“Mom’s Best Crowd-Pleasers,” by Andrea Chesman (Storey Publishing; $10.95)
If you’re always searching for familiar, standby recipes that your mother used to make – or you have a bunch of old-time recipes on bits and pieces of paper and you can never locate them when you need them – you’re bound to find a copy of “Mom’s Best Crowd-Pleasers” useful.
Granted, it’s not upscale or chic fare (at least most of it) but I had fun perusing the 101 fuss-free, easy recipes – for favorites like Hot Artichoke Dip, Hot Crab Dip, Baked Brie, Lemonade, Sun Tea, Baked French Toast, Cheese Blintzes, Tabbouleh, Maple Baked Beans, Chicken Satay, Vegetarian Chili, Peanut Butter-Chocolate Kiss Cookies, Strawberry Cheesecake and much more. Recipes are designed to feed eight or more – for all sorts of occasions. These are homey, hearty creations with modern, updated twists – and they’re simple and accessible to any cook.
Now you won’t have to worry if you’re in a hurry and you can’t find your mom’s best recipe. It just may be in this volume – or at least something similar.|Natalie Haughton, Los Angeles Daily News
