I love baking, and sometimes I get carried away trying new recipes to feed my family. The evidence of my enthusiasm can always be seen by a sink full of dishes. The new cookbook, One Dirty Bowl by Christina Dymock, is the answer to my dilemma. Dymock, mother of four, has her hands full with life, and writing this cookbook was one solution to providing her family with delicious treats–without draining her energy by washing too many dirty dishes.

Simply Organized

The author divides nearly 90 dessert recipes into six categories:
o Small and Scrumptious
o Beautiful Brownies and Bars
o Decadent Dessert Breads
o Enticing Cookies
o Divine Sweets
o Charming Cakes, Cupcakes, Cobblers, and Pies

Included near the end of the cookbook is a double page spread of cooking measurement equivalents offering the beginning chef a handy reference for translating fluid ounces into cups and tablespoons as well as metric measurement equivalents. (Metric measurements are not used in her recipes.)

Tasty Examples

One Dirty Bowl provides its readers a handy variety of delicious desserts. A Moist Chocolate Cake on page 94 uses mayonnaise instead of eggs and produces a lovely, rich slice of cake. The Snap-and-Crackle Cookies on page 54 are divine when they’re warm out of the oven and very good the next day as well.

One afternoon when I didn’t want to turn on my oven, I made the Orange Bread on page 47 in my electric muffin maker. The cream cheese gives the muffins a wonderfully soft texture with a delicate orange flavor. I also produced the Lemon Bread with Blueberry Streusel in muffin form, and they made a terrific dinner dessert as well as a special breakfast treat. These were so good they didn’t make it as far as lunch the next day. The Mini Pumpkin Oreos are a delicious soft cookie, and honestly, I didn’t bother to frost and sandwich them. Straight up plain they were very good.

Graphics and Photographs

Christina Dymock has created a very attractive layout in the book. Not every recipe is accompanied by a photo, but the 40 images in the book grab your attention and make your mouth water. The listing of ingredients for each recipe is typed in white print on a colored block with the colors changing in each section. However, it was difficult to read the fractions in that format. I often needed to pick the book up and bring it closer to my aging eyes to see what the numbers were. I found that hindrance annoying, especially when my hands were sticky.

Who Should Own One Dirty Bowl

Dymock writes, “I need recipes that bring the refreshing tastes of home cooking to the dessert table without making a huge mess in the kitchen. No matter why you’re baking – be it to satisfy a craving or to impress your guests – you’re sure to find a cookie, brownie, bar, cake, or sweet bread that will fill the order. And, because the recipes are quick and easy, you will be in and out of the kitchen in no time.”

The author’s description is exactly correct. None of the recipes are complicated. Two longer recipes have 13 ingredients, but they are balanced by some that have only three. Dymock takes plenty of shortcuts like calling for refrigerated sugar cookie dough and store bought frosting. Dessert chefs would likely find this book simplistic. However, overworked mothers who long to bake delicious desserts for their friends and families will find this book made-to-order.—Review by Lisa George, RFT Bopok Reviewe, Latigo Ranch, Kremmling, Colorado
One Dirty Bowl