From Publishers Weekly
In addition to offering 100 delicious-sounding recipes, this colorful cookbook has a social goal: to get readers to enjoy food in the company of family and friends. Temple (a former restaurant owner and author of a series of culinary thrillers) and Sinnes (author of three books on grilling) emphasize the communal aspect of eating as they present seasonal recipes for dinners designed to serve 8 to 12 people, but that can be adapted for larger gatherings. Yes, there’s meatloaf (it’s Company Meat Loaf, fancied up with hard-boiled eggs) and Tuna Noodle Casserole (kicked up with tuna steaks instead of the canned variety). But there are also innovative new dishes, like Eggplant Roll-Ups with Caramelized Onions, Oxtails with Green Olives, New Potato Salad with Grapes and Almonds, and Snapper à la Veracruzana. Many meals can be made ahead, freeing chefs to enjoy a glass of wine with their pals while they enjoy the delicacy that they’ve created. Photos. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description
Oh, the dilemma of home-entertaining in our hectic world! Sure, formal sit-down dinners may impress our friends, but the hours spent slaving in the kitchen leave us exhausted. And it doesn't seem quite so hospitable to ask guests to throw together a casserole for a potluck supper. What's the alternative to this common predicament? A great big platter. (Or, if you choose, a table full of them.)In The Big Platter Cookbook, seasoned hosts and food writers Lou Jane Temple and A. Cort Sinnes serve up more than 100 full-flavored, crowd-pleasing, incredibly convenient recipes-like Cowboy Cassoulet, Bourbon and Coke Short Ribs, and Butternut Squash Risotto-that reflect the comfortable, casual approach to entertaining we prefer today. This cookbook is organized by the seasons, and includes chapters on starters and desserts to round out the meal. Each entree is paired with a recommended wine, and the book closes with suggestions for pots and pans that will make preparing these dishes a breeze. AUTHOR BIO: LOU JANE TEMPLE, the former owner of Cafe Lulu in Kansas City, continues to develop menus for new restaurants. She writes about food and entertaining for Kansas City Magazine, and is the author of the Heaven Lee Mysteries, a series of culinary thrillers.A. CORT SINNES is the author of three popular cookbooks on grilling, including The Grilling Encyclopedia, which was nominated for a James Beard Award, and The Gas Grill Gourmet, which has sold more than 150,000 copies. He lives in Napa Valley.STEVEN ROTHFELD's photographs have appeared in numerous magazines and books.

About the Author
LOU JANE TEMPLE, the former owner of Cafe Lulu in Kansas City, continues to develop menus for new restaurants. She writes about food and entertaining for Kansas City Magazine, and is the author of the Heaven Lee Mysteries, a series of culinary thrillers.A. CORT SINNES is the author of three popular cookbooks on grilling, including The Grilling Encyclopedia, which was nominated for a James Beard Award, and The Gas Grill Gourmet, which has sold more than 150,000 copies. He lives in Napa Valley.STEVEN ROTHFELD's photographs have appeared in numerous magazines and books.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In The Big Platter Cookbook, seasoned hosts and food writers Lou Jane Temple and A. Cort Sinnes serve up more than 100 full-flavored, crowd-pleasing, incredibly convenient recipes that reflect a new casual approach to cooking and entertaining. The cook can prepare these delectable meals in advance, arrange them on platters, then kick back and enjoy the party! Please your guests -- and yourself -- with soul-satisfying entrees like Cowboy Cassoulet, Bourbon and Coke Short Ribs, and Salad Nicoise with Swordfish and Black Rice. And take note of specialties like Eggplant Roll-Ups with Caramelized Onions and Cafe Lulu's Macaroni and Cheese that are perfect for either main dishes or sides. Many of the recipes are made with ease on the grill -- even a Thanksgiving turkey! -- and seafood recipes, ethnic specialties, and vegetarian entrees abound.