Everyday to Entertaining: 200 Sensational Recipes That Transform from Casual to Elegant

Everyday to Entertaining: 200 Sensational Recipes That Transform from Casual to Elegant

by Meredith Deeds and Carla Snyder

Publisher: Robert Rose

Publication Date: March 2011

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Featured Recipe: Baked Pears with Mascarpone Cream

For most home cooks, a simple but still delicious meal with a minimum of fuss and ingredients is an everyday necessity. However, there are also times when a special occasion calls for something out of the ordinary. Yet few home cooks have the time to source and try new recipes. The recipes in Everyday to Entertaining have been created and organized to go from weekday to weekend by simply using different or additional ingredients, techniques, and cooking methods. For example, sumptuous white wine braised chicken can be prepared in a few steps and with minimal pantry ingredients–perfect for a quick weekday dinner. On the adjacent page is a tantalizing recipe for coq au vin, which uses many of the preceding recipe’s main ingredients but requires more preparation time and additional ingredients–perfect for that elegant dinner party or other special event. Another great example is mustard and garlic roasted pork loin, which becomes balsamic glazed pork loin with apricots and figs with just a few modifications and additions. The authors feature handy, easy-to-follow tips and techniques throughout the book, along with menu-planning ideas and cooking shortcuts. The authors Meredith Deeds and Carla Snyder have written six cookbooks, including the James Beard-nominated The Big Book of Appetizers.

Cooks&Books&Recipes Editors’ Notes:

What a simply brilliant concept for a cookbook! Each entry has side-by-side instructions, one side a recipe for “everyday” and the other side a slightly expanded recipe to ramp up the food for entertaining. Quite honestly, we thought the Baked Pears with Mascarpone Cream would work for either everyday or entertaining. They’re easy to make (and even to make ahead) and result in an elegant presentation and perfect end to a summer meal.

Everyday to Entertaining (cover)

Next-to-try recipes: Prosciutto-Wrapped Salmon with Rosemary Butter; Roasted Butternut Squash with Goat Cheese and Pecans

Web talk on Everyday to Entertaining: Virginia Willis Culinary Productions; Living in the Kitchen with Puppies