About the authors:

Born in Kansas City, Kansas, into a family who made cooking and celebrating the norm, Myra J. Baucom, a shining model of what a hostess should be for all entertainers, loved the art of cooking and decorating at an early age. She worked at several floral shops and nurseries as a young mother, which started her appreciation for floral design, color schemes and decorating. Her creativity reached new levels during her employment at Trans World Airlines. In the nineteen years of service Myra traveled the world, gathering new ideas and cultural traditions that she quickly shared with those close to her. She started her own company, personally decorating several large restaurants and numerous homes. Her passions all come together in this entertaining book.

Myra’s daughter and co-author JoLynn F. Baucom-Wright grew up in an environment where social gatherings were common occurrences rather than rare occasions. Her childhood included many club events, family gatherings, social functions and quite a bit of traveling abroad and within the States. It was while she was attending the University of Kansas that her appreciation for her mother’s kitchen took on a new meaning, and she became a world-class hostess of her own. Through out her career she has demonstrated her versatility as a sales and marketing professional, working for Fortune 500 companies like Procter & Gamble, Baxter International and Johnson & Johnson.

List of Celebration Menus:

1. NEW YEARS DAY
Rack of Lamb with French Bread Stuffing, Tropical Fruit with Coconut Salad, Eggplant-stuffed Red Peppers, Parkerhouse Rolls, Pineapple Sherbet Ice Cram, Iced Minty Green Tea

2. SUPER BOWL PARTY
Smoked Turkey, Pineapple Salad Mold, Baked Spinach with Tomato Baguettes, Vegetable Kabobs, Cloverleaf Rolls, Homemade Black Walnut Ice Cream, Tea Punch

3. VALENTINES DAY
Blackened Prime Rib Steaks, Whole Yellow Pepper Salad, Asparagus with Wagon Wheel Pasta, Sautéed Spinach Quiche with Herb Crust, Chocolate Cream Pie, Coffee Cooler

4. ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Irish Stew, Lime Green Gelatin Fruit Salad, Braised Cabbage, Irish Soda Bread, Old-Fashioned Raisin Squares, Shamrock Punch

5. MARDI GRAS—CARNIVALE
Bayou Chicken Breast, Okra gumbo, Rendezvous Salad, Red Beans & Rice, Corncake Patties, Glazed Old-Fashioned Drop Donuts, Soda Fountain Treat

6. EASTER SUNDAY JUBILEE
Stuffed Leg of Lamb with Herb Dressing, Yellow Squash Boats, Deviled Eggs on Endive Leaves with Spinach Croquettes, Toasted Eggplant Slices, Butter Rolls, Creamy Lemon Ice Cream, Sparkling Apple Sip

7. CINCO DE MAYO FIESTA
Stacked Enchiladas, Tortilla Soup, Fresh Tomato Salsa, Sesame Guacamole, Red Bean Casserole, Warm Tortillas, Guava and Mango Cheesecake, Sangrita

8. MOTHER’S DAY
Tenderloin & Caramelized Onions, Tri-Colored Conchiglie with Pesto, Saucy Succotash, Collard Greens, Dinner Bagels, Bread Pudding & Run Sauce, Lemon Mint Spritzer

9. MEMORIAL DAY BRUNCH BUFFET
Baby Back Ribs with Bourbon, Plum, Cherry Tomato Salad, Onion-Topped Scalloped Potatoes, Creamed Green Beans with Bacon & Mushrooms, Sun-Dried Tomato Garlic Bread, Strawberry Ice Cream, Ginger Ale Fizz

10. FATHER’S DAY
Pan-Seared T-Bone Steaks, Asparagus Salad with Smoked Oyster Cakes & Sauce, Curried Rice, Tomatoes & Cucumbers Country Style, Skillet Cheese Bread, Peach Ice Cram, Raspberry Sparkler

11. BRIDAL SHOWER
Prawns & Scallops in Curry, Crisp Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette, Pesto Rice, Tropical Salsa, Soft Bread Sticks, Coconut Sorbet, Iced Daiquiri Sip

12. AL FRESCO DINING AFFAIR
Grilled Cornish Hens, Fresh Fruit Mold with Baby Salad Leaves, Sugar Snow Peas & Rice, Chillin’ Cucumber Soup, Cheddar Cumin rolls, Vanilla custard Tart, Mango Margaritas

13. BIRTHDAY PARTY
Mom’s Fried Chicken, Creamy Gravy, Sliced Red Tomatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus Zucchini Medley, Hot Garlic French Bread, Peach Cobbler, Fresh Lemonade with Strawberries

14. BABY SHOWER
Shrimp & Lobster Bisque with Linguine, Fresh Garden Salad with Cheese Croutons, Spinach Dip with Veggies, Wafer Crackers, Key Lime Tart, Fresh Fruit Spritzer

15. FOURTH OF JULY JAMBOREE
Barbecued Chicken & Pork Steaks, Potato Picnic Salad, Fried Okra atop Smothered Tomatoes, Roasted Sweet corn on the cob, Toasted Loaf Halves, Red Raspberry, Strawberry & Blueberry Shortcake, Summertime Spritzer

16. A FESTIVE CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH
Savory Porterhouse Steaks, Marinated Antipasto Salad, Parsley Fried Onion Rings, Grated Cheese Potatoes, Long-Stemmed Green Beans, Golden Onion Bread, Coconut Banana Cake, Champagne Lemon Cooler

17. BRIDGE AFTERNOON FETE
Salmon Loaves, Sliced Cucumbers, Glazed Carrots, Snow Peas & Peppers over Orzo Pasta, Herb Dinner Rolls, Graham Cracker Delight, Mocha Coffee

18. GOING AWAY PARTY
Sirloin Steak with Madeira Sauce, Potato Salad with Garlic Dressing, Stuffed Artichokes, Scalloped Corn, Honey Popovers, Blackberry Cobbler, Cranberry Punch

19. ANNIVERSARY DINNER PARTY
Prime Rib of Beef, Poppyseed Layered Salad, Yorkshire Pudding, Creamed Spinach, Rosemary Bread, Deluxe Carrot Cake, Sparkling Champagne Cocktail

20. LABOR DAY GET TOGETHER
Barbecued Ribs & Sausages, Creamy Cool Slaw, Smoky Boston Baked Beans, Green Beans with Corn on Cob, French-Style Bread with Parmesan, Deep Dish Lattice Apple Pie, Tangy Fruit Punch

21. GRANDPARENTS DAY
Basil-Herbed Pork Chops, Red Cabbage Slaw, Manicotti with Cheese and Spinach, Parmesan Eggplant with Marinara Sauce, Cranberry Muffins, Pumpkin Ice Cram, Hot Cider Tea

22. RETIREMENT PARTY
Salmon Steaks with Tarragon Cream Sauce, Snow Peas with Farfalle Pasta, Country Style Tomatoes, Creamy Broccoli Soup, Wheat Rolls, Lemon Cream Chiffon Pie, Lime Cool Punch

23. HALLOWEEN FUNFEST
Flank Steak with Sesame-Soy Sauce, White Bean Tostada Salad, Stuffed Mushrooms & Stuffed Tomatoes, Hot Spiced Peaches, Honey-Glazed Biscuits, Soft Gingerbread, Hot Spiced Apple Cider

24. A CANDLELIT DINNER
Braised Ox Tails, Fresh Veggie Crudités, Creamy Onion Soup, Green Beans and Potatoes, Bundt Pan Bread, Molasses Raisin cookies with Cinnamon Ice Cream, Hot Spiced Cranberry Tea

25. THANKSGIVING DAY
Slow-Roasted Duck with Sauce, Gourmet’s Salad, Pureed Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli Rabe, Scone Wedges, Apple Raisin Strudel, Spiced Mocha

26. CHRISTMAS EVE PARTY
Seafood Gumbo, Steamed Rice, Relish Tray, Assorted Crackers, Rum Raisin Ice Cream, Mint Julep

27. JOYFUL CHRISTMAS FEAST
Turkey with Cornbread Stuffing, Roasted Mashed Potatoes, Ambrosia Salad, French Style Green Beans, Sweet Potato Crumble, Fresh Cranberry Sauce, Giblet Gravy, Lillie’s Rolls, Plum Pudding with Cognac, Old Fashion Eggnog

28. KWAANZA
Short Ribs of Beef, Escarole Salad with Basil-Balsamic Vinaigrette, Cabbage Rolls, Zucchini Fritters, Fruit Compote, Cocktail Cooler

29. HANUKKAH
Spiced Beef Brisket, Raw Spinach Salad, Potato Latkes, Savory Green Beans, Challah Bread, Hanukkah Cookies, Hot Fruit Punch