Book Review: Pie Style: Stunning Designs and Flavorful Fillings You Can Make at Home by Helen Nugent

Pie Style: Stunning Designs and Flavorful Fillings You Can Make at Home

by Helen Nugent (641.865 Nug)

 

Author Helen Nugent was working as an instructional design and technical writer for the pharmaceutical and food industries a few years ago, when she started baking pies. Lots of pies. And sharing photos and commentary about them online. Her elaborately decorated baked goods achieved a following, and now, via her Pie Eyed Girl website, she continues to share her baked goods artistry.

 

Pie Style captures a large number of her more popular pie baking accomplishments, with recipes for home bakers to attempt their own versions of her projects. This book is divided into 8 chapters: The Pie Doughs; Garden Designs; Field and Forest Inspirations; Modern Motifs; Braid, Twist and Weave Patterns; Celebration Pies; Next-Level Pies; and Essential Pie Skills and Decorating Techniques.

 

Nugent’s techniques seem highly elaborate, and may be beyond the ability of average cooks to accomplish. None-the-less, this cookbook is absolutely gorgeous to look at, with most recipes accompanied by a series of photos illustrating the “before”, “after” and “step-by-step assembly process” for each pie. Even if you don’t end up attempting Nugent’s fancy crusts and toppings, you may appreciate the flavorful recipes for pie fillings, both savory and sweet, which you can try with your own choice of crusts, either utilitarian or decorative.

 

Sometimes, a cookbook is simply a work of art. Whether or not you attempt to achieve Nugent’s level of food decorating artistry, you should appreciate looking at the beauty of the pictures in this one!

 

[ official Helen Nugent Instagram account ] | [ Pie-Eyed Girl – the official Helen Nugent web site ]

 

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Services

 

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