All Booked Up! Martha's Entertaining

In this edition of All Booked Up! Kathy and Diana share stories of Martha Stewart and explain why for those planning a special event the library is a great place to start.

How many of you remember the entertaining book that Martha Stewart wrote in the 1980s? I do, and I have that book in my collection of cookbooks. Well, she has come out with an update to that book called Martha's Entertaining: A Year of Celebrations. And it is quite the book.

The first thing about this book is that it is huge. Both size and pages. But once you open it, the photography will knock your socks off. From the scrumptious food to the beautiful place settings (using a gravy boat as a flower vase - so neat!), this book is a treasure trove of ways to entertain.

From an informal breakfast to a lavish party, the book is organized around mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Holiday cooking is also included in this book.

I know I will never be able to entertain like Martha does. But I do know that I can cook and try out the recipes that are in this book, many of which haven't appeared in her magazine or other books. And I have. The first recipe I made was the Blueberry Belgian Waffles. I like my waffles on the crunchy side and these were light and crunchy. It uses what most waffles recipes use, but it also has cornmeal in it. You also must fold the egg whites into the batter. That is what makes them so light. Serve this with a blueberry compote – so delicious.

Another recipe I tried was the Ham with the Currant Rosemary Glaze. At first that recipe didn't sound very good, but the picture in the book looked very pretty. It calls for a ham, rosemary, lemon juice and currant jelly or jam. The guests I had at my house had brought me some currant jelly, so I gave it a try. It was delicious.

So, be sure and check out this new Martha Stewart book. Even if you think you have seen it all, you haven't until you have seen this book.

Remember to check out the library's Cooking Neighborhood for all your cookbook and recipe needs. If you need assistance with a recipe, be sure and click on Recipe Assistants. Fill out the form and the recipe assistants will try and help you find what you need.

Happy Cooking!!

Kathy and Diana's rating: Excellent