Story By:  Stacey Kramer

It's 5:30pm "I guess I should be going out to bookstores or something, but it looks pretty gloomy."  Carole Walter says over the phone.  "I really feel thrilled, though."  One glance out the window and you'd agree with her forecast.  For Walter, this was a special day, which was why she felt just fine in spite of the weather.  After all, this was the day her third book Great Cookies:  Secrets to Sensational Sweets (Clarkson Potter/2003) hit stores.  The new cookie cookbook comes as the third in the instructional trilogy, Great Cakes (Crown/2001) and Great Pies and Tarts (Clarkson Potter/1998).

Austria, France, Italy - even Denmark - Walter has traveled the world honing her skills, beginning 30 years ago.  She claims to have taught over 30,000 students - more actually, if you count all her readers who follow along at home.  "I do a lot of participation classes, which is what I think sets me apart from my peers," she says.  "I always say you could demonstrate to 150 people and ask if everybody understands.  You look around and everyone's head is nodding.  But if you pull maybe six aside, and give them the recipe to make, you'll find out how much they don't know."

Walter has been teaching for decades, but what she finds most rewarding is actually learning.  "I'm a communicator," she says with pride in her voice.  "But what I love most is learning from my students.  When they show me something that I've never seen before, when they open up the door for me."  And the woman who's made her name in baking and in teaching remains open to new ideas.  "There's always another avenue,"  she says.

Lucky for us, the path Walter took led her down a road of creating and celebrating.  So in honor of her new tome, she's created several recipes just for us...

Pick up your copy of Chocolatier magazine today, to see beautiful photographs by John Uher & Jeff Kaufman, food styling by Melanie Dubberley and the following "Great" recipes from Carole...

1. Five Spice Diamonds

2. Chocolate Walnut Icebox Cookies

3. Coconut Apricot Macaroons

4. Crunchy Sugar Cookies

5. Lemon Cornmeal Spritz

6. Macadamia Fudge Squares with Quick Chocolate Glaze

   Copyright 2008

Home ||  About Me || Appearances || Schedule

What's New || Favorite Links || Cookbooks || Recipes || Contact Carole