Perfect Recipes for Having People Over is one of Pam Anderson's newest cookbooks, which is filled with down-to-earth recipes to go with its down-to-earth title. Pam Anderson (no, not that one) is probably best known for being the food columnist for the USA Weekend, though she is also a former editor of Cook's Illustrated. Her recipes are always clearly thought through, easy to follow and very well explained.
The book starts out with advice on how to choose a main course, answering all the most important questions, like "when should I serve it," "what should I serve it with," and "how far ahead can I make it?" It then moves on to planning your gathering based on location and guests. All of the planning is followed up by the recipes and for each recipe, Anderson offers tips for shortcuts, serving suggestions and whether things can be made in advance, leaving the actual cook (you) with little to worry about besides following along. She also provides many variations along themes, so once you have mastered one beef stew, there are several small changes that will result in a big flavor difference. There are over 200 recipes to choose from, from chicken-mushroom crepes at breakfast to frozen tiramisu for dessert, not to mention all kinds of familiar, enjoyable options in between.
Perhaps not every recipe is fancy, but when you're just "having people over," the food doesn't have to be gourmet. It just has to be really good.
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