles to his mother. “Look Mommy, here is a recipe for Homemade Twix Bars,” or “Look at this, Mommy, Cake Batter Blondies,” oh Look Mommy, Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes, Cake Batter Cheesecake Bars, Oreo Cheesecake Bites, Movie Night Snacks, Fun Desserts Kids Can Make,” etc. etc. etc!
My granddaughter was soon bored with the fact that her brother was in control of the book and left the room. However, big brother continued on with his unbridled excitement over the mouth-watering pictures and titles of the various sweets. As soon as he would see another one that caught his interest, he would jump up from where he was sitting on the floor in order to run over to his Mommy to let her see the picture. Soon Mommy was announcing to everyone within earshot that Grandma would have to bring the book with her next month when she came to visit them! (This I will gladly do!)
The beauty of these recipes for this Grandma is that, with a few exceptions, the recipes can be easily adapted for her two granddaughters who have to eat gluten-free, due to Celiac disease. A simple swapping out of a gluten-free flour blend for regular flour, or a box of gluten free graham crackers in place of regular ones, or a substitution of some candy bars in a few of the recipes, makes them safe and edible for everyone in the family.
Some of the recipes that stuck out for me were: Oatmeal Scotchie Blondies ( perfect for people like my husband, who is allergic to chocolate and loves butterscotch), Maple Nut Brownies, Cheesecake Brownies, S’mores Cookie Cups, Lemon Cupcakes with Blackberry Buttercream Frosting, Hot Fudge Sundae Ice Cream Cake, No Bake Mississippi Mud Ice Cream Cake, and Fresh Peach Pie, (my favorite fruit). Shall I go on, or are you sufficiently drooling yet?
Every single recipe in this cookbook includes a “got to have it now” full color photo. There are sections on Bars, Brownies, Cookies, Cakes, Cupcakes, Cheesecakes, Ice Cream, Sweet Bites, Pies, and No-Bake Treats. Besides all of that, there are numerous gift ideas, and craft ideas to go along with the incredible recipes. There are pages covering such things as a DIY wooden homemade cake stand, for those special people or events in your life, instructions on how to make and use a traveling treat plate, creative wrapping ideas to turn any batch of cookies or treats into a memorable homemade gift, such as using a paper CD sleeve to package individual large cookies, and other items found around the house to use for packaging. There is a chapter on Birthday Traditions, that includes ideas like using a dessert buffet bar for large crowds, and provides ideas like a cupcake bar, or sugar cookie bar, or ice cream bar, and lists the various items to be included in each one
The Six Sisters have gathered over 100 recipes in this family friendly cookbook, and they also include traditions centered around birthdays and holidays and other special occasions. I was intrigued by the idea of a “Neighborhood Cookie Walk” which I thought to be especially enticing.
If you know anyone who loves to cook, or bake, or eat desserts, this makes the absolute perfect Christmas gift. All recipes include prep time, cooking time and the number of servings made. The recipes with the beautiful photographs, the tips and tricks and traditions of the Six Sister’s families, make this another winning entry into the must have cookbooks on your shelf and for many on your gift list!
Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go and decide which one of these recipes to make first…..decisions, decisions!!