The Relaxed Kitchen: How to Entertain with Casual Elegance and Never Lose Your Mind, Incinerate the Souffle, or Murder the Guests

Since I work in an all-cookbook store and own at least 500 cookbooks it takes something special to make me buy another one. I bought this book because I've stopped entertaining. I've stopped because I get so uptight over serving an amazing meal that by the time guests arrive I'm exhausted and not able to enjoy my friends. In this book Brigit Binns shows how to overcome "the tyranny of the table and the anxiety of perfection". IF ONLY! I thought when I picked this book up. But she really does show the way. I loved her little side notes for each recipe. Do this, do that, do this, then one half hour before guests arrive have a cocktail, and then do this. At the end of the book several menus are laid out with a complete breakdown step by step of what do and when to do it. By starting a couple of days in advance the event becomes leisurely and enjoyable even, not the nerve racking affair entertaining has become for me. I liked her goofy sense of humor; "accepting that the root word of idiosyncrasies appears to be idiot I have rather strong feelings about certain ingredients." She seemed like the person I saw on the cover, open, warm, and funny; her voice loud and clear coming through every page. And then there's the food. Great sounding, varied, unfussy, but sophisticated without being show offy. I wanted to make most of the recipes. I did make the Tomato Gratin using a mixture of red and green heirloom tomatoes and it turned out wonderfully and couldn't have been simpler. This girl likes meat and I think she even gave me the confidence to try a standing rib roast, which she explained so clearly in the book that it actually looks simple. And I can't eat a whole rib roast by myself so I guess I'm ready to entertain again. Good job Brigit Binns

A terrifically funny tome of entertaining troubles and how to avoid them. The recipes are refreshingly simple and so far, very easy to use. Delicious! Can't wait to plan a pig party. Give this book to all of your friends and family this season - it's the best!