Best Garnishing Meals Books of 2025

Beautiful Boards: 50 Amazing Snack Boards for Any Occasion by Maegan Brown is a visually stunning and deliciously enticing cookbook that offers 50 inspiring, family-friendly, and easy-to-recreate snack boards. From classic cheese and charcuterie to fruit-and-veggie rainbows with cracker clouds, each board is artfully arranged and comprised of easy-to-find fresh and prepared foods. The book includes boards for anytime family meals and snacks, seasons and holidays, breakfast and brunch, desserts, and entertaining and special occasions. With gorgeous photos and step-by-step instructions, this entertaining game changer will have you spending less time in the kitchen and more time having fun.

Big Heart Little Stove is your new go-to inspiration for cooking thoughtful and meaningful, yet refreshingly simple meals. With more than 75 recipes and her favorite hospitality “signatures,” Erin French―author of The Lost Kitchen cookbook and the New York Times-bestselling memoir Finding Freedom―invites readers to bring a piece of her beloved restaurant, The Lost Kitchen, home with them.. With dishes pulled from French’s family recipe box and the menu at The Lost Kitchen, ranging from irresistible nibbles like Pecorino Puffs and Gram’s Clam Dip; to luscious soups like Golden Tomato & Peach and Potato & Lentil with Bacon and Herbs; to heaping platters of family-style salads and sides like Peach & Blackberry Salad and Green Beans with Sage, Garlic, and Breadcrumbs; to show-stopping main courses like Pickle-Brined Roast Chicken and Wednesday Night Fish Fry; to French’s favorite all-purpose kitchen staples like Kitchen Sink Pesto and Floral Vinegar, this cookbook has all the tools you need for assembling a seamlessly special meal. . To round things out, there are beverages to sip as dinner comes off the stove (Fresh Fruit Shrubs, Slush Puppies) and desserts to make your guests feel truly looked after (Salted Caramel Custards, Roasted Peach Pie with Almond and Fennel). And because weekend mornings deserve celebrating too, there are feel-good treats like Sunday Skillet Cakes and Little Nutmeg Diner Donuts. . Regardless of whether it’s a dressed-up affair or a quick weeknight meal, French’s recommendations are the same: Start with the best ingredients you can find, keep it simple, and serve with love.. But Big Heart Little Stove is more than just a cookbook. With tips and tricks French has used in her own dining room―at home and in the restaurant―this book is your invitation to use what’s around you to create meaningful moments, from setting a table with found treasures, to adorning dishes with edible flowers, to thoughtful gestures such as offering a cold cloth on a hot day. Full of warmth and spirit, Big Heart Little Stove will show you how to create more joy and connection around your table.

Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings by Elle Simone Scott is a must-have book for anyone who loves to entertain guests. With over 150 foolproof recipes, this book provides tips and tricks for creating photo-worthy spreads that are sure to impress your guests. From charcuterie and cheese board how-tos to customizable baked potato and DIY Bloody Mary board ideas, the book pushes the boundaries of what a “board” is. The photography is both aspirational and inspirational, making it easy to follow the tips to replicate it exactly or use it as a jumping-off point for your own creation. Overall, this book is a great resource for anyone looking to up their entertaining game.

Damn Delicious Meal Prep is a cookbook that offers 115 easy recipes for low-calorie, high-energy living. Chungah Rhee, the writer, recipe developer, and photographer behind the popular blog Damn Delicious, shares her go-to recipes for delectable protein-packed breakfasts, energy-boosting snacks, and slimmed-down comfort food favorites. The book also provides readers with tools for making habit changes stick. The indispensable cookbook is sure to help you live a healthier (and more delicious) life. Overall, this book is a great investment for anyone looking to save time, money, and eat healthy without sacrificing flavor.

Platters and Boards: Beautiful, Casual Spreads for Every Occasion is a visually stunning cookbook that offers 40 contemporary arrangements for breakfast, brunch, appetizers, antipasto, charcuterie, and cheese boards. Author Shelly Westerhausen shares her secrets for creating effortlessly chic spreads that anyone can make and everyone will enjoy. The book includes easy-to-prepare recipes, suggested meat and drink pairings, and notes on preparation and presentation. Platters and Boards is an inspiring resource for throwing unforgettable get-togethers, making it an ideal bridal shower, housewarming, or hostess gift. Overall, this book is a must-have for anyone looking to entertain with style and ease.

Bread Baking for Beginners is a comprehensive guide that takes the reader from novice to expert bread baker. With step-by-step instructions and photographs, this book offers a delicious collection of recipes for kneaded, no-knead, and enriched breads. The author also provides troubleshooting tips for common bread baking issues. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn the art of bread making and share homemade loaves with loved ones. Overall, this book is an enabling and easy-to-follow guide that is sure to leave readers feeling confident in their bread baking skills.

Dressings: Over 200 Recipes for the Perfect Salads, Marinades, Sauces, and Dips is a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to elevate their culinary creations. This book includes over 200 recipes for marinades, dips, and sauces, many of which take less than five minutes to prepare and require less than four ingredients. With chapters dedicated to vinaigrettes, creamy dressings, bold flavors, sauces and dips, the sweet stuff, and oil infusions, Dressings has something for everyone. Overall, this book is a must-have for anyone looking to add a little kick to their meals and impress their guests.

Around the Board: Boards, Platters, and Plates: Seasonal Cheese and Charcuterie for Year-Round Cel is a must-have cookbook for anyone who loves to entertain. Organized by season, the book features nearly 50 creative, delicious boards that take advantage of the flavors and festivities of each time of year. With suggested flavor and beverage pairings, styling tips, ingredient profiles, and annotated photography, this book is a complete resource to mastering one of the year's most popular food trends. Emily Delaney, the founder of Cheese Board Queen, has created a beautiful guide that will inspire readers to create stunning displays of food for any occasion.

The Art of the Board by Olivia Carney is a must-have for anyone who loves to entertain. This book is packed with over 75 seasonally inspired, approachable snack boards, recipes, and cocktails, making it the ultimate guide to stress-free entertaining year-round. The in-depth introduction walks you through equipment and ingredients, and the Hopeless Hostess Appendix covers everything from Board Care 101 to step-by-step explanations and photographs that show how to bring your skills to the next level. With each board labeled with difficulty level, approximate cost, and dietary accommodations, you'll always find a showstopper to fit your lifestyle and budget. Overall, this book is a fun and creative way to impress your guests and elevate your hosting game.

The cookbook "Time to Eat: Delicious Meals for Busy Lives" by Nadiya Hussain offers over 100 quick and easy recipes that are perfect for busy weeknights. With helpful tips for meal prep and repurposing leftovers, Nadiya makes it easy to create delicious meals that the whole family will love. The book also includes icons that identify which recipes can be made ahead or frozen, making planning even simpler. Overall, "Time to Eat" is a must-have for anyone looking to simplify mealtime without sacrificing flavor.