The Southern Living Party Cookbook

November 15, 2018

The Southern Living Party Cookbook was originally published in 1972. This update mixes some recipes from that first book and etiquette tips with more modern entertaining ideas and menus. Heiskell (What Can I Bring?) provides party planning suggestions and organizes the contents around menus crafted for occasions such as "Sip and See," "Gospel Brunch," and "The Tailgate." The book begins with basic party planning and etiquette, providing suggestions for both hosts and guests. While menu-based organization makes it difficult to browse by dish type, it does provide a way of seeing how to pair more retrostyle dishes, such as Hot Cheese Squares or Peach Melba, with more modern Southern dishes, such as wonder wings with cider vinegar-brown butter-honey drizzle. Recipes from the original are indicated at the bottom of the recipe. Those looking for staples such as hoppin' John and pimiento cheese will not be disappointed, but there are plenty of new ideas to try as well. VERDICT While certainly not a cookbook for the calorie-conscious, this entertaining guide will appeal to those looking to update their Southern-style cooking without completely jettisoning tradition.--Rebecca Brody, Westfield State Univ., MA

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