Open Kitchen: Inspired Food for Casual Gatherings

One quandary many home entertainers face is the prepping and readying of foods, while spending time with guests. Food stylist Spungen, New York Times contributor and founding food editor of Martha Stewart Living, offers solutions in these easy-to-follow recipes that should appeal to a variety of eaters, including options such as "stress-less cheese souffle." While the recommendation is to serve this dish immediately upon completion, there are strategies for preparing everything to the point of baking up to four hours ahead. Another example, grain salad with many flavors (that holds up for hours), can be fully prepped except for the nut garnishes. Recipes also suggest side dishes for different types of events and feature tips for the right food for a number of occasions. Beautiful images, an introduction, and a pantry staples section support the text accompanying most recipes. Includes a detailed index and straightforward table of contents.