TAKE FIVE: ‘JOY OF LIBERACE’

Tuesday, May 8, 2007 | 7:41 a.m.

Who: Karan and Michael Feder, authors of "Joy of Liberace"

When: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Liberace Museum, 1775 E. Tropicana Ave.

Admission: Free book event, includes admission to the museum

Info: 798-5595, liberace.org

It's possible that at one time all of Middle America loved Liberace.

Karan Feder wants the love to last. She designed a bling apparel and accessory line to repackage and market the late entertainer to younger generations .

Cleverly, she's come up with something multigenerational: a tell-all cookbook, "Joy of Liberace: Retro Recipes From America's Kitschiest Kitchen."

That the ostentatious entertainer was a master chef capable of whipping up a Brawny Austrian Torte and Decorative Crab Balls should come as no surprise to his fans.

The only real surprise here is that this book didn't happen sooner. This delicious slice of Americana has something for everyone.

The campy and colorful collection of kitsch is essential for anyone who wants to dabble in the decadence, but would rather not don the gay apparel. It's a most practical way to celebrate an impractical legend, whose aging fan base is waning.

We take a look at how Feder and her husband, Michael, managed to make the 20th century American icon relevant today in a 128-page hardback by Angel City Press (June 2007).

1. Eye candy

From the decorative hot pink cover to the collection of photographs, this impressively designed book is a gem for any kidney-shaped coffee table. We see Liberace setting the table, Liberace cooking with his mother, Liberace onstage, backstage and on the town. A photo of a casual Liberace by a 1950s console television with a puppy on his lap smacks of nostalgia. The photographs of the dishes whipped up for the book by Riviera chefs are divine.

2. Functionality

If you've ever been asked to bring Stuffed Squid or Chicken Livers in Champagne to a potluck, this is the book for you. Easy to read recipes and directions will have you dancing in your sequined apron. For the more timid, there is Mother-Knows-Best Potato Salad, Weenie Broil and I-Did-It-My-Way in Cucumbers and Cream. For those mid-week family dinners, we suggest Gilding the Lily Lasagna or Fruit, Fruit, Fruitiest Salad.

3. Middle ground

This book is safe. It celebrates the gayety of a flamboyant personality and the love he had for his fans. It reaches out to old fans, new fans and those who never heard of the entertainer whose legacy has been embedded in the annals of pop culture and Las Vegas history.

4. Americana

This book is historical ; Liberace was the gayest man on Earth, yet denied it until the end. His older fans still aren't ready for the entertainer to come out of the closet and vehemently oppose any reference to his homosexuality. In its own little way, this book is a perfect representation of how a conservative America enjoyed prosperity and flaunted freedom while glossing over racism, sexism and anti-gay sentiment.

5. Diet while traveling

As a mobile society we're moving about the country more than ever. Liberace teaches us that sticking to our dietary habits while traveling is not impossible. While touring, Liberace Martha Stewart-ed his way cross-country, proving that there is no need for McDonald's when you've got utensils, pots, pans, dishes and an electric stove to make You'll-Thank-Me-Later Codfish Cakes or Flamboyant Flambe in your hotel room.