Clouds for Dessert: Sweet Treats from the Wild West

Ever taste a cloud? Or take a bite out of the Grand Canyon? What if the West could taste the way it looks? Clearly, some of the great natural phenomena would have to be spectacular desserts.

And so they are, for desserts of all foods are the most open to fantasy and fun. A little kitchen magic can turn the Rocky Mountains into snowcapped sundaes, or wild, rough, piggy javelinas into ginger cookies, or even cactus into Popsicles, pancakes, and tender rosy pies.

The best food of a region expresses a sense of place in a way nothing else can. This is especially true of the American Southwest. These 50 recipes express climates and geography (pomegranates and citrus from the desert, piñon nuts and apples from the mountains) as well as history and culture (Tohono O'odham saguaro syrup, Spanish flan, cowboy cake, New Mexican biscochitos, and very chi-chi nouvelle Southwest chocolate mousse pie). 24 color photographs.