'Vintage Cakes' is right taste for times

Author Julie Richardson searched through old cookbooks and polled family and friends to discover their favorite cakes when they were kids. What she came away with was recipes for mouth-watering, masterful and emphatically unfussy cakes. So she tested the most promising recipes--revising them slightly for modern palates--and what she ended up with were old favorites such as carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, angel cake with chocolate and orange freckles, and a divine peppermint patty flourless chocolate cake.

Richardson's book is simple and beautiful. The only quibble could be the frosting directions are a bit vague. Otherwise, it lets you have your cake and eat it, too.

--"Vintage Cakes" By Julie Richardson; Ten Speed Press, $24