500 Appetizers: The Only Appetizer Cookbook You'll Ever Need

The 500 appetizers provides 125 recipes for a variety of appetizers, salads and tapas from everyday to exotic variations. Each of the 125 recipes has four minor variations that tweak the item into a different version by adding a new flavor profile. Like all of the books in the series this provides excellent recipes that are customizable so if you are familiar with flavors it Is easy to create your own variation. This book provides everything from quick bite appetizers to more substantial appetizers for tapas dinners. It has a wide variety including a big Asian section and covers some unique ideas. It also has a thorough dip section for those looking to explore that field. Overall a great job and for those who frequently host parties they will find this book very helpful.

Looking forward to making some appetizers from this book. Book is in excellent condition and am very happy with my purchase.

The first thing that "500 Appetizers: The Only Appetizer Compendium You'll Ever Need" has going for it is the use of the word "compendium" in the title. That is one of my favorite words! OK, so that might not do it for you. Let me try some more ways! In graduate school one of my English professors and Dean of Humanities at the time said such a strange and wonderful thing (a thought I already held dear). He said--this during the first five minutes of class--a dear little man of Irish extraction--"Just holding a book in your hands can give you a sense of what's inside." To begin, the book jacket is plasticized paper, so has that distinctive feel. Flip it off and you will flip off a maroon jacket only to find a bright, bright orange hardcover. Awesome! For a thick book--some 288 pages--it holds open fairly well. You will still need something to hold down the sides when you are toward the front and back. After awhile, the book will probably prop open with ease. The spine seems to be designed for ease of use. The book is also small in size--6 inches x 6 inches. Altogether a great feel for what is inside. Inside, ah, inside are the best recipes for appetizers. Here it comes, oh yes, it's a compendium of appetizers! Pop open one page in the middle--"garlic & chili shrimp." Your first instruction is: "Serve these delectable shrimp with chunks of crusty bread for soaking up the garlic and chili-infused oil." Of course, following the new trend in cookbooks, there is a picture with every recipe--all color on semi-slick pages (that feel again!). Pop open toward the beginning: "quail's eggs with black olive tapenade"--my only complaint is that I have no clue where to obtain quail's eggs or if I want to. The directions give no clue either. OK, let's try again: "avocado salsa" (note: the book does not capitalize titles, so I'm not). A familiar recipe, a comfortable recipe. And toward the back: Oh yum! "mashed pea and ham crostini"--Those smashed peas begin as frozen green peas, cook, process until chunky in the blender, rub bread with a slice of garlic, spread peas, fold a slice of prosciutto across, and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with pepper. Does that sound good? Susannah Blake explains the source of her recipes in the introduction, international in variety, some hot, some cold, some as first course (an example is golden polenta), all either little snackers or little taste-tempters. Then she discusses necessary equipment. Do you know what a debris dish is? It's a necessity at a party where people need to be able to dispose of olive seeds, chicken bones, and the like without tucking them into your houseplants. Her Table of Contents gives the reader all sorts of choices: chips and sticks (interesting)--"poppy seed grissini" (breadsticks) dips and salsas--"fiery pumpkin dip" mini mouthfuls--prosciutto-wrapped asparagus with lemon mayo" big bites--"grilled polenta with blue cheese and arugula" tapas tasters--"green pea tortilla"(this looks so

Compiled and organized by London-based food writer and editor Susannah Blake, "500 Recipes: The Only Appetizer Compendium You'll Ever Need" truly lives up to its title with a culinary wealth of easy-to-prepare recipes for delicious, palate-pleasing, appetite teasing, offerings that would grace any formal or informal dining occasion. Profusely illustrated with more than 200 photographs, this compact, 288-page cookbook features tips on how to select the right ingredients and how to make each individual appetizer look perfect in its presentation. There is a comprehensive introductory section on preparation and cooking essentials, techniques, equipment, ingredients, conversions, and troubleshooting. Variations for each recipes are also provided. From Mozzarella and Basil Quesadilla Wedges; Garlic Mushrooms; Chili Cheese Straws; and Spiced Carrot Salad; to Caramelized Onion and Anchovy Squares; Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce; Roasted Bell Pepper Salad with Mint and Pumpkin Seeds; and Sticky Glazed Pork Ribs, each recipe is gourmet quality, kitchen-cook friendly, and mouth-wateringly delicious. Of special note are the appetizers that are healthy, low-fat and low-sugar snacks ideal for evening soirees. "500 Appetizers" is a welcome addition to any family cookbook collection, but especially recommended for anyone who does a great deal of entertaining in their home.

I loved this book, it's full of a wide variety of appetizer recipes to meet nearly every occasion. Most recipes have photos, and each comes with several variations to further customize them. I didn't find the recipes difficult or fussy, so I'm not sure what the other reviewer was referring to. Most are simple to prepare, look elegant, and taste terrific -- sure to impress guests at any gathering.