"From Emancipation Day to Kwanzaa, from formal events to casual parties to spark up a "blue Monday," holidays are a chance to warmly welcome family and friends with the best of African and African-American traditions, culture, and cooking. Rich in lore and customs, and including 150 delectable recipes, Ideas for Entertaining from the African-American Kitchen is the first book to show home cooks and entertainers how to prepare bountiful feasts for all occasions." "Angela Shelf Medearis, acclaimed author of The African-American Kitchen and A Kwanzaa Celebration, takes us through a year's worth of holidays and special occasions from Emancipation Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday and Juneteenth to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. She offers suggestions for arranging traditional African ceremonies - from an Afrocentric baby shower to a "rites of passage" dinner for teenagers and a "jumping the broom" wedding feast - along with handy tips that make preparations enjoyable as well as easy. Medearis also provides hosts with advice on when to send invitations, how to set a table, and even getting guests to mingle. Best of all, she serves up traditional and contemporary dishes that are rich in flavor and simple to make."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved