The Pastry Queen: Royally Good Recipes From The Texas Hill Country's Rather Sweet Bakery & Cafe

A few years ago, baker Rebecca Rather (The Pastry Queen) quit the big city, leaving restaurant life to set up shop in Fredericksburg, Texas in the USA, a favourite Hill Country for Bed & Breakfast fans, cyclists and antique hunters. A food journalist gave Rather the moniker of 'Pastry Queen' because of the royally irresistible goodies she makes and her sassy, generous style. The locals welcomed Rather's home-style baking, even pitching in to help her put a fresh coat of paint on the porch of her Main Street shop. Rather takes the best - peaches, pecans, pralines, chilies, dulce de leche, German sausage - turning out treats that taste like home, only better than home-made has ever tasted before.

There are the Bacon-cheddar Scones, the Texas High Hairs Tarts, pillowy Kolaches (yeasted buns with savoury fillings) and PB & J Cookies, just to name a few.

Rather's 150 utterly original recipes reflect her made-with-love-from-scratch philosophy and are guaranteed to get everyone in the mood to bake!