• Shewi128 on June 23, 2022

  This book is old, so my review won't do anything. I've kept this book around because I like the idea of it more than the book itself. The menus don't give you a game plan for timing or space of cooking the dishes. What if you don't have a double oven? The combo of the appetizers, mains, and side dishes are great, but the execution of the book is not great. Foolproof dinner parties? Probably not.

Notes about Recipes in this book

• French silk chocolate pie

  • mrshalf on October 09, 2016

    This recipe was the winner of all the pies I tried (7) for entering our local pie contest. The chocolate flavor, creaminess and utter decadence of this pie had my girlfriends swooning. It was a long process and definitely not healthy but a serious keeper!

• Grilled chicken fajitas

  • mrshalf on October 09, 2016

    This recipe has been a family favorite for years. Everything about this menu is spectacular, accessible for a moderate home cook and crowd pleasing. I love the marinade for the chicken and the combo of flavors is very special. Make this :)

  • Shewi128 on July 19, 2022

    This needs actual spices to make it more memorable. The marinade gave it a slight savory flavor, but we wanted more spice--even my son said that. I don't think I'll make this again.

• Grilled shrimp skewers with lemon-garlic sauce

  • jimandtammyfaye on July 16, 2022

    Easy prep with tasty results. Had to pull my shrimp off the grill 2 minutes earlier than recommended.

• Tomato and mozzarella tart

  • jimandtammyfaye on July 16, 2022

    The puff pastry crust and ricotta spread can be made a day ahead. This was really good, but I am partial to Ina Garten's tomato tart, I think b/c of the addition of dijon. Went well with the entire menu.

• Couscous with carrots and chickpeas

  • jimandtammyfaye on July 16, 2022

    Not a huge fan of couscous, but it worked nicely under the shrimp and butter sauce from the menu. A few currants or diced dried apricots would have been nice mixed into the finished couscous. Next time I make this menu, I'll probably use an orzo dish instead.

• Zucchini ribbons with shaved Parmesan

  • jimandtammyfaye on July 16, 2022

    Easy to make zucchini ribbons with vegetable peeler. Very similar in flavor to Ruhlman's Raw Zucchini Salad which is a little easier to eat b/c the zucchini is julienned instead of peeled into ribbons.

• Glazed lemon pound cake with strawberries and whipped cream

  • jimandtammyfaye on July 16, 2022

    Solid lemon pound cake recipe. Make the glaze thicker next time.

• Italian-style salad with fennel and artichokes

  • Nancith on February 06, 2017

    A nice salad to accompany pizza. Pleasing combination of crisp & soft greens, tasty notes from the parsley & fennel. Had to substitute baby kale since baby arugula was not available, therefore not getting the spicy bite of the arugula unfortunately. The Kalamata olives would have added a lovely briny note, but left them out to suit the olive-haters in the family. Next time, will add them to individual servings!. Used a flavored honey-ginger white balsamic.

• One-pot Bolognese

  • mrshalf on October 09, 2016

    This was the first real "fancy" meal I've ever made. It seriously tasted better than any restaurant sauce I'd ever tried. It is a bit indulgent health wise, but the depth of flavor from what I'd formally called pasta sauce made me fall in love with cooking. Try this!

• Chicken tikka masala

  • ldholakia on March 22, 2017

    Very easy, and very good. The chicken alone is a good weeknight chicken dish (and more kid friendly without the masala). Also, a great "entry level" dish for people who may not be that familiar with Indian food.

• Glazed ginger bundt cake with vanilla ice cream

  • mrshalf on October 09, 2016

    The flavors aren't ones I turn to when I think of dessert - hard to beat chocolate...but...that said, this was pretty fancy. Would be a nice ladies event contribution. I don't think the kids were big fans, nor the hubby, but the older folks and the ladies, they loved it.

• Northern cornbread

  • leona_jxmwcf on February 08, 2026

    Made this cornbread recipe as written. Great with chili and a 9x13” pan yielded lots of cornbread to go around.

• Macaroni salad with cheddar and chipotle

  • Nancith on July 16, 2018

    I thought this was a nice change from the standard overly-mayonnaised macaroni salad--a little heat & savory from the chipotle in adobo, mayo but not too much, a bit of cheddar, little bits of crunchy veg. Other family members thought it was OK, better than average, but they are not overly fond of macaroni salad in the first place. Makes a lot, so good for a potluck. Can be made a day in advance, then you add a bit of hot water to loosen it up, although it looks more appealingly creamy the day it is made.

• Flag cake

  • Shewi128 on July 06, 2022

    This was an easy cake to make, and it looks festive. I did use a different frosting because 6 cups of frosting seemed like too much. I was correct--I used 4 cups of vanilla frosting from a different cookbook, and it was the perfect amount.

• Cream scones with scallions

  • mrshalf on October 09, 2016

    These are really nice, easy and such a fancy addition to a family Sunday supper. Love the scallion flavors with the salmon meal. A great friend made this menu for me when I was sick. I'll always remember the care, the time, the expense she must have gone through. Made me want to buy the book and it's changed the way my family and I eat. And helped develop a love of cooking#shareyourfood