If you thought this holiday classic was all about Marie saving her Nutcracker prince, think again-it's all about desserts! Take a confectionary journey to the Land of the Sweets with The Dancing Gourmet in this exquisite ode to the world's favorite ballet. International award-winning author, ballerina and chef Linda Hymes takes inspiration from The Nutcracker ballet to rediscover the magical world where it is the pastry cook, not the Sugarplum Fairy, who regins supreme. Uniting the pastry arts with the performing arts as only she can, Hymes presents over 60 mouthwatering desserts, all lavishly photographed and illustrated, with easy-to-follow instructions, tips on technique, personal anecdotes, and stories. You'll discover the fascinating history of this wonderful ballet, from E. T. A. Hoffmann's original fairy tale to the present, and take an intimate glimpse into life backstage as a ballerina, all through the unique perspective of a chef as passionate about butter, eggs, flour, and sugar as she is about dance. In these captivating pages, you'll find easy-to-prepare Pudding Variations such as luscious blackberry mousse-filled Dewdrop Charlotte and Chocolate Raspberry Tea Cups. Light as Air Entrechats offers Vanilla Souffle with Sugarplum Sauce and Lemon Meringue Angel Roulade, filled with tart lemon curd. Snow Queen Treats features a flurry of frozen delights, including Champagne Poached Pears with Cardamom and Honey Ice Cream and Rich Chocolate Sauce and an unusual Snow Rose Sorbet. Turn to Petits Divertissements to revel in impressive miniature desserts and decadent pint-sized treats, such as Petits Rats de l'Opera, named after the students at the Paris Opera ballet school. Grand Finales showcases rich and decadent Chocolate Mousse King, luscious whipped cream and cherry-filled Black Forest Crepe Gateau, and every chocoholic's ultimate fantasy: a Chocolate Symphony. The definitive holiday cookbook, The Nutcracker Sweet will have visions of sugarplums dancing in your head. Book jacket.