"The Big Book of Appetizers" news and stories

While appetizers are great for afternoon munching and snacks when entertaining, they are a must-have when it comes to parties, and with New Year's Eve coming up, now is a good time to start planning your menu. The Big Book of Appetizers: More Than 250 Recipes for Any Occasion is a book that will definitely get you through the night. The recipes range from simple to complex, family-friendly to high class and include dishes that can be made ahead in addition to those that can be tossed together at the last minute.

The topics in this book include nuts, cheeses, bread, pastry, meats, salsas and dips. Some of the recipes are quite simple, like the Taco Popcorn, while others are a little more gourmet, such as the Grilled Fennel with Truffle Oil and Parmesan Curls. The most interesting section might be the "soup shots" chapter, since the soups are no more difficult to make than other appetizers, but their presentation can really take a party to a new level. The book has a reference chapter, in addition to the index, that divides the recipes into categories like "quick and simple," "good and good for you" and "vegetarian," and will probably be your go-to page if you do a lot of entertaining.

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