Ina Garten and Barefoot Contessa (Store) - Barefoot Contessa Parties!: Ideas and Recipes for Parties That Are Really Fun

Pros: Gorgeous photography; recipes are written clearly and are doable.
Cons: I don't host parties often enough to try all the recipes....

Picture this scene: You are planning a party... You're trying to decide on a menu, and would really like to impress your guests with some amazing dishes. You start flipping through some of your fancier cookbooks, searching for the perfect recipes. But...

Pros: This book really will help you give better parties
Cons: I don't have Ina's square footage!

Ina shows you how to throw a great party. She gets to the real issue of why some parties are not so hot. While always keeping food in mind, she knows that the people and how they feel and interact with one another is what is key. This woman really enjoys people and wants those around her to feel loved and happy. Her amazing food is only part of the picture.

What I really like about this book is how she's organized parties by themes and seasons. I found this extremely helpful when trying to plan appropriate dishes for parties. I also love the idea that Ina adopted from Martha Stewart that she calls "best of class". It's the notion that whatever you make, it should be made with quality. For instance, Ina serves lobster rolls, imported beer, popcorn and homemade caramel chocolate nut ice cream for a football party. You get fun and quality without formality.

Some of my favorite recipes: sour cream coffee cake, garlic roasted potatoes, caesar salad with palenta, popovers, old fashioned apple crisp, cranberry fruit conserve