Reluctant Entertainer's Big Boards and More is a well written guide with recipes by Sandy Coughlin for removing as much of the fuss and stress as possible planning a gathering. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Quarto on their Fair Winds Press imprint, it's 216 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.
The book is well organized with an easy to understand format. The board selections are arranged seasonally in two main sections: Spring & Summer, and Fall & Winter. Boards are arranged further with relevant recipes arranged with the boards they're a part of. All the recipes are listed in the comprehensive table of contents (it's -very- detailed and well arranged). Boards are listed as being more appropriate for small gatherings (2-4 people) or for feeding larger crowds.
All of the recipes contain a basic introduction, ingredients in a sidebar bullet list, followed by step by step prep directions. Ingredients are listed in imperial (American) units with metric measurements in parentheses (yay!!). Most ingredients will be easily obtainable from any moderately well stocked grocery store in North America. Some few might require a trip to an international type market. Alternative ingredients and preparation tips are provided in text boxes. Nutritional information isn't provided.
The photography is excellent and all the dishes are pictured in the spread photos. The food is well styled and serving suggestions are attractive and appropriate. Most of the individual recipes are also accompanied by one or more color photos.
Four and a half stars. I love boards and buffet style entertaining and this is an excellent and (more importantly) usable book. This would be an excellent selection for public library acquisition, hostess gift, or home use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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