Oh, the dilemma of home-entertaining in our hectic world! Sure, formal sit-down dinners may impress our friends, but the hours spent slaving in the kitchen leave us exhausted. And it doesn't seem quite so hospitable to ask guests to throw together a casserole for a potluck supper. What's the alternative to this common predicament?

A great big platter. (Or, if you choose, a table full of them.)

In The Big Platter Cookbook, seasoned hosts and food writers Lou Jane Temple and A. Cort Sinnes serve up more than 100 full-flavored, crowd-pleasing, incredibly convenient recipes-like Cowboy Cassoulet, Bourbon and Coke Short Ribs, and Butternut Squash Risotto-that reflect the comfortable, casual approach to entertaining we prefer today. This cookbook is organized by the seasons, and includes chapters on starters and desserts to round out the meal. Each entree is paired with a recommended wine, and the book closes with suggestions for pots and pans that will make preparing these dishes a breeze.