From Storebought to Homemade Cook Up Easy, Fabulous Food in Minutes

Do you ever wish that you could get impressive meals on the table in just a few easy steps? Southern entertainer, extraordinaire, Emyl Jerkins, shares her top secret collection of fast, fabulous dishes that make your wish come true: Add pecans to long grain rice for Crunchy Pecan Rice; or mix two prepared soups (cream of tomato with green pea soup) with beef consomme for an elegant-tasting starter, or simply bake a mixture of two cups of vanilla ice cream with two cups of Bisquick for melt-in-your-mouth biscuits! Sound too easy to be elegant? Well it's not. And it will taste like you slaved over a hot stove all day!As a college president's wife, Emyl had to learn to entertain political dignitaries, professors, students, as well as the Junior League ladies on a half-hour's notice. Dinner had to taste especially good for her guests as well as her most discerning critics: her husband and children. Most recipes in this treasure trove can be made in under an hour -- many in 15 minutes -- using store-bought items such as soup mixes, frozen food or prepared food from your local grocer or deli.Of special help in the book are menus for assorted types of meals and parties. Over 150 recipes are included, covering every part of the meal -- from soups to one-dish meals; breads to desserts. Handy tips on easy yet impressive entertaining, including tablesetting tips and great food presentation, round out this book. Special dishes for brunches, elegant dinners, and holiday treats make this a cookbook to use year round.