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Instant Entertaining
by Donna Hay
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN 0-061236268
Published November 2006 - Hardcover - 192 pages - $34.95

This beautifully put together book from Australian food stylist/magazine editor/cookbook author Donna Hay, is sure to get your mind planning your next occasion.  Her style is stunning, as you'll see by the layout of this book (being a stylist helps), and what I really liked about her recipes, is that they are quick and don't require a trillion ingredients.  Contents include: Weeknights; Saturday Night; Sunday Lunch; Special Occasion (Dinner for Two; Dinner for Eight; Buffet for Twelve; Drinks Party; Cocktail Party, and Afternoon Tea), and Barbecues & Brunch.  Each section offers a tempting menu.  For example: Last Minute Dinner: Starter - Halaumi in Vine Leaves; Main - Chilli, Garlic, and Lemon Chicken, and Dessert - Ice Cream Tiramisu.  Or, Summer Supper: Starter - Goat's Cheese Tarts; Main - Crispy Peppered Salmon; Fennel and Celeriac Slaw, and Dessert - Coconut Plum Crumbles.  Or, Lazy Day: Starter - Tomato and Capsicum (bell pepper) Soup; Main - Chicken and Leek Pot Pies; Side - Mint and Butter Peas, and Dessert - Rhubarb and Meringue Mess.  You can try serving one course here and there if you prefer, and I'd go for Roast Garlic Baked Chicken, or Breadcrumb Zucchini, or Garlic Roast Lamb Cutlets, or Raspberry-Spiked Chocolate Brownies, and any other of her delicious meals.  I liked her style sections as they offer great ideas on how to spruce up your dinner table.  I loved the rose cups on page 70 and the centre stage on page 179.  For me, the trick is to be organized - get all you need out ahead of time and work systematically.  What a great idea the chive garnish is on page 141.
Beautifully illustrated.  No nutritional guides.
Conclusion - Stunningly beautiful and not overly ambitious.