Relax, Company's Coming!: 150 Recipes for Stress-Free Entertaining
In the introduction toRelax, Company's Coming!author Kathy Gunst confesses that she entered adulthood thinking of parties as "torturous exercises that always ended with a sink full of dishes and extreme exhaustion by the host." Many people share that sentiment. You plan, you clean, and you spend days slaving over a menu you hope will impress your guests. But, in the end, you're a nervous wreck and your friends feel like a burden. Fortunately, Gunst shows that it doesn't have to be this way. After all, the reason to give a party is to spend time with people you care about. A good host, Gunst explains, isn't necessarily someone who spends a lot of money or dedicates three days to cooking the perfect meal. A good host is one who makes you feel welcome, relaxed, and a part of his or her life. Gunst's recipes are designed to help you do just that.The recipes are divided into four chapters: "Appetizers," "Casual Parties," "Celebrations," and "Desserts." Most are easy to prepare, and many, like Orange-Marinated Olives or Spanish Potato and Pepper Tortilla, can be made ahead of time. Others, like Sautéed Fresh Figs with Pancetta or Red Caviar Dip, take only minutes to prepare. Casual party fare ranges from homey Pork Chops with Caramelized Apples and Onions to an exotic African Chicken, Spinach, and Peanut Stew. Desserts--from shockingly easy-to-prepare Seven Layer Bars to the more elaborate Birthday Meringues with Chocolate Sauce--are all festive enough for any occasion.Gunst includes lots of helpful tips--including how to stock the pantry so you can always whip something up spur of the moment, tips for supplementing menus with items from gourmet shops, and creative ways to set a festive table using household items. While she does include a section with 20 suggested menus for variously themed parties (Springtime, East Meets West, Cocktail Party, Dessert Party, among them), menu-planning tips are puzzlingly absent throughout the body of the book. The book will provide plenty of great ideas for what to serve at your next event, but it's not a comprehensive guide to entertaining.--Robin Donovan