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

They've organized their cookbook in a strategic way that makes "everyday" simple to navigate, and "entertaining" easy to accomplish.--Virginia Willis"Virginia Willis Culinary Productions" (07/08/2011)

Best for: Each of the recipes in the book is perfect for either a family meal or, with a tweak or two, jazzed-up for a company dinner.--Loretto J Hulse"Tri-City Herald" (05/04/2011)

Everyday to Entertaining is a fabulous concept: develop a core set of weeknight dishes that you can make with little time and fuss, and add some extra steps and ingredients to make those same meals into guest-worthy delights for the weekend!--Natashya Hamilton"Living in the Kitchen Blogspot" (04/14/2011)

I like everything about this cookbook from the beautiful color photographs to the layout of the pages and the fact that even the elegant versions of the recipes are not difficult to prepare. To describe a cookbook as unintimidating may seem odd but that's what came to mind as I read this one because I felt I could pick any recipe and have success in creating a dish my family will enjoy that I could also confidently serve to company. The recipe pages are in an easy to read format that includes color-blocked sections with helpful tips, steps that can be done ahead of time, facts about ingredients, and a section called Fashion Plate that recommends other dishes from the book to create a complete dinner. What makes this cookbook unique, and where the title comes from, is that a recipe is given for a simpler everyday dish followed by a more sophisticated variation of it for entertaining. For example, a recipe is given for Crab Dip with Artichokes and Jalepeno, and the entertaining version is an appetizer called Crab and Goat Cheese Bouchees made with the crab dip, puff pastry shells, and toasted almonds. The everyday Soft Chicken Tacos with Tomatillo Salsa recipe is dressed up for entertaining as Chicken Chorizo Enchiladas with Creamy Tomatillo Sauce. Fudgy Brownie Cake transforms into Fudgy Chocolate Babycakes with Peanut Buttercream, and Mediterranean Couscous Salad becomes Spiced Israeli Couscous and Chicken Salad (using a rotisserie chicken to make it even easier) for entertaining. The only recipe I've tried so far was a variation of the Chipolte Chicken Soup with Black Beans and Grilled Corn. I used thawed frozen corn grilled under the broiler instead of grilled corn on the cob, and I don't care for the taste of chipolte in adobo sauce so I used some pepper flakes instead but it still tasted good. Recipe sections include appetizers, salads, soups, pasta and pizza, meats, poultry, fish and seafood, side dishes, and desserts. The recipes seem easy enough and the ingredients used can be found at larger grocery stores. This is a cookbook I'll enjoy using.--Cindy Baum"Books and Chocolate" (04/21/2011)

Recipes: Ingredients that are accessible and recipes you'd want to make. This book gives you ideas how to make everyday recipes into something a little more special for your entertaining occasions. However, some of the "everyday" recipes would be suited for entertaining occasions as well. Either way, the book is good because it gives you multiple ideas of different ways to prepare ingredients. I loved the arugula salad with prosciutto, tomatoes, Parmesan and shallot dressing. It was the perfect combination of flavors and a great way to start off the meal. Everyday to Entertaining: 200 Sensational Recipes that Transform from Casual to Elegant by Meredith Deeds and Carla Snyder is full of recipes that any home cook can whip up with ease for a simple, satisfying meal, or serve with confidence at a dinner party. All the recipes in this book come in pairs. Each dish starts with the "basic" version that is sure to please. The second recipe offers a more sophisticated take on the basic, perfect for when you need something with a bit of pizzaz. Many recipes include a section titled "The Dish" which showcases important ingredients, techniques and entertaining ideas. In addition, for the time-pressed, they include hands-on and start to finish times as well as make-ahead notes. Chapters include everything from appetizers to meat and poultry, fish and seafood, sides, and- the finishing touch -- desserts.-- (04/23/2011)

I commend Deeds and Snyder for coming up with this unique recipe book. I think it's ingenious. Yes, of course, we can easily modify a recipe and come up with a totally different taste and look of the dish. I recommend "Everyday to Entertaining" to anyone that loves to modify and create. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.-- (05/13/2011)

Deeds and Snyder (The Mixer Bible) create a user-friendly guide with something for everyone-and every occasion. Arranged by meal category (from appetizers to desserts), chapters begin with indexes showing the everyday version of a recipe, which is generally simpler, with fewer ingredients and a shorter prep time, followed by the entertaining spin. Almost all ingredients will be easy to find, with pancetta and fennel about as exotic as it gets. Readers will appreciate the lavishly-illustrated design as they whip up appetizers like Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Scallop Skewers (or its entertaining counterpart, which includes a South Seas Salsa). A little more hands-on time and a few ingredient changes transform Italian White Bean Soup with Pesto into Tuscan Bean and Barley Soup with Crispy Pancetta; whereas Pizza Bianca dresses up for entertaining with chard and chorizo. Meats, poultry, and seafood are well-represented here, with Braised Short Ribs getting an optional stout braising and horseradish cream, and an everyday Arroz con Pollo becoming Chicken, Sausage, and Seafood Paella for a special occasion. Vegetables are not the stars here; readers seeking creative uses for broccoli or kale should look elsewhere. But simple ingredients, clear instructions, and loads of photos make this a useful addition to the cook's shelf.-- (05/16/2011)

In today's fast-paced world, it is hard for anyone to maintain a healthy diet. Much less, entertain at home. Everyday to Entertaining: 200 sensational recipes that transform from casual to elegant by Meredith Deeds and Carla Snyder is the perfect solution to the ever-present question; "What's for dinner?" The cookbook is organized in a strategic way that makes "everyday" simple to navigate, and "entertaining" easy to accomplish. The sections are organized in a clever way that illuminate what part of the party you will be cooking for. "First Impressions" is appetizers while "Accessories" are sides. "When in Rome" talks about pizza and pasta and "Finishing Touches" covers everyone's favorite part of dinner: dessert. Each section has side-by-side instructions for everyday and entertaining. They come equipped with supplies, cook time, start-to-finish time, and how many it will serve. This reviewer's favorite is definitely the Fresh Tomato and Basil Bruschettas in the First Impressions section. The Everyday side explains that this is a perfect appetizer and simple to make. It then gives step-by-step instructions with explicit details so I know exactly what to do. Which is good because this cook tends to ruin recipes by not knowing what she's doing. The Entertaining side tells me how to spruce up my dish. There is always an occasion for my husband to bring over friends after work, and this side of the recipe helps me to spice up my dish, so to speak, without having to start over. With only small changes, I can impress all of my friends with my fancy dish. The authors add sidebars with extra instructions on how to plan ahead for parties to make preparations faster. While nothing can prepare me for my husband not telling me about bringing home guests, I can know how to plan ahead for the after-work dinner party I am planning. Whatever your experience in the kitchen, Everyday to Entertaining is the every-day solution to the on-the-go world we live in.--BuddyHollywood.com buddyhollywood.com (05/30/2011)

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.... The authors feature handy, easy-to-follow tips and techniques throughout the book, along with menu-planning ideas and cooking shortcuts.-- (07/01/2011)

Full of recipes that any home cook can whip up with ease for a simple, satisfying meal or [to] serve with confidence at a dinner party. All the recipes in this book come in pairs. Each dish starts with the "basic" version and the second recipe offers a more sophisticated take with a bit of pizzazz. Chapters include everything from appetizers to sides and meats and seafood.-- (06/28/2011)