Anne Byrn's - What Can I Bring? Cookbook
January
Baby, It's Cold Outside Winter Dinner Party
Super Bowl with the Neighbors
February
A Comforting Meal for Friends
You're Engaged Dessert Reception
March
Book Club Lunch
A Last-Minute Wine Tasting
April
Best Friend Bridal Shower
Spring Mediterranean Supper
May
Mother's Day Sunday Brunch
Graduation Lunch
June
Sweet Sixteen Birthday Bash
Italian Night with the Girls
July
July Fourth Celebration
Summer Picnic with Friends
August
Burgers in the Backyard
Anytime Surprise Party
September
Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Party
Happy Birthday Party for Kids
October
Fall Football Tailgate Party
A Hearty Fall Buffet
November
Thanksgiving Dinner
The Knitting Group Comes for Coffee
December
Holiday Cookie Swap
A Holiday Celebration Party
MAKE IT! BRING IT! EAT IT!
Enter Anne Byrn's Casual, Creative Way to Get Together with Friends and Family
Do you promise yourself every year that you are going to entertain more often, but never do because menu planning intimidates you? Or, is every gathering you plan an overwhelming marathon because you try to do it all yourself rather than asking guests to bring something? When a friend invites you over for an impromptu dinner, do you always ask "What Can I Bring?" then show up with some flowers or a bottle of your favorite wine? Are you always at a loss when asked to bring something to a church social, school bake sale, family reunion or summer picnic?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, then you are in desperate need of advice from Anne Byrn, who has been inspiring millions of home cooks with her "Cake Mix Doctor" and "Dinner Doctor" books for the past decade. In her latest offering, Byrn turns her culinary creativity, sage advice and delicious ideas to casual entertaining year-round with "What Can I Bring? Cookbook," (November 2007; Workman Publishing; Trade Paperback; $14.95).
Byrn shares her passion for cooking and entertaining friends and family, but is the first to admit that with her busy, two-career, five-person household, there's not always time to do it alone. "These gatherings could easily have become a thing of the past had I not remembered that familiar question my circle of cousins and aunts and uncles posed when someone was hosting a picnic or a luncheon or a birthday party - "What Can I Bring?" Here was the key to success of our family get-togethers. Everyone brought a favorite dish. It was potluck but with a plan."
With her book, Byrn brings the concept of potluck to all new heights by adding a dash of sophistication, style and simplicity to the age-old concept for a generation of time-taxed people who have embraced this casual and communal way to entertain. The host sets the table, creates the atmosphere, mixes up the cocktails and whips up an amazing main dish, the friends bring sensational salads and sides or a dazzling dessert to the gathering. The stress of having friends over for dinner and a movie, appetizers and a game of Scrabble or dessert and a discussion of a favorite book is no longer on one person. Everyone participates in the cooking and shares in the fun.
"What Can I Bring? Cookbook" is filled with recipes for every course of the meal and for nearly every occasion, that you can easily make yourself or ask a guest to bring. All of the dishes are designed to travel, can easily be doubled (or tripled) to feed a larger group, and can almost always be made ahead. When really pressed for time, Bryn offers some very clever "grab and go" alternatives - dishes that are assembled in minutes using pre-made ingredients from your local supermarket or gourmet shop.
In addition to mouthwatering recipes and menu suggestions, Byrn has sprinkled invaluable tips and tricks throughout the book to make hosting (or bringing a dish) a cinch:
• Getting the party started - creating your entertaining game plan
• Planning vs old-fashioned potlucking - deciding who makes what versus just taking a chance and seeing what shows up on the table
• Trouble-free toting - making sure your dish gets where it's going
• Reheating, Replating and Refrigerating - Etiquette do's and don't's for working in someone else’s kitchen
• You make the main, they bring the sides - dozens of palate-pleasing main dishes with suggested sides that are good to go
• Entertaining the gang in a small space - perfect advice for city dwellers
• Dressing up a 13 x 9 inch baking dish - and other food styling tips to wow the crowd
• Join the Deviled Egg of the Month Club - and never bring the same thing twice
• Desserts from scratch or from a mix - the Cake Mix Doctor's advice at its best!
How could you miss with such successful starters as Cowboy Caviar, Twelve-Layer Taco Dip, Goat Cheese with Cilantro Pesto or Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps? Start the meal with a delicious soup or healthy salad like Missy's Chicken Tortellini Soup or Theresa's Romaine and Apricot Salad. Then really bring them home with such crowd-pleasers as Turkey Tetrazzini, January Lamb Stew, Ham and Cheese Overnight Soufflé, and Oven-Barbecued Beef Brisket. Serve these up with a side dish of Curried Corn and Bell Peppers, Boursin Potato Gratin or Fresh Tomato Pie. And, speaking of pie, Byrn saves her trademark treats for the end of a fabulous meal - Cranberry Tart, Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Cake, Mrs. Collins' Sweet Potato Cake and Coconut-Almond Macaroons.
Byrn says that the good eating and good company doesn't have to end when the meal is over. She includes a whole chapter on "It's a Gift" that includes loving loaves and other fabulous foodstuffs that you can make, bake or buy to create wonderful treats to hand out as everyone leaves or to make lovely baskets, boxes and bins of innovative food gifts for the hostess, teacher, preacher, new neighbor, old friend or favorite aunt.
Whether you are making it to enjoy at home, bringing it to enjoy elsewhere or eating something that a guest brought, "What Can I Bring? Cookbook" will always point you to the perfect dish for the perfect gathering.
