Guests Without Stress [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Hill (Author), Ann Upton (Author), Martha Starr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1997

This cookbook promises harried hostesses memorable dinner parties that are as relaxed for them as for their guests, and it delivers on that promise with recipes for 80 make-ahead dishes that come together into elegant-and seemingly effortless-three-course meals.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Howell Press Inc. (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889324019
• ISBN-13: 978-1889324012
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,747,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Special Occasions > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I thought it would be..., February 28, 2000

By 

Rosey - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guests Without Stress (Hardcover)

I am a busy SAHM of 2 preschoolers and love to entertain. I am always looking for ideas on how to cut down on prep time for meals and "do-ahead" type recipes. But when I received this book, it wasn't quite what I was looking for.

The majority of the recipes would not be well received by kids (ie: Danish Blue Cheese Mousse, Celery Root & Beets with Apple Vinaigrette, Carrot & Orange Soup, etc.) -- let alone many adults.

There a few recipes that are quite yummy. But many require some involved pre-preparation. Overall, this cookbook was a disappointment for me.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy, No-Hassle Entertaining, June 30, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Guests Without Stress (Hardcover)

Over the years, I have collected quite a few books on entertaining. My current "job" is to entertain foreign diplomats, and sometimes this lifestyle gets so hectic, I barely want to pick up a pencil and paper to plan a menu, much less prepare it! I now find myself coming back to this little gem of a book, even when I have time to plan an event from the start. So far, everything I have made has been great, and well-received. The menus are already planned (although I do not adhere to them all of the time--mixing and matching items in the cookbook with my own recipes), and although they are not typical "family dinners," (and I did not expect them to be) they are delicious nonetheless. Some of the foods a little unusual? Yes, but I find my guests really like that. The make-ahead aspect and the countdown menus are real life-savers for me because I can truly open the front door, relaxed and ready to enjoy the evening with my guests! I would definitely buy this book again, and recommend it to others.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great roadmap for prepping a dinner party, November 19, 2002

By 

saagalu (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guests Without Stress (Hardcover)

I disagree with the premise of the earlier reviewer, who was looking for recipes she could make for her family (including 2 preschoolers)...this is a book for entertaining, so I wasn't looking for recipes that would appeal to kids, necessarily. I was looking for ease and interest, and in that respect, this book was a success. I used 2 of the recipes (Mushroom Bisque and Lamb Packets with Skordalia Sauce) for my first non-family dinner party since my 2 kids were born, and I was really pleased on 2 counts: guests liked the food so much they asked for the recipes, and I *actually could* relax and enjoy my own party. The secret lies in following the authors' "Countdowns" so you can get most of the cooking work done before the day of the party -- something that Gourmet and other food magazines now do. This is a good source of recipes for cooks who like to entertain, if (1) you don't feel the need to make a showy statement with food, and (2) want something a little more special than weeknight family fare.