Sweeteners have long played an important role in the American diet and economy, yet are largely absent from accounts of the American past. Sweet Stuff rectifies that oversight in the first in-depth history of sugar and other major sweeteners, both natural and artificial, in the American experience. Sweet Stuff discusses sweeteners in the context of diet, science and technology, business and labor, politics, and popular culture.

Like many people, I believe that one should always save room for dessert," says Karen Barker. Inspired by this sumptuous collection of more than 160 easy-to-follow dessert recipes, you may decide to skip dinner altogether and head straight for the sweet stuff. Drawing on years of professional experience as well as memories of cooking and baking from her New York childhood, Barker gives us the benefit of cooking alongside an experienced mentor. Starting with the fundamentals, she offers advice on selecting key ingredients, suggestions for essential kitchen equipment, and even tips on ways to fit dessert-making into the busiest of schedules. Her recipes begin with pastry doughs, sauces, and special toppings that serve as building blocks for other desserts and provide a foundation for home cooks eager to improve their skills. Chapters on pies, fruit desserts, custards, cakes, ice creams, cookies, and breakfast-like desserts feature familiar favorites with a twist, such as key lime coconut pie with rum cream, deep-dish brown sugar plum cobbler, dark chocolate Peppermint Pattie cake, and cornmeal vanilla bean shortbreads. Sweet Stuff offers something irresistible for everyone.

From traditional toffee, fluffy clouds of marshmallow and creamy maple and pecan fudge to sherbet with lolly dippers, the recipes in Sweet Things are the stuff of childhood dreams. Soft, delicately flavoured nougat bars, topped with vanilla caramel and covered in chocolate are just big enough for three or four (big) bites and far surpass the shop-bought equivalent. Crisp butterscotch popcorn with just a hint of sea salt is the perfect adult indulgence, a box of Praline Hearts makes a delightful Valentine's Day gift and chocolate dipped honeycomb is tailor-made for Father's Day. The recipes come with failsafe instructions that will ensure success every time, even for novice confectioners, plus creative packaging ideas, making this the ideal book whether you want an imaginative present for someone special or merely to treat yourself.

It has been a year of change since Gemma Doyle arrived at the foreboding Spence Academy. Having bound the wild, dark magic of the realms to her, Gemma has forged unlikely and unsuspected new alliances both with the headstrong Felicity and timid Ann, Kartik, the exotic young man whose companionship is forbidden, and the fearsome creatures of the realms. Now, as Gemma approaches her London debut, the time has come to test those bonds. As her friendship with Felicity and Ann faces its gravest trial, and with the Order grappling for control of the realms, Gemma is compelled to decide once and for all which path she is meant to take. Pulled forward by fate, the destiny Gemma faces threatens to set chaos loose, not only in the realms, but also upon the rigid Victorian society whose rules Gemma has both defied and followed. Where does Gemma really belong? And will she, can she, survive?

"A contemporary new adult romance novel about a woman who runs a cafe in New York's East Village and her romance with an up and coming musician"--

A city girl finds love in a small Southern town in this “deliciously warm and feel-good” romance by the USA Today bestselling author (Publishers Weekly, starred review). After years of Chicago’s hustle and bustle, Riley Brown is savoring her new life on Georgia's tranquil Sugarberry Island. With a dream job as a house stager and fantastic new friends in the Cupcake Club, she's got it all—or almost. While she’s still healing from a bad breakup, Riley is starting to crave an eligible man. Then a gig staging a renovated beach house delivers a delicious treat: Quinn Brannigan, a six-foot, blue-eyed writer as delectable and Southern as pecan pie. Quinn is back in his hometown to finish his latest novel, and suddenly Riley has a taste for the bad boy author that no amount of mocha latte buttercream or lemon mousse will satisfy. "Hilarious from start to finish." –Affaire du Coeur Includes irresistible recipes!

Pinner mixes her family's down-home maxims with recipes for magical concoctions in this collection of soul food desserts and memories. The book shares more than 100 desserts, from bourbon balls to sweet potato pone and down-home banana ice cream.