Eva Longoria may be most recognized for her role as Desperate Housewives ’ saucy Gabrielle Solis, but on her own time, there are few places she would rather be than in the kitchen, cooking the food she loves for her family and friends. Here is the food Eva loves to eat, and the recipes in Eva’s Kitchen trace her life story, taking readers on her culinary journey-from the food she was brought up on to the recipes inspired by her travels abroad to the dishes she serves during casual nights at home. Having grown up on a ranch with every meal based on what was in the family fields, Eva believes, like so many of us, that good cooking relies on local, fresh, easy-to-find ingredients. In Eva’s Kitchen , she teaches readers essential cooking skills and she sprinkles in the histories and traditions behind her favorite dishes, including personal stories and anecdotes that capture the warmth, humor, and joy of her most memorable meals. In her first cookbook, Eva welcomes you into her kitchen, offering 100 of her favorite dishes-many of which are family recipes collected over the years-all fused with her passion for cooking. She also shares memories of her Texas ranch upbringing, her very first cooking adventures, vacations overseas, nights in with her girlfriends, and last-minute pre–red carpet meals. Inspired by her heritage, Eva highlights the essentials of great Mexican cooking, Texas style-with her family’s recipes and techniques for making the world’s best tamales, homemade tortillas, Spanish rice, and Pan de Polvo (Mexican pastry), to name a few. She also offers dishes from a variety of international cuisines, from Latin American to Italian and French, inspired by her globe-trotting travels. A taste of Lemon Dover Sole whisks Eva to a tiny hotel-restaurant she once visited on a trip to Normandy; the recipe for Cannellini Beans with Crushed Red Pepper was a souvenir from a trip to Florence; kimchi adds a kick to her Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts, a Thanksgiving stap= and Yellow Squash Soup with Lemon brings her full circle, back to her family’s vegetable garden in Corpus Christi. With full-color food photographs, intimate portraits of her family and friends, and a glimpse into Eva’s home and her lesser-known domestic side (family first, acting second, she says), Eva’s debut cookbook will entice her loyal fans and inspire home cooks to broaden their culinary horizons and create memorable meals for the people they love.

This follow-up to "I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook" is packed with recipes and plans for more than 25 celebrations using only foods and drinks from the popular grocery store.

The country#x19;s biggest promoter of the cookie swapping party writes the ultimate cookie recipe book, with ideas, tips and organizing plans for anyone to throw the best baking event ever.

Robin Olson popularized the cookie swap: a party where a group of people get together, bringing a large quantity of a favorite recipe or two of their own and trade with other guests so that each attendee leaves with enough variety boxes of cookies and bars to give out as gifts, care packages, camp mailings, etc. Included in COOKIE PARTY:

--176 recipes for classic and fun cookies, bars, no-bakes and simple candies (such as Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies, Butterscotch Bars, Lemon Melting Moments, Cappuccino Bonbons, etc.)

--Tips for entertaining a room full of bakers with savories, drinks and sweets

--Ideas for festive packaging

--Shipping troubleshooting ideas

--Recipe index

--Inspiration for coming up with your own cookies, displaying your special chef#x19;s touch