At home with Magnolia, Classic American Recipes from the owner of the Magnolia Bakery

Nearly every day, people line up around the block at Allysa Torey's Magnolia Bakery in New York City. The reason is simple- Magnolia is the place to get all-American sweet treats like their famous pastel frosted cupcakes, layer cakes, and icebox desserts. But away from the bakery, at her country home in upstate New York, Allysa cooks a lot more than desserts. Now, at last, she shares more than 90 of her family-friendly recipes for appetizers, soups, lunches, dinners, side dishes, casseroles, vegetables, and of course, desserts- and invites you to experience the delights of country living. Allysa Torey- style.

Like the signature baked goods that have made Magnolia so successful, those relaxed dishes are packed with flavor and old-fashioned comfort food appeal. Allysa's recipes are un-fussy, easy to prepare, and brimming with garden-fresh ingredients- the perfect dishes for everyday family meals as well as weekend entertaining. More than 70 color photographs capture the appeal of these fresh, simple dishes, as well as Allysa's rural Victorian home and gardens. You'll find yourself immersed in the everyday pleasures of country living- the bounty of beautiful farmer's market produce, the enchantment of a candle-lit alfresco buffet.

Here are the new twists on traditional American favorites such as Chicken and Vegetable Stew with Cream Cheese Herb Crust. Sweet Potato Casserole with Almond-Streusel Topping, and Yellow Split Pea Soup with Smoked Ham Hock. There's an enticing variety of starters, from Crab and Crayfish Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce to Yellow Beet, Walnut, and Gorgonzola Salad to Pumpkin Ravioli with Corn, Haxelnuts, and Asiago, and fun ideas for leisurely lunches like Turkey Burgers with Goat Cheese and Pepper & Onion Relish and Leek, Corn, and Mascarpone Tart. For dinner, there are both quick and flavorful weeknight recipes such as Lemon-Tarragon Chicken and Grilled Salmon with Corn and Cherry Tomato Salad, and more elaborate dishes for entertaining, such as Mustard Herb Pork Loin Roast with Cornbread Apple-Pecan Dressing and Cider Gravy and Potato Gnocchi with Tomato Cream Sauce, Peas, and Mozzarella.

No Magnolia cookbook would be complete without desserts, and here Allysa serves up two dozen of her favorites. There are cupcakes, of course, as well as lots of other sweet indulgences, including Strawberry Icebox Pie, Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies with Health Bars and Pecans, Buttermilk Cake with Nectarines and Vanilla Ice Cream, Pineapple Cheesecake with White Chocolate Sauce and Macadamias, and Blueberry Coffeecake with Cinnamon Crumbs.

Filled with mouthwatering recipes and inspiring photographs, At Home With Magnolia is a cookbook that you'll feel instantly at home with as you whip up old-fashioned, fresh-flavored dishes that family and friends will love.

Allysa Torey opened Magnolia Bakery in New York's Greenwich Village in the summer of 1996. When she wasn't baking, Allysa could be found around town singing with her fifties jazz band, The Allysa Torey Swing Band. She is also the coauthor of The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook, published in 1999, and the author of More from Magnolia, published in 2004. In the spring of 2002, she moved to her home in upstate New York full time to devote more time to writing and pursuing her other interests, such as gardening and cooking. She lives with her collies, Sam and Daisy.

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