I absolutely love this book. As a person who struggles to decide what to pick from the menu at a restaurant because what I really want is a bit of 3 or 4 things, this is the perfect way to entertain! I love what I cal a picky plate for dinner, I mean who doesn’t?!
I think it’s great the way the spreads are themed and that it tells you how many people it should serve and all the things you need, from ingredients, any special equipment and any extras to go with the recipes.
I could see me using elements of this book regularly too and not just for entertaining.
I would definitely recommend this cook book to everyone..
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

Wow! Spectacular Spreads takes entertaining to the next level. This book is all about taking any meal and creating an experiencing around it for your guests. This creates some excitement while also taking the burden off of the host.

The photos and spreads depicted in this book are inspiring and visually appealing. I love that each spread is a balance of some recipes + store bought add-ons that make every spread attainable to home cooks and hosts of every level.

The book includes spreads for the following:
Breakfast and Brunch
Lunch and Dinner Spreads
Special Occasions
Holiday Spreads
Dessert Spreads
Drink Spreads

If you love to host, this book is for you!

WOW! What an absolutely spectacular book! Maegan has created a wonderful guide with tips and advice to serve up some brilliant spreads. As the regular host in my friendship group and a food blogger I'm always looking at ideas for beautiful platters and these are fantastic. I love how the book gives plenty of ideas for large sizes and you can easily adapt these for smaller groups or preferences. A lot of the items would be easy to find in the UK, or an equivalent, so you can really replicate these or use the suggestions for changes. Including tips on time frames for each platter on when you can make things in advance (a simple key to stress free entertaining I find!) and also what to do with leftovers - a common problem when you like to make sure people won't go hungry!
I can't wait to try some of these ideas, the waffle bar, top your own Mac & Cheese are top of my list, although they all sound delicious! The seasonal special boards are a real showstopper and I can't wait to try a Halloween and Christmas spectacular spread!

Maegan Brown, the Baker Mama, is back with Spectacular Spreads-50 Amazing Food Spreads for Any Occasion, the follow-up to her wildly popular Amazon editors choice, Number One best-selling cookbook, Beautiful Boards-50 Amazing Snacks for Any Occasion.

In Spectacular Spreads, Brown takes the charcuterie craze to a whole new level.

With a collection of 50 themed spreads, there is something for everyone. From a simple family movie night, or waffles on a weekend morning, to a festive New Year's Eve gala with friends, Spectacular Spreads is a blueprint for a meal with something extra.

Tips, tricks and recipes are included, as well as Maegan Brown's encouragement along the way. Each themed spread has a gorgeous full color photograph that allows you to either duplicate the look, or to use as a springboard for your own imagination.

It's that encouragement from Brown that I think sets this book apart. She makes it easy for you to gather everything you need for success, along with ideas for it making it uniquely yours. Don't like this type of plate? No problem, use those you love. In love with your aunt's brownie recipe? Please bake up a batch! The best cookbook authors take you on a guided journey with help to bolster your confidence along the way.

Most of all, Brown wants you to enjoy your time in the kitchen, to enjoy your meals with your family and friends, all the while making memories of special times spent together.

Who needs a charcuterie board when you can make a whole spread?!? My word these are so FUN and look so cool. There’s every day kind of spreads (think baked potato spread), special occasion spreads (Valentine’s day etc), and dessert spreads.

I cannot wait to make the Halloween spread for my kids. This will be a memory they will always talk about for sure.

A must have for any entertainer. Spectacular spreads is like the Swiss Army knife of party food.

First let me say I’m not big on hosting, but I can’t resist a good spread of food which is what drew me to this title. I realize the market for this book is more the kind of people who host parties on the reg, and it’s definitely a home run for that crowd.

The spreads are varied enough that you can find a killer one for any type of party you might be having, and the spreads I assembled (and ate way too much of) were delicious.

If you’re going to have company over soon, don’t come unprepared. Buy spectacular spreads and knock it out of the park!

Boards are so much fun and so tasty, but every time I try to put one together it comes out looking so amateurish. Thanks to this wonderful book, I think I will be more successful in the future. There are so many clever and easy to follow ideas here. It would make a great gift for a friend or family member who enjoys cooking and entertaining.

Don’t read this book if you are hungry because you will be starving looking at these photos. I have to say this is one of the most inspiring cookery books I have ever read. It makes you want to copy most of the spreads straight away. You will be inviting people off the streets just to have an excuse to make these platters! The photography is excellent and most of the recipes look straight forward …… IF you live in the USA.! There are several ingredients which will be difficult if not impossible to find in the UK. But there are so many recipes here that I am sure you will find enough to satisfy your needs. So many occasions and themes are covered that you will find something to create whatever your event. Only one negative in my opinion and that is a personal safety bug bear - fruit skewers are made for a children’s party using whole grapes . That is a definite no-no in my book. Grapes should always at least be cut in half if excited children are involved.

Is there anybody here who does not like spreads? Not even a tiny bit? I for one absolutely love them and I'm always one to try out new recipes. Spectacular Spreads by Maegan Brown opened my eyes to so many new and delicious ideas! I can't wait to try them all.

With useful tips, great planning advice and the list of spread essentials, this cookbook offers the perfect recipes for everyday spreads for all kinds of events. From early breakfast and brunch to midnight snacks. As a big brunch lover myself I'm going to try and make my next family brunch look as good as the pictures in this book! Why have I never come up with the idea of making breakfast tacos before? Spectacular Spreads has a beautiful layout with clear instructions and easy-to-follow recipes! You can tell how much time the author spent on this and creating delicious recipes for us to try out at home. No matter if for a birthday party, a holiday event or even just a normal family dinner.

The food looks amazing and the recipes really delicious. I am not a food guru myself but I don't really need to read a book for some of these recipes, they are not very original. That said, the pictures looked amazing and reading this made me really hungry (i need a waffle bar right now). The formatting is as wacky as usually with these recipe books, but I know this will not translate to the print edition. The cheese board in particular made my mouth water

This book is so beautifully written, it is full of colour and makes me desperate for one of the spreads! The information is laid out very easily, it covers all bases including the basics such as planning and ingredients/items required for chosen spread. The author covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, special occasions and holiday occasions. The author even explains how to display drinks. My favourite was by far Halloween or Christmas eve - purely because it is my favourite time of the year.

This is a book I would use time and time again and one I would love as a hard copy to display on my bookshelf! This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Great dishes for many people

Content:
The Spectacular Spreads book is a great cookbook with more than 250 recipes. The many photos show how to combine the dishes well. So you conjure up great boards with many small snacks Uma I get many heads full.

Opinion:
The book includes many great tips and tricks and I totally love the pictures. They are very inspiring and it makes you want to host a party with lots of people again. And not only on holidays, but just for a brunch or a dinner together. I bought the predecessor directly, because I am so excited about the book.

Conclusion:
One of the greatest and most inspiring books I've read lately with lots of creative and delicious ideas. Therefore, there is of course 5 of 5 stars from me.

What a gorgeous book. And I didn't do any research before I dove in and this book was so much more than I could have ever anticipated. I thought this book would be confined to the cheese board and maybe go a little outside the box, but no way, this book goes for true spreads and I loved it.

It was so creative how the author incorporated recipes while also sticking to the spread theme. There were spreads in all of the sections and recipes from all over that I am hoping to make in the near future.

While I read this book on netgalley, I will definitely be purchasing this book for myself and others as it is such a unique cookbook that can be used in so many different ways.

Maeghan Brown aka The BakerMama is back with her second book "Spectacular Spreads." The book is your go to guide to putting on a spread whether it's for a lazy weekend brunch, a dinner party or a festive feast.

The first thing you notice as you flip through the book is the mouthwatering photography. It seems each spread is more delicious looking than the last and you'll be finding reasons to schedule social events so you can create a spread of your own. Actually there is no need as pretty much any spread in the book can be adapted for a family dinner.. There is a massive selection of recipes to choose from with in the book and they will appeal to anyone regardless of your skills in the kitchen - some recipes only need assembling too, so provide a quick and easy solution if you are in a rush.

I really loved the structure of the book, set in to sections by time of the day and by occasion. There are full on buffet style meals, or classy appetizers and even recipes for cocktails to accompany your food. here is a handy guide to what equipment you need and typically how much food to allow per person

Some products aren't available in the UK but could easily be replaced with similar items from our supermarkets.

We tried a few of the different spreads and found that our kids loved eating together in this way and creating their own dishes - the top your own macaroni cheese was a firm favourite as was the hot chocolate bar. I, for one cannot wait to make a Biscoff Bourbon cocktail and try our the Christmas Eve spread. I can see a weekly spread dinner being a new tradition in our house. It's so good, it's made me want to buy the first book "Beautiful Boards" to sit alongside "Spectacular Spreads" whilst I rustle up a feast.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and Negalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Maegan Brown for the ARC of Spectacular Spreads. Great book with many creative ideas for serving small and large groups when entertaining. Perfect reference book to keep on hand when planning your next get-together! A bonus factor about this collection is the recipe/board ideas are for all meals not just appetizer/cocktail hour. Very creative ideas!

Gorgeous photography and easy, delicious recipes. The visuals alone made me hungry and longing to entertain.

This is a beautiful book with a variety of suggested spreads for every occasion - I particularly loved the Christmas one with the candy canes made out of tomato and cheese. I would recommend this to anyone and will definitely be referring to it for my next occasion

Loved this beautifully photographed book! So many different spreads for having fun at home with the family and more lavish spreads for entertaining. There are ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and special occasions, such as hosting a Super Bowl party, a child’s birthday party, even a fun sleepover spread.

What a colourful book of what it says on the cover! so many great ideas and recipes for everything, Themed buffets, football snacks, birthdays and celebrations. So inspired to make some of them, did the sausages in honey yesterday and they were lovely. The book also has chapter on getting organised and the ingredients are all normal family food store, with one of two more expensive gourmet type recipes, you can mix n match. Great book for organising your buffets and making an impact. Thank you #NetGalley for the book to review.

Coming soon…27 September 2021

“Spectacular Spreads”
by Maegan Brown

DYI Party & Meal Planning Made Easy for All Possible Occasions

In her latest book,“Spectacular Spreads,” Maegan Brown presents more than 250 scrumptious looking and sounding recipes; suggests hundreds of foods and ingredients to pair; and offers unlimited ideas for preparation and presentation to make hosting fabulous buffet meals daily for the family, as well as for special occasions, parties and holidays throughout the year.

This is a beautifully designed and well thought-through cookbook, hostessing guide and party-planning reference that is a feast for the eyes and senses. Photos of numerous charcuterie boards, buffets, cookouts, party-theme spreads and cocktail bar set-ups are colorfully and enticingly photographed and presented.

The entire family will enjoy reading and referencing “Spectacular Spreads” because there are ideas for everyone and almost every possible occasion. Brown has thought of so many ideas and details, and most are simple and easy to execute. This book is well done, and is categorized into chapters by occasion and event.

The kids should especially enjoy the “make your own” pizza party ideas, as well as the Halloween and Valentine’s Day DIY buffet spreads. And the princess in every little and big girl alike will adore Brown’s suggestions for an elegant high tea with cream scones and cucumber finger sandwiches.

Of the terrific tips in Maegan Brown’s, “Spectacular Spreads,” a few of my favorites include: her recommendations for complimentary cheeses, fruits, nuts and olives/pickles that work well on a charcuterie board; suggestions on quantities to prepare per portion per person for appetizers and meals; and thoughts that on a buffet, use butter instead of mayo on sandwiches to prevent fillings from making the bread soggy.

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The Book Maven’s Journal—Reviews for Word Connoisseurs

REVIEWER: J.Hunt
STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


“Spectacular Spreads”
by Maegan Brown
Genre: Non-Fiction | Cooking, Food & Wine
Publication Date: 27 September 2021
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group – Rock Point

With Sincerest Appreciation to NetGalley, Author Maegan Brown, and Quarto Publishing Group – Rock Point for Providing this Advance Reader’s Copy for Review.