Instant Entertaining

The photos in this book will make your mouth water. They will either inspire you to cook or to make a reservation, fast! You will definitely want to eat what you see.

I'm embarasses to say, I have over 600 cookbooks. (I really use them) I'm trying to be e x t r e m e l y critical, before buying anymore! I love Donna Hay - have 4 of her previous books, special ordered this from our library, glanced at it - thought, oh well - seems too basic and easy, then looked page by page. Cannot 'copy' my favorite specifics - need the entire book. This book will be my summer 'bible' - PRESENTATIONS ARE ALL MORE THAN GORGEOUS - EACH MEMU - PERFECT and all encredibly easy.

Donna Hay has always appealed to me. Her writing and recipe format are very simple and straightforward - the presentation in this book is also outstanding. She seems to have developed an understanding on how to make cooking seem easy. She has never attained the popularity of Jamie Oliver, yet that is the closest chef I would personally align her with. She enjoys simple cooking with lovely ingredients. The recipes are uncomplicated but with delicious outcomes. She is not afraid of introducing you to new techniques and ingredients, but there is no snobbery about it. The layout in the book works well each page has four recipes which work in well for simple entertaining. They include a dessert dish as well as flavours which combine well. She offers suggestions of replacements which can be used, so for the Lemongrass greens she lists a few other things which can be used as alternatives. There are a variety of entertaining situtaions with suitable recipes - includeing Barbeques, Saturday nights, sunday brunches and special occassions. She also offers some style suggesions such as fresh hand cloths (and how to prepare them) for finger food, using egg cups for vases, and how to make iced coffee In the back are prepartation notes if you want to do things yourself. There are asterixs throughout the book so you can buy the item, or you can use the section in th eback to prepare it yourself - if that is what you like to do - stocks, pastry, potatoes, etc - it also has notes such as the importance of various types of ingredients such as star anise, red wine vinegar and rice flour etc This book allows cooks and budding chefs to work at a variety of levels - and allows room to grow and develop. An excellent resource! and Lovely book to look at too!

Donna Hay makes the recipes seem effortless, but take the time to put everything together neatly. The pictures are oustanding and clean, as usual, and the menu items aren't as daunting to the American culture as some of her other books. She pieces together themed menus and gives great style ideas for the parties. I only wish the book was scratch and sniff.

My kitchen is under construction - and all I have access to is a refrigerator and a microwave - and although I am handy with both - they are just not enough to make the recipes that are in this beautiful book!!! So I can't comment on the recipes - but the pictures alone are good enough to eat!!!