Real Life Entertaining: Easy Recipes and Unconventional Wisdom

Great book. Easy to understand. Recipes are easy. I could have used this book years ago.

I love this book. I bought it because I have a fear of entertaining in my home and always make having guests into too much of a production, I found this book extremely helpful especially the party tricks and real life wisdom. I have repeated the Rustic Chicken Night numerous times. It is the juiciest chicken I have ever made. All my guests rave and ask for the recipes. I also like the one pot meals and the lunch buffets. This book is like a security blanket that has comforted me through many successful parties.

I throw a fair number of parties but struggle with how to enjoy them more. I decided to test this book before reviewing it by having 6 person dinner party. Everyone raved about the food (I made the skirt steak & parmesan/fig potatoes) and I actually did end up enjoying the process more. I followed Jennifer's advice and asked for help from the guests - one couple brought the appetizers, one set up bar outside and made mojitos -everyone had a good time. In fact, two of my "guinea pigs" went out and bought the book after the party. I particularly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys having people around for parties but not necessarily the prep & process: non-foodies, newlyweds, new graduates. The recipes are easy and the advice is good.

This is the cookbook we all needed starting out - at school, in college, first date, first marriage, first kid... and for everything after that too. I've never worked with a book before that made me think, "Wow, that was actually, really easy!" without making me feel like an idiot. Not only are the recipes actually, genuinely, totally useable, but they project Rubell's sexy confidence - you get the sense she's in the room with you saying, "Come on, just throw a little brown sugar and mustard on the pork, throw it in the oven and meet us upstairs for a drink." You do. It tastes perfect. And, you don't feel like a slave to the kitchen. This is a must have.

Finally! a book that is filled with useful recipes that are easy and taste great and information that I can actually use. This book is an absolute MUST-HAVE for anyone who loves food. I have five cookbooks sitting on my shelf that I never even use because the recipes are too complicated. Rubell even tells you what you need to get started, how to set up your kitchen and how to cook and entertain on a variety of levels, whether you are cooking for four or twelve, she outlines a basic plan for every occasion that even a beginner can master. It helped me get over my fear of cooking and actually have some fun in the kitchen.