Just Jennifer

Martha Stewart's Appetizers: 200 Recipes for Dips, Spreads, Snacks, Small Plates, and Other Delicious Hors D'oeuvres, Plus 30 Cocktails by Martha Stewart

Domestic guru Martha Stewart has been providing recipes and entertaining ideas for over twenty years and does not disappoint with her latest collection, a smaller, less daunting cookbook than her 1999 Martha Stewart’s Hors D’oeuvres Handbook.  Stewart starts off with hosting do’s and don’ts and party tips and planning including an illustrated list of what she considers the most essential serving pieces and utensils.  The recipes are divided into five alliterative sections: Snacks, Starters, Small Plates, Stylish Bits and Sips, and though Stewart’s recipes are notorious for sometimes being very complicated with hard to find ingredients, how easy is it to melt Parmigiano cheese in a skillet until golden and let it crisp up a bit before serving.  Simple instructions, most are half a page long, combined with clear, no fuss pictures make these recipe accessible to the home cook.  Some of the recipes offer more substantial fare such as Fennel-Crusted Lamb on Brioche, Beef Sliders (complete with homemade mini hamburger buns) and Kale and Chicken Hand Pies recipes that could easily be assembled into a full meal buffet.  While some of the recipes are more substantial, some are as easy as assembling a pretty vegetable platter.  Classic cocktails such as Manhattans and Martinis get slightly new twists and drinks such as Tequila-Thyme Lemonade are sure to become summer favorites.  There are many recipes and options to choose from but the nice thing about this collection is that it never becomes overwhelming; there recipes will have you looking forward to hosting casual get-togethers such as book group discussions as well as more formal cocktail parties for special occasions. 

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.