Hors D'Oeuvres

I cook for 6-24 people at a time, for casual to black tie formal occasions, and this book has beautiful and tasty recipes that have always gotten requests for "What is the recipe", or Is this easy to make?" I do not have a lot of time to prepare complex recipes fpr appetizers, so this book's numerous offerings, with usually readily obtainable ingredients, suits me just fine! My final appetizer is often slightly adapted from the book's recipes, my changes based on substituting local fresh herbs, fish for meat, or other seasonal or tropical substitutions. Recipes such as the "Filo tartlets with spicy cilantro shrimp and Thai red chili dipping sauce" are quick to make, and stand out above other more "conventional" appetizers, and can be used without the tartlets, even on toast, to keep it easy. This and other appetizers have gotten rave reviews-if you prepare this, be warned that some guests may fill up on this alone, and not have room left for the entree and dessert! Worried about not having an item...then for example, substitute sour cream for creme fraiche if it's not available for a different recipe, and it's no less tasty! There's a mix of easy creations, and some more formal ones as well in this beautiful book. The hints on preparation, and the pictures are inspirational to create numerous variations, so you get several hundred recipes from this beautiful book. I need quick, easy and tasty for my uses, and cooking from this book has provided just that. See also "The Appetizer Atlas : A World of Small Bites" by Arthur L. Meyer for more complex and varied appetizers. Buy this book, cook from it, and enjoy the smiles of your family, friends and guests!

If you are looking for a book that will literally make your heart beat faster as you contemplate the perfect party, this has to be one of the most intriguing books from a visual perspective. Mini chocolate truffle cakes swirled with chocolate glaze sit across from a full page spread of mini sticky orange and almond cakes. This book is all about those tasty treats you can't wait to put in your mouth and most of these treats can be consumed greedily in a few bites. We are talking about crunchy sweet and spicy pecans, Swiss cheese allumettes, chocolate biscottini, curry puffs, honey mustard chicken drumettes, cocktail corn cakes with spicy mango salsa, dill pancakes with salmon caviar all ready to give your mouth a burst of flavor. Some of the recipes I was most impressed with were the Broiled Beef Fillet with Salsa Verde on Croutes, the Asparagus Croutes with Lemon Hollandaise and the Tiny Heart Strawberry Shortcakes. Not to mention, the Mini Apple Tatins, Baby Baked Potatoes with Sour Cream and Caviar and Ginger Chicken Cakes with Cilantro Lime Mayonnaise. For summer, you will love making the sticks and skewers. Lemon Chili Shrimp Sticks, Salmon Teriyaki with Ginger Soy Dipping Sauce and Cumin Scented Kofte Brochettes with Minted Yogurt Dip take this book to a whole new level. Are you interested in trying to make your own sushi? Well, here are some classic recipes. Then, they also present soups in cups, sandwiches to die for and mini hamburgers with a recipe for making the mini hamburger buns. So, what about desert? Chocolate Cups with Mango and Mascarpone Cream Citrus Ginger Cream Tarlets Finger sandwiches? Rare Roast Beef and Horseradish Mayonnaise Smoked Salmon and Chive Cream Finger Sandwiches The Techniques section shows how a little extra time and effort makes for a spectacular presentation. Here you will find recipes for Choux Puffs, Vanilla Meringue Kisses and Vanilla Pastry Cream. A special "planning for the party" section gives tips on menu selections, strategy and quantities. The Menu Suggestions section only falls short in that it doesn't include the page numbers by the selections although it is easy enough to write them in yourself. One notes about this book: BUTTER in this cookbook means unsalted butter. Anyone could miss this if they don't read the notes from the cooks on the Ingredients. Everything is SO CUTE in this cookbook! A must have for parties. ~The Rebecca Review

Thsi book is beautiful to look at and easy to use. It offers step by step instructions and pictures, so you know what each item is supposed to look like. I liked it so much, that i just ordered it for a friend. It makes you feel like you are a pro in the kitchen!

I can't cook at all. But, I went to a cooking class taught by the author, Eric. Wonderful, FAST and Simple hors d'oeuvres. Things you can actually do at home and it still looks like the picture and people think you are a pro. Beautiful pictures of every recipe. EASY to follow recipes and advice for what you can do and how far ahead of time you can do it. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are planning on throwing a party and don't want to spend the whole time in the kitchen!