Around the Table

September 22, 2003
Wright admits she's neither a restaurant chef nor a professional party-thrower, but she's been cooking and entertaining for over 40 years. She wrote this book for other culinary non-professionals who agree that"when it comes to really enjoying a meal, there's no place like home." Filled with 24 amusingly themed menus, divided into cold weather and warm weather categories, this volume is decidedly accessible. The recipe for Perfect Lemon Cake with Fresh Lemon Glaze might sound intimidating, but it calls for simple cake mix and lemon-flavored instant pudding, and comes with a sanity-saving tip:"If the cake breaks while you are unmolding it, take the pieces out and place them in their rightful positions. When you glaze, the break won't show." Entertaining at home is not about impressing guests, says Wright; it's about making them comfortable. Pop culture references, such as a Valentine's Day dinner menu entitled"Six and the City" and a TV tray menu to accompany viewing of The Sopranos might date this book, but the recipes--simple, classic and, above all, easy--will always be crowd-pleasers.