Boards & spreads Shareable, simple arrangements for every meal

"The whole idea of this book is to make cooking (and serving) easy," promises food writer Fahr (Keeping It Simple) in this fun, laid-back approach to entertaining. She begins with board basics, providing helpful tips--when choosing wooden boards, she recommends maple and walnut since they are less water-absorbent--and cleaning instructions (a deep clean with a halved lemon and salt can address stain and odor issues). Next come the recipes, the more elaborate of which require readers to prepare components in advance: the taco board, for instance, calls for lemony herbs and onions and charred corn salad in addition to preparing the chicken and shrimp taco fillings for immediate serving. Other boards come together in a snap, such as the no-cook tartines board, which only requires readers to toast the bread and top with fillings like tomato, labneh, prosciutto, ricotta, and honey. Throughout, Fahr encourages readers to mix and match different components for different boards, offering plenty of variation suggestions (for the pancakes board, readers can swap out the water for Campari for boozy pancakes). Despite the array of options, some may be disappointed to find dessert boards conspicuously missing. Still, home cooks searching for a casual way to spice up their parties won't need to look any further. (Aug.)

Librarians may have noticed that books about boards are trending. Creative build-your-own entrées make it easy to satisfy a crowd of any age or dietary restriction while a board's "serve yourself" character lets guests control portions. Even better, they look impressive on the table. Fahr, the author of Keeping It Simple, takes it to the next level in her second cookbook. What makes this offering distinctive is that she moves beyond boards designed for a nosh and offers solutions for entertaining crowds on a variety of occasions. Most recipes are quick and easy and include pantry solutions for impromptu get-togethers, more sophisticated parties, even picnics. The food styling is aspirational and inspirational, prompting readers to start digging through the hutch for the perfect dish. This book is recommended for collections on parties and entertaining but can also serve double duty for families with picky eaters looking for flexible recipes for weeknights. VERDICT Whether hosting a dinner party or a sleepover, readers will find fun recipes and eye-pleasing, and crowd-pleasing, solutions for all their entertaining needs.--Sarah Tansley

Introduction "Let's make a fun spread situation!" my friend said to me one afternoon, as we chatted about what to eat. We were both feeling a bit lazy in our daytime sweatpants, and didn't want to eat out but also didn't want to cook--quite the modern predicament. A "fun spread" was our answer. A meal for which we could simply buy a bunch of things, doctor them up with a few fresh ingredients and pantry staples to make them feel a bit more homemade, and arrange everything together on a pretty board or platter so that we could nibble, snack, and chat without exerting too much effort or thought for our meal. I'm a big fan of this style of dining, as I have a "minimal effort, maximum flavor" approach to cooking. I love food that tastes good and making delicious meals, but I don't want to leave the kitchen feeling exhausted afterward, or do a ton of dishes, especially when I have people over. If that makes you go, "me too!," then welcome to your new favorite book. This low-effort, high-reward cooking approach is also applied to serving those wonderful recipes. Here, you'll find vibrant and flavorful, low-maintenance food spread out on boards or platters for the sake of simplicity and ease. It's a more convenient and casual way to eat, and it looks beautiful, too. While I love a good cheese and charcuterie spread, boards don't need to be relegated to snacks and dips for daytime hangouts or cocktail hour (though you'll find plenty of those here, too), as they work for any meal, any time of day--whether you're gathering around the table for dinner, serving food for a crowd, or planning an outdoor get-together. You don't need a lot of kitchen skills or experience to make these recipes, as the board-style approach is meant to be low-stress and more about enjoying time with friends and family over a gorgeous (and highly tasty) spread of food than anything else. While everything here is simple to prepare, you'll find that the flavor combinations, colorful food, and serving suggestions make it look and taste anything but simple. This book is built for flexibility, and you are in charge of how small or large the spread becomes--each key recipe (i.e., the main thing you're preparing for a given board) can be eaten with as many or as few of the accompaniments, condiments, and suggested sides listed for the board. That way, you won't have to think too much about what goes well with what, as I've done that work for you, and you can scale up or down depending on how many people you're serving. No matter how you choose to assemble them, you will be able to put these boards and spreads together quickly and easily--preferably while sipping on a drink, so that you can spend more time chatting with friends than working in the kitchen. Soon you'll find that arranging food on big, beautiful boards and platters is one of the most fun (and easy) ways to serve a meal. Hope you enjoy! Yasmin xx Excerpted from Boards and Spreads: Shareable, Simple Arrangements for Every Meal by Yasmin Fahr All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.