Before America’s Top Chef and other reality cooking shows, Maida Heatter was the queen of baking, desserts and chocolate recipes. Her first cookbook, “Maida Heater’s Book of Great Desserts” was published in 1974. Other Heatter titles include “Maida Heatter’s  Pies and Tarts,” “Maida Heatter’s Cookies,” “Maida Heatter’s Great Book of Chocolate Desserts,” and “Maida Heatter’s Cakes.”  Her cookbooks serve as reference books to the classic desserts.  She wrote recipes for the New York Times as well.  She died June 6th in Florida at age 102. Her title, “Happiness is Baking: Cakes, Pies, Tarts, Muffins, Brownies, Cookies: Favorite Desserts from the Queen of Cake” was just released in April. Maida recommended baking to relieve stress so go bake something delicious today!