Peckish: Suggestions for the Sophisticated Snacker; A Cookbook

Peckish: Suggestions for the Sophisticated Snacker; A Cookbook

A celebration of mindful snacking with more than 75 recipes well worth nibbling on, whether you’re eating for one or entertaining a group of friends—from the author of Graze .   “Suzanne does ‘girl dinner’ one better with Peckish, a charming collection of not-quite-meals that perfectly satisfy the way we want to eat today.”—Giada De Laurentiis “My favorite food experiences are very often over the kitchen counter or standing midway between the sink and the stove, so caught up in the chat at hand that simmering pots are neglected and salad dressings are left half-made. What’s come to me at last is that many of the most compelling discussions and deepest fits of laughter happen in between the making and the meal itself. These moments are perfect because they have all the features one hopes for in the feast without the organization, orchestration, and, yes, exhaustion. So why not liberate ourselves and embrace the truth? So often it’s the snacks, the tastes in between, that make our hearts race.”   Mindful snacking (and home cooking) is the philosophy that food stylist and author Suzanne Lenzer nurtures in her own life and shares here with us. Who doesn’t love standing in front of a full fridge wondering what to pull out for a covert snack? Eating is simply more fun when we have a few choices and are free to eat how we like, not simply how we’ve been conditioned.    But don’t fret, thoughtful snacking is not complicated nor does it require long days spent at the stove. And while it does require a modicum of planning, the benefits exponentially outweigh the effort. Thoughtful snacking is also about moving beyond boards and platters when we entertain, by adding dimension to the table, both in what we serve and how we serve it.   Peckish is divided into charming chapters sorted by vessel—such as On Toast , In Jars , Skewers and Sticks , In Bowls , Napkins Only, and more—so that the home cook can plan their snacking night with ease. “Suzanne does ‘girl dinner’ one better with Peckish, a charming collection of not-quite-meals that perfectly satisfy the way we want to eat today.” —Giada De Laurentiis “ Peckish, with its evocative photos and mouthwatering recipes, is a must-have for all of us who linger and engage with loved ones through the art of snacking and grazing.” —Aran Goyoaga, James Beard Award finalist and creator of the blog Cannelle et Vanille “Thank you, Suzanne, for saying aloud the quiet things we’re all thinking about entertaining: more delicious snacks and laughter, less labor and cutlery! Throughout Suzanne’s beautiful new book, Peckish, her words wisely remind us that the most important ingredient to any meal is the very people we are sharing it with. There will always be a place for formality and ritual when celebrating, but there is an honest joy to be found in the laid-back simplicity of Suzanne’s mouthwatering recipes that I am sure will inspire everyone to have friends and family over more often—no special occasion required.” —Rosie Daykin, author of The Side Gardener “ Peckish gives us permission to indulge in zesty simplicity. In her spirited voice, Suzanne encourages us all to find the (easy!) delight from in-between moments of eating, reminding us there is much joy in this casual approach. I found myself dreaming up my next get-togethers, devising lists in my head for combos of this and that, and thanks to her, I am compelled to manifest these spreads, gather, and snack royally with my beloveds.” —Melina Hammer, author of A Year at Catbird Cottage Suzanne Lenzer is a food stylist and writer and the author of Graze and Truly, Madly Pizza. Her styling has appeared in magazines, on television, and in over two dozen cookbooks while her writing has been featured in Tin House and The New York Times, among other publications. Suzanne lives with her husband in Manhattan and Connecticut. Sophisticated Snacking, Defined Since before I was old enough to actually cook, I was besotted with a fantasy of my grown-up life, one that would include throwing elaborate dinner parties in candlelit rooms, endless lunches on pretty plaid blankets by the sea, and long, leisurely breakfasts on terraces that were yet to be revealed to me. As a teenager, when the Los Angeles Times Magazine would show up at our house on Sundays, I’d flip straight to the food column to see which dishes sounded worthy of my mental menus. Then when the Martha Stewart Living magazine and Lee Bailey’s Country Weekends came on the scene, they beckoned with their glossy photos of elegant parlor parties and dreamy lakeside soirees, and I was further smitten. I wanted to conceive and create with the same fabulousness that I saw in their pages. There would be multiple courses with silverware to suit and dishes with names like coq au vin and cassoulet. I would make flawless appetizers and all-day braises, rustic salads and long-simmering stews; I would dazzle with cobblers, crisps, tarts, and to