What Can I Bring? : Recipes to Help You Live Your Guest Life

This book from recipe developer and food writer Casey Elsass provides the answer to the universal “What can I bring?” question, with 75 recipes in all categories of portable, sharable food, for all skill levels.

The book consists of sections on techniques and tips for preparing, storing, and transporting food to a gathering, and also provides guidance for what to bring depending on the type and timing of the gathering (don’t volunteer to bring an appetizer if you know you’ll be late!). The recipes are broken down by category: Double Dippers (dips and chips), Change of Greenery (salads), Raise the Bar (drinks), Thanks a Brunch (dishes great for brunches), On the Rise (easy breads), Lil Sweeties (bars, pies, puddings), and Caked Up (cakes). Each recipe is labeled with a level of difficulty, and  all also include step-by-step instructions for how to transport and perfect on site. There is also a chapter on homemade condiments, which can be used in recipes or given as a gift to the host. Infused with Casey's signature wit and wisdom, this book will turn you into your best guest self at every occasion.   

About the author: Casey Elsass has developed recipes for Food52, Food Network Kitchen, and he has collaborated on writing and recipes with culinary figures including Dan Pelosi and Renato Poliafito. He is the author of Short Stack Editions vol. 19 (on maple syrup), and several cookbooks under the Tasty umbrella.