Forget the stressful dinner party for twelve. How many home cooks really drag out the china, silver, and linen more than a few times a year these days? Momand#8217;s very best crowd-cuisine is fun, relaxed, and informal. From a hungry group of the kidsand#8217; friends looking for afternoon munchies to a potluck office farewell party to a 4th of July barbecue for the neighborhood, todayand#8217;s typical gatherings are casual occasions to share hearty, homemade food.

Momand#8217;s Best Crowd-Pleasersis full of recipes that reflect the way Mom really cooks today, simply tailored to feed eight or more people. Cucumber Sandwiches, Quesadillas, and Sweet and Sour Meatballs are all simple finger foods perfect for after-work get-togethers, book club meetings, and informal baby showers. Muffalettas, All-American Hamburgers, and deep bowls of Summer Fruit Salad and Broccoli-Rice Salad are delicious at backyard cookouts, tailgate parties, and summer pool parties. And Three-Cheese Noodle Bake, Cuban Black Beans, and Baked Barbecued Chicken will attract happy fans whenever the potluck gathering calls for a hearty hot dish.

Most recipes are designed to feed eight hungry people, but author (and home cook) Andrea Chesman provides advice throughout on expanding recipes, stretching dishes when the dinner seating unexpectedly grows from eight to eleven people, using clever shortcuts that make cooking for a crowd no more difficult than cooking for four, and generallymaintaining a degree of sanity as more people come flooding through the front door.

As always, Chesmanand#8217;s primary accomplishment is to provide homey, hearty tastes that satisfy modern palates, yet still bear the unmistakable stamp of Momand#8217;s Best.

and#8220;These are homey, hearty creations with modern, updated twist and#8211; and theyand#8217;re simple and accessible to any cook.and#8221;and#8212;Natalie Haughton, Los Angeles Daily News

Todayand#8217;s crowd can be anything from a few extra teenagers for dinner to a wedding reception for 100 friends and relatives. Whatever the occasion demands, Momand#8217;s classic recipes and tips for keeping guests happy take the stress out of entertaining. Cold Sesame Noodles, Cheesy Spinach-Artichoke Squares, Big Crowd Pasta Casserole, Grilled Chicken Wings, and Chocolate Mint Ice-Cream Pie are just a few of the offerings that ensure your success as a crowd-pleasing cook. Even if your contribution is only Old-Fashioned Lemonade for 60 thirsty picnickers, your friends and loved ones wonand#8217;t soon forget that someone made that extra effort to make it from scratch.

Andrea Chesman is the author of several cookbooks, including, Momand#8217;s Best Dessertsand Momand#8217;s Best One-Dish Suppers. She lives in Vermont with her husband and two growing sons.