Lulu Powers Food to Flowers: Simple, Stylish Food for Easy Entertaining [Hardcover]

Lulu Powers (Author), Laura Holmes Haddad (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2010

From one of Los Angeles's premier caterers and event planners, here is a beautifully photographed cookbook filled with more than 100 delectable recipes and brilliant party-planning tips

Lulu Powers, vivacious chef to the stars, has catered parties for a cache of A-list celebrities. What her clients love most is her irrepressible spirit and ability to create elegant yet unpretentious gatherings that feature fabulous food and festive cocktails. In Lulu Powers: Food to Flowers, she dishes out her secrets to enjoyable and stress-free entertaining. From a holiday brunch to a retro party, from a classic Fourth of July celebration to a casual winter picnic, here are dozens of inspiring ways to gather with friends and loved ones.

For these creative events, Lulu provides the perfect menu and lays out everything you'll need to host an unforgettable gathering—from sublime cocktails to making a memorable atmosphere with flowers, music, and budget-friendly dÉcor. Of course, the centerpiece of any Lulu Powers party is her delicious, expertly presented food, and the book reveals her best, most crowd-pleasing recipes, including:

• Mini Wild Mushroom Risotto Cakes
• Burger Bites with Lulu's Special Sauce
• Herb-Marinated Lamb Chops
• Mini Double-Stuffed New Potatoes
• Caramel-Fudge Brownies
• Butterscotch Pudding with Rum Sauce

The recipes can be mixed and matched, and almost every dish can be prepared ahead of time, making party planning even easier.

Lulu believes that everyone's capable of throwing a great party, and breaks down her inimitable style into simple elements, with hundreds of shortcuts and money-saving tips to ease the mind of even the novice host. She guides you through the party planning process, with loads of information about entertaining and hosting in a fun, relaxed manner. Armed with Lulu's recipes, tips, and party-giving secrets, you'll soon be throwing the best bashes on the block.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Recipes from Lulu Powers Food to Flowers

Burger Bites with Lulu’s Special Sauce
Makes 30 to 35 

I've been a condiment queen my whole life. I love sauces! This sauce is even good for dipping with potato chips, and it's also good on any sandwich or hot dog.

For the Burgers
1 pound ground beef
3 tablespoons ketchup
3 tablespoons barbecue sauce
1 teaspoon Lindberg-Snider Porterhouse and Roast Seasoning
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 loaf sliced potato bread

For the Sauce
1 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon barbecue sauce
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoned Salt
1/4 cup chopped cornichons
2 tablespoons chopped peperoncini
4 garlic cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 cup chopped scallion, both white and green parts (optional)

In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, ketchup, barbecue sauce, porterhouse seasoning, cumin, and pepper together until well incorporated. Shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch patties.

Roll out the bread with a rolling pin. Using a 1-inch cookie cutter, cut 4 rounds out of each slice of bread and set aside.

Combine all the sauce ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until smooth.

In a saute pan over medium-high heat, sear the patties for 1 to 2 minutes on each side for medium-rare, or until done to your liking.

Serve the burgers between 2 potato bread rounds, with a dollop of sauce on each patty.

Pudding Pops
Makes 24

Every kid in America loves these pops. They’re easy to make in bulk and store in the freezer.

1 5-ounce package chocolate pudding mix
1 5-ounce package vanilla pudding mix
Dixie cups or Popsicle molds Wooden Popsicle sticks

Make the pudding according to the instructions on the pudding packages.

Meanwhile, lightly spray each Dixie cup or Popsicle mold with nonstick baking spray.

Fill each cup halfway with either vanilla or chocolate pudding.

Place the molds on a sheet pan and put them into the freezer for 1 hour.

Remove the molds from the freezer and pour in the second layer of either vanilla or chocolate pudding.

Place a Popsicle stick into the middle of each one and freeze for another hour

When you’re ready to serve the pudding pops, remove them from the freezer and let them sit for 5 minutes. Peel off the Dixie cups or remove them from the molds and serve.

Note: If you want to make a swirl pop, put a layer of vanilla and a layer of chocolate in each mold and swirl the mixture with a toothpick.

Review

Lulu Powers Food to Flowers shows you how to keep it stylishly simple with ideas for everything from a holiday brunch to a retro game night. It’s chock-full of recipes…and every single one is easy enough that even a kitchen klutz can impress. (DailyCandy.com )

Celebrity caterer Powers shares indispensable tips for entertaining and provides menus for different types of parties, like a Houseguest Breakfast…or a Dinner Party on the Fly. It’s easy to imagine hosting one of these events, as all of them are well documented with colorful photos of food [and] table settings. (Library Journal )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks; 1 edition (April 6, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061493279
• ISBN-13: 978-0061493270
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #227,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love This Book!!!, April 17, 2010

By 

mochachick (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lulu Powers Food to Flowers: Simple, Stylish Food for Easy Entertaining (Hardcover)

After throwing a successful get together this afternoon, I just had to write a review! I hosted my book club for lunch and made the Mini Wild Mushroom Risotto Cakes, Spinach & Asiago Cheese Sandwiches (kind of like mini grilled cheeses -I added prosciutto to mine) and the Grilled Citrus Chicken and Brown Rice Salad and I couldn't believe how much my hard-to-impress girlfriends just raved about the food -everything was so flavorful and yummy and was beyond simple to make. I bought the book after seeing Lulu on the Today show and I'm so happy that I did -she has lots of great ideas that are so simple to execute but your guests will think you were slaving away all day. Her style is really approachable and I really like that she encourages you to use what you have and make every recipe your own -it's not about being perfect like Martha, it's about being able to have memorable moments with your guests. Lulu has lots of stories about her family and friends in the book and reading it makes you feel like she's one of your girlfriends letting you in on the secrets of being an excellent host. The book is full of beautifully styled photographs and many clever tips -I love her suggestion of making your own specialty ice cubes with fresh fruit and herbs on page 79 -something so simple makes even basic sparkling water feel special. I can't say enough how much I've enjoyed this cookbook so far and I just can't wait to try some of the other recipes! This is definitely going to be my go-to gift for Mother's Day, birthdays and engagements. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed!!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Casual Entertainer, April 11, 2010

By 

Marie Therese Liddy "The coach who entertains... (Jersey shore,USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lulu Powers Food to Flowers: Simple, Stylish Food for Easy Entertaining (Hardcover)

Fabulous book for the "every-once-in-a-while' cook and entertainer. Never read (yes I mean READ from cover to cover) a book that made me want to throw a party right away! Every tip,every recipe, every memorable story about Lulu and her wonderful,entertaining and loving family made this an actual page turner---something I have never experienced with a cook book. I keep opening it up and planning my next small social, the next big family gathering, the next birthday party. I have already ordered copies for all the cooks in my family and plan to order more as gifts for my friends and business colleagues!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous and fun parties at your fingertips!, April 7, 2010

By 

Savvy NY hostess (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lulu Powers Food to Flowers: Simple, Stylish Food for Easy Entertaining (Hardcover)

This book is amazing and so much FUN!!! It will definitely be my "go to" gift for friends. I was up so late last night combing through it page by page-- I love the photography, recipes, fun and special anecdotes, graphics, colors, entertaining tips, all of it!! It's really wonderful. I can't wait to make so many of the recipes in it, especially those cinammon sensations and Stevie's spicy blood mary's. Lulu really knows how to create a wonderful party while making it fun and unique. The book is a must have in anyone's cookbook/entertaining library!