All About Party Foods & Drinks

Combines top party food recipes from the "Joy of Cooking" series with a previously unpublished drinks section, in a guide that includes the how-tos for such fare as nachos, Buffalo chicken wings, and eggnog. 50,000 first printing.

A party menu differs, of course, according to the party-one would hardly serve the same food at a bridal shower as at a Super Bowl gathering. But this volume, part of Scribner's "All About" series, adapted from the Joy of Cooking cookbooks, provides drinks and snacks for just about any occasion. The choices span the map, encompassing Vietnamese Summer Rolls, Buffalo Chicken Wings and Lamb Brochettes with North African Spices. What remain consistent throughout are the lovely photography, the clear, competent directions and the useful sidebars. Becker, the grandson of the founder of the Joy of Cooking enterprise, includes instructive notes along with most recipes, explaining that harissa, for example, is a North African spice paste, and that cheese should always be served at room temperature. Becker concludes the book with a chapter on party drinks, giving the home bartender instructions on everything from a cold-weather eggnog to a fruity, and correct, Sangria.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This latest batch of spin-off cookbooks from the All New All Purpose Joy of Cooking includes one on a topic that was not covered in that revision. The chapter on canning and preserving, much of which was written by cookbook author Sylvia Thompson, unfortunately didn't make it into the 1997 revision because of space limitations, so it's nice to have it appear as its own book. Like the other "All About" titles, and unlike the big Joy, these all include color photographs, as well as additional material not included in the revision. Canning & Preserving is recommended for all collections on the topic; the other titles are for most libraries.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.