Easy as pie! Everyone knows the saying, but most people actually feel a little scared when it comes to baking one. These mouthwatering varieties will entice anyone into the kitchen--and the instructions by a leading pastry chef will make preparation simpler than you ever would have imagined.

Viola Goren, who trained at the world's most prestigious cooking schools, explains how to whip up puff pastry, dough for savory pies, and crusts for sweet ones. Then, she presents nearly 80 recipes for everything from a Cherry Tomato Pie with Basil and Mozzarella to a classic French Tarte Tatin to a decadent chocolate cheese. Each pie--Sweet Potato Pie with Thyme and Blue Cheese, Vol-au-Vent, Chicken Pot Pie, and Rustic Double-Crust Apple Tart, to name just a few--appears in delectable photographs, including many close-up shots that focus on the details of preparation.