This is a fantastic book for anyone who wants to make hospitality a stronger area in their life. What holds most of us back from offering gracious hospitality, Coughlin argues, is perfectionism, and a false humility. True hospitality is about making others feel warm, welcome and comfortable. That can be accomplished whether your home is small or large, clean or cluttered. It can happen when you serve a gourmet meal on fancy china, or when you serve take-out pizza on paper plates.
This book is filled with lots of fresh, practical ideas for making entertaining simple and stress-free. It includes plenty of recipes that look easy (I haven't tried any of them yet), tips for organizing and stocking your pantry, and for making hospitality economical. She also has ideas for different things to try, such as progressive dinners. Or, a dinner party where everyone is responsible for bringing one of the courses, so you don't have to cook a whole meal.
I found this book to be really refreshing and liberating. As an admittedly "hospitality-challenged" person (I'm always intending to have people over much more than we actually do), I really needed this book. I got it from the library, to read for the challenge, but I'm going to purchase a copy because it needs to be a go-to reference book in my library. Highly recommended read!
Sojourner
I clearly need this book. Entertaining terrifies me! I never have any idea of what to serve or how to feed a group larger than my family.
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