Appetizer recipes

Mustard Caviar Egg Bites
Mustard Caviar Egg Bites

Mustard Caviar Egg Bites excerpted from Gather Together: Delightful Décor and Simple Recipes for Every Occasion. Text and Photography © 2026 by Robyn Chubey

Gather Together: Delightful Décor and Simple Recipes for Every Occasion by Robyn Chubey

Dazzle your guests with enticing seasonal menus and eye catching décor all year round.

Packed with vibrant photographs and helpful tips for all your hosting needs, Gather Together takes the stress out of entertaining with more than 100 food and décor ideas for every holiday and occasion. From showstopping centerpieces to mouthwatering bites, this book is organized by season and offers recipes for appetizers, drinks, meals and desserts, along with beautiful DIY decorations.

Begin your hosting adventure by reviewing the foundational elements of a welcoming, stylish table, from linens and cutlery to essential tools and equipment. All can be affordably sourced at big box stores or supermarkets. Then dive into easy to create decorations and recipes for seasonal celebrations, including:

Picnic in the Sun

An elevated spread under dappled sunlight, complete with a blanket, basket and low table. The menu features creamy Coconut Custard and fruit served on Marvelous Mini Pavlovas, along with a refreshing Raspberry Mint Green Tea.

Al Fresco Dinner

An elegant open air affair that embraces the beauty of nature, featuring a table set with herb bouquet place markers. The menu includes Smoked Pineapple Pork Skewers drizzled with Chimichurri Sauce and a Rosemary Lemonade Fizz. (more…)

Mostly Raw Lasagna
Vegan Lasagna

Photography by Megan Sadd

With 30-Minute Vegan Dinners, Megan Sadd, of the popular plant-based blog Carrots & Flowers, shows how anyone can enjoy incredible plant-based meals every night of the week.

This inventive cookbook reveals the secrets to cooking dinners that you crave―the kind that comfort, nourish and inspire you, without a ton of work. With every recipe clocking in under 30 minutes (prep included!), anyone can enjoy incredible plant-based meals every night of the week. 

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Cookbook Review: Little Book of Jewish Appetizers

First in a series of elegant little books exploring Jewish culinary traditions, this perfect hostess gift or self-treat takes us through the most social part of the meal: the appetizers. From nibbles and salads to dips and meatballs, more than 25 inspired, modern starters draw from global Jewish influences. Rounding out this lovely and informative resource are vibrant photographs and helpful sidebars featuring tips on how to build a Jewish cheese plate, what foods to buy rather than make, and more. Don’t expect reverence: with a wink and a nod to classic Jewish dishes, borscht has been reinvented as crostini and gefilte fish cleverly crisped into fritters. Dainty in size but mighty in delicious recipes, this book is a treasure for the nosh crowd. (more…)

Book Review: Southern Appetizers

Southerners adore their appetizers, and this collection of 60 recipes—served up with a healthy dose of Southern hospitality—shows why. Smoked pecans on the sideboard, cheese straws on the coffee table, an array of hot dips on the dining table, and pickled shrimp on the porch are just some of the myriad of dishes found in this volume that prove food is the life of the party. Tips on creating the ideal party flow, being a gracious host, arranging flowers, sending out invitations, and planning the perfect menu ensure any event will go off without a hitch. Both a lovely hostess gift and a party-planning idea book, Southern Appetizers is all anyone needs for a successful gathering with Southern style. (more…)