Sunday Suppers: Informal American Home Cooking

Those comforting standbysmeat, potatoes and Grandma in the kitchenare hard to knock in this book, compiled by two food and cookbook consultants, serving family and tradition. About half of the 180-odd recipes, geared to the novice cook, present familiar American favorites, but often with an intriguing twist (e.g., barbecued meat loaves with Iowa blue cheese sauce; double crust apple-quince pie). The remainder are melting-pot versions of international dishes. (chicken cacciatore). In light of the authors' professed allegiance to fresh, seasonal produce, occasional use of canned foods may seem contradictory. Vegetables do not occupy center stage; dessert is where the authors' true talents seem to lie. Their citrus pudding cake and giant anise sugar cookies look like certain crowd-pleasers. First serial to Family Circle; Better Homes and Gardens Book Club main selection; author tour. (Jan.)