E-Cookbook Puts the Fun Back into Entertaining

Around the time I launched StoveTopReadings, I got an e-mail from a young woman with several food-advice websites from Southern Ontario who asked me if I would take a look at her cookbook on easy entertaining. It's called GROOVE MAMMA GOES GOURMET: Easy Ways to Put the Fun Back into Entertaining. At first I wasn't feeling the title, but the fact that it is an e-cookbook intrigued me. So I went to her website, www.groovemamma.com, and found this to be a delightful idea and useful for today's young would-be entertainers who might be a bit intimidated by the prospect of hosting, preparing for and executing a cocktail or dinner party, or any gathering of family and friends. Nadine Hughes is culinary professional and owner of The Cook's Companion, which provides "emergency" cooking and entertaining advice and The Menu Companion, which focuses on the planning and preparation of dinner parties.

"As a young woman, I always enjoyed getting out there and shaking my thing to the latest and greatest," says Hughes in the Introduction to GROOVE MAMMA GOES GOURMET. "But now as a Mom, wife, and business person, I’ve struggled to remember that old self who was the life of every party. That’s probably because, sadly, it’s harder and harder to actually find a party. For many, parties have been

tossed into the “too difficult” bucket, as we try to budget the ever-increasing demands on our personal time."

Hughes offers encouraging words, cute graphics, enticing photos, strong recipes, handy tips on everything from organizing a guest list and printing your own invitations, to shopping, prepping and having fun at your party.

Recipes I liked: Beef Tenderloin with Spinach Pesto Sauce, and Tiramisu Affogato (a clever wedding of two popular Italian desserts). The recipes include measurements in both the metric and American system. Here is a fine way to entertain in style while enjoying yourself without working yourself to death or the anxiety of getting it right. This e-cookbook, which appears to be the start of a series, is ideal for the laptop set and is available from Ms. Hughes' website in PDF form for $7.98.