I was recently contacted by Patricia Mendez to review her award winning book, Easy Entertaining For Beginners. This book includes 13 complete menus with easy to follow recipes, color photographs, ideas for music, activities, and drinks. From dinner for 2, you first cocktail party, dinner with your in-laws, Thanksgiving, or even children’s birthday parties, Patricia covers it all. She includes practical advice (what is a good time to start a party) and useful party etiquette (how to introduce guests to each other) as well. Her book includes helpful checklists as well.
Even a novice would be able to to throw a successful party with Easy Entertaining For Beginners. It’s perfect for the busy person who still wants to entertain family and friends. You don’t have to be a chef to host a party of your own and this book will help you to gain confidence .
You can even check out Patricia Mendez’s website for more recipes and party planning ideas.
Her book can be purchased on Amazon for $18.95 but right now it’s listed at $15.17:
Disclosure: I was not compensated for performing this review. I received a free book for review. The opinions and statements expressed by me in this post are my own personal and honest opinion of this book.
Patricia Mendez was also generous enough to provide one lucky fan a copy of her book. Want to win? Enter below.
i loved the summer tomatoe tart appetizer. Shaped like a pizza but its not really a pizza its like a healthy salad. =) Best part is that you can have this with some fine wine! I think I will be trying this for my next house party!
vzavala8@yahoo.com
Lemon Pound Cake with Warm Blueberry Sauce this looks good. i love lemon anything. yum yum yum
Pineapple Basil Rice sounds yummy! I love cilantro Lime rice. I love to cook! Thanks! 🙂
pacing yourself is the key to easy entertaining. i need to remember this. i always get wound up tighter than an 8 o clock!
Savory Fork Tender Beef Stew….looks so yummy and perfect for winter time 🙂
I want to try this Sangria recipe 🙂
Sangria
1 – 750 ml bottle of red wine
1 ½ cups lemonade, purchased, not from concentrate
½ cup orange juice, purchased, not from concentrate
¼ cup brandy
3 tablespoons sugar
1 orange, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
1 peach, sliced
Combine all ingredients in a glass pitcher and stir well to dissolve sugar. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Pumpkin Creme Trifle
This Thanksgiving dessert is a great alternative to traditional pumpkin pie and works well on any holiday buffet table.
1 – 18.25 oz spice cake mix plus ingredients listed on package.
1 ½ cup candied pecans, purchased (produce aisle)
Pumpkin Crème
1 – 3.4 oz. pkg. instant butterscotch pudding mix
1 ½ cups cold low fat milk
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 ½ cups whipped topping, plus 1 ½ cups more for topping
Bake spice cake mix according to package directions in 9 x 13” baking pan. In a medium mixing bowl blend the pudding and milk and whisk until thickened slightly. Stir in pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Fold in 1 ½ cups whipped topping, cover and chill for one hour.
Cool and cut cake into small pieces and layer in a trifle bowl with pumpkin crème and candied pecans. Repeat for a total of 3 layers. Top with remaining whipped topping, sprinkle with a bit of pumpkin pie spice and serve. May be made 1-2 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
Here’s a great recipe for the fall! Pumpkin Creme Trifle. Yum! http://ezentertaining.net/&/pumpkin-creme-trifle/
This would be something good to have when you are just getting started or even the seasoned person looking for some tips and something to freshen up as for me I would know the perfect person for this.
I like the recipe for herb roasted red potatoes – simple to make and looks delicious 🙂
Use an instant-read thermometer to take the guess work out of perfectly cooked beef. Pick one up at any cooking, discount or grocery store.
I love Sangria and the Lemon Pound Cake with Warm Blueberry Sauce sounds wonderful.
Oh my goodness I wanna try the Pumpkin Creme Trifle
1 – 18.25 oz spice cake mix plus ingredients listed on package.
1 ½ cup candied pecans, purchased (produce aisle)
Pumpkin Crème
1 – 3.4 oz. pkg. instant butterscotch pudding mix
1 ½ cups cold low fat milk
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 ½ cups whipped topping, plus 1 ½ cups more for topping
Bake spice cake mix according to package directions in 9 x 13” baking pan. In a medium mixing bowl blend the pudding and milk and whisk until thickened slightly. Stir in pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Fold in 1 ½ cups whipped topping, cover and chill for one hour.
Cool and cut cake into small pieces and layer in a trifle bowl with pumpkin crème and candied pecans. Repeat for a total of 3 layers. Top with remaining whipped topping, sprinkle with a bit of pumpkin pie spice and serve. May be made 1-2 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
I think the Savory Fork Tender Beef Stew looks amazing 🙂
Some people think of the greatest things…Who would ever think of chocolate covered bacon?!?!? LOL OMG it souds really good and if you think about it many people , including myself, love the whole sweet and salty mix! OMG I can’t wait to get thick bacon and chocolate, I’m going to surprise my whole family LOL can’t wait!! Thanks for the website, everything looks really good! Pumpkin Trifle, Pork tenderloin…Leaving this pos and going back to the reciepes!
The herb roasted red potatoes lookes good. I love finding different things to do with potates.
Use an instant read thermometer to take the guess out of perfectly cooked beef.
I love all the seafood recipes! That’s my favorite thing to cook, so I love trying new things! Thanks so much!
Just the front page alone has me intrigued. I can cook and follow directions I just can’t coordinate a meal for a party.
The beef stew sounds so yummy! i think ill make it soon! Thanks!
I love potatoes . The herb roasted red potatoes I want to try.
Well, I definitely want to try the Pumpkin creme trifle, and it was the eye catcher til I saw the chocolate covered bacon. Bacon and chocolate…really, need I say more?
Sooo many ideas ,tips and recipes on this website. thanks for the heads up! The Autumn Entertaining had some great ideas: Soup Supper-you provide the fresh loaves of bread and wine and have guest bring soups…..follow dinner with a movie or game! Fun, easy ,casual entertaining.
Also The Outdoor Fire Pit Gathering!!! great ideas….
Debi B
This recipe sounds yummy!
Sangria
1 – 750 ml bottle of red wine
1 ½ cups lemonade, purchased, not from concentrate
½ cup orange juice, purchased, not from concentrate
¼ cup brandy
3 tablespoons sugar
1 orange, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
1 peach, sliced
Combine all ingredients in a glass pitcher and stir well to dissolve sugar. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Ohh this book looks awesome! Everything about it looks super duper. I’d love to win!!! The recipies look pretty darn good also! Ya’ll are making me hungry!