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A busy working mother raising four boys, Patricia Heaton couldn't be more comfortable playing ?America's mom? on hit television shows such as Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle. Though she may be a Hollywood star today, this down-to-earth, practical midwesterner likes to have fun entertaining her loved ones and has never forgotten her roots.
When Patricia was growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland in the 1960s, her hardworking parents like the characters she plays on TV didn't have a lot of extra money. With five kids in the family, extras like going to the movies and dining out were special treats. Home-cooked dinners were rib-filling basics: meatloaf, spaghetti and meatballs, pork chops, and pot roast. Yet her mother, inspired by Julia Child, didn't let a tight budget stop her from dreaming big.
On her Food Network show Patricia Heaton Parties, Patricia celebrates her culinary beginnings, transforming familiar American fare into delicious, sophisticated, lightened versions for entertaining family and friends. In this fabulous cookbook, Patricia shares her budget-friendly, simple, and deeply satisfying recipes. Some are on the healthier side, and all are inspired by the dishes she loved growing up, the favorites she's relied on to feed her hungry boys, and the scrumptious showstoppers she serves at her fun-filled, casual parties and get-togethers.
Patricia Heaton's Food for Family and Friends features 100 recipes, including finger foods and little bites, sides and veggies, and family-favorite main dishes, as well as cocktails and ?guest goodies? little treats to send home with your guests. Some of the recipes include:
• Apple Pie Muffins
• Spicy Baked Avocado Eggs
• Bite-Size Crab Cakes with Lemon Aioli
• BBQ Beef Sliders
• Carnitas Taco Salad
• Winter Corn Chowder
• Mozzarella and Sun-Dried Tomato Stuffed Peppers
• Bourbon Pecan Glazed Pound Cake
• Patty's Party Punch
• Salted Dark Chocolate Truffles
Patricia provides the tools to pull together daily meals and showstopping parties with sample menus, a kitchen setup guide, and tips for getting organized. Best of all, she spices it up with hilarious stories, gorgeous photos, and anecdotes from her Hollywood career.