Desperation Entertaining! [Paperback]

Beverly Mills (Author), Alicia Ross (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 2002

Socially inclined but time-deprived? Want to see friends for dinner, but can't do more than order takeout or meet in a restaurant? Well, help is here. From Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross-whose nationally syndicated column reaches millions of readers through 115 papers comes the perfect cookbook for the harried would-be host and hostess.

Desperation Entertaining! is filled with 200 marvelous recipes for impressive dinner party food. Desperation Entertaining! is a complete game plan for having guests over (children included) without having to spend more than 20 minutes on a dish, or 20 minutes per cook-ahead phase. There are tips on saving time (buy pre-peeled garlic, doctor supermarket potato salad with fresh chopped onions and paprika); sanity (tie the bottle opener to the cooler); and money (sangria costs less than wine). But of course the genius of the book is in the recipes: Cajun Catfish Gumbo, Cabernet Pasta Sauce with Italian Sausage, Greek Stifado with Artichokes, Citrus Shrimp Kebabs, Grilled Pork Chops with Southern Peach Salsa. Plus plenty of homemade desserts that won't break the host, including Rocky Road Brownie Sundaes, Berkshires Blueberry Crisp, and Sunset Key Lime Pies. Who's coming over next week?

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

From the authors of Desperation Dinners! come 200 new recipes for "Desperate Cooks" e.g., busy moms like Mills and Ross. The recipes are organized into such chapters as "Welcoming Light Bites," "The Good Ol' Crock-Pot," and "The Casual Cookout" and then into two categories within them: "Fast and Fabulous," dishes that take only minutes from start to finish; and "Phased and Flexible," which take a bit more time but can be prepared in stages, often almost entirely in advance. Recipes that are especially "kid friendly" are indicated with a special symbol, and there are numerous boxes and sidebars on how to make cooking for guests stress-free. Sure to be popular, this is recommended for most collections.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Party in a jiffy. Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross... aim to please time pressed hosts and hostesses." -- Chicago Tribune

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (May 6, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761118152
• ISBN-13: 978-0761118152
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #713,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A guests-are-coming survival guide, April 30, 2004

By 

"ms_newlywed" (Fairfax, Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desperation Entertaining! (Paperback)

I pull this book out every time I face an entertaining challenge, and I always find at least one recipe that's perfect for the occasion. The guacamole-with-peas and black bean "hummus" dips wowed my New Year's Day guests and they were really tickled when I revealed the secret ingredients. (They said, "You must really trust the "Deperation" ladies!" I do!)

Witty commentary and helpful shopping, presentation, and decorating tips make this a fun book to browse through.

Some warnings and comments: Unlike the original "Desperation Dinners," this book focuses on multi-stage do-it-ahead recipes. Those wanting lots of menus that can be on the table in an hour or less will be disappointed.One long chapter is devoted only to grilled main dishes; another to slow cooker meats and soups. If you don't grill or slow cook, half of the main dishes won't work for you.

Certain food themes are repeated ad naseum - there are 9 creamy dips, 6 chicken salads, 5 chilis, 4 kinds of slaw, and 8 breakfast casseroles. The beverage and side dish chapters are slim, but the dessert chapter is much larger here than in "Desperation Dinners." Both authors are North Carolinans, and the book is heavy on Southern favorites. Although they make some concessions to low-fat dairy ingredients, this is not the book to turn to for low-fat, low-carb, or low-calorie ideas.

Because these dishes rely on partially-prepared ingredients such as "already-cooked" bacon, and because the authors favor shrimp and fine cuts of meat, most recipes are expensive. If your grocery store is rural or small, you'll struggle to locate some ingredients.

Check this out if you're looking for easy entertainment-specific recipes, throw-together dips, do-it-ahead plans, and lots of interesting advice for the host or hostess. Most dishes serve 8-12.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only so-so. Desperation Dinners is better., August 20, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Desperation Entertaining! (Paperback)

This cookbook is merely o.k. I have made four recipes from this book.

1.) The roasted corn and baked potatoes are easy and excellent. Good recipes.

2.) The chicken fingers are easy and have good flavor, but they are not crispy at all, as promised in the recipe title. If I would have cooked them longer, the coating would have burned. Also, originally I poured the remaining coating over the chicken as indicated in the recipe and it immediately scorched on the bottom of the pan when I put it in the oven.

3.) The smoked oyster spread was a total disaster. Yuck! I followed the recipe to the letter, and the spread had the exact look and consistency of baby poop. It tasted horrid, too. The notes say to see if your guests can guess the secret ingredient. I would have guessed canned sardines. I wouldn't make this for my dog, let alone guests.

4.) Some of the recipes seem needlessly odd. Would you really serve your guests guacamole made with peas??? I know I wouldn't.

This book has a few good recipes, but I'd advise checking it out from the library first to see if it's up your alley. Desperation Dinners is much better.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I live on these books, January 16, 2003

By 

Autumn (Cedar Park, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desperation Entertaining! (Paperback)

I'm a frequent "Desperation Dinner" cook. I was excited to find Desperation Entertaining. All of the recipes have turned out great. My family and friends have loved them. I made the BLT Dip and Cajun Barbecued Shrimp for New Year's Eve. They were the first things to go. I couldn't keep my kids out of it. Best of all, they didn't taste like a quick fix. My friends can't believe I don't slave in the kitchen all day with the dishes I make from this book.

Don't be afraid to try the unusual, like peas in guacamole, you may be pleasantly surprised. I look forward to the next "Desperation" edition.