From a modern American aristocrat, a guide to stylish living that combines the iconic appeal of Martha Stewart Entertaining with the health principles of Skinny Bitch.

Before Tinsley Mortimer and Paris Hilton there was Cornelia Guest, an American heiress turned actress and media darling. Cornelia grew up in a world dominated by blue bloods and high style: daughter of fashion icon C.Z. Guest, heiress to the Phipps steel fortune, she learned all she knows about elegant living from her impossibly stylish parents and their illustrious friends, including her three “fairy godfathers:” designer Halston, fashion photographer Francesco Scavullo, and artist Andy Warhol.

After years in Hollywood, Cornelia returned home to Templeton, the family estate, and embraced the more wholesome pleasures of country living. In this book she shares the secrets of understated elegance, entertaining with ease, and the welcoming comforts of good food. The book shows readers step-by-step how to orchestrate any kind of event, whether a cozy Sunday supper or a formal holiday dinner, a tailgate feast or hearty waffle breakfast. Organized by season, each section features menu plans as well as side bars full of tips for setting a lively and original table, growing fruits and vegetables, making natural centerpieces, choosing playful hostess gifts, even staying calm in the face of entertaining disaster.

Consulting with her favorite vegan chefs, Cornelia includes simple, tempting recipes; information about the safest non-organic foods; how to build satisfying meals around vegetables, grains, legumes and fruits instead of meat fish, and eggs; and how to dress up store-bought dishes like hummus, salsas, bean salad, ice cream and sorbets. Her ulterior motive is to inspire you to experiment with healthy alternatives, and possibly even change the way you think about food.

Richly illustrated with photographs of the Guest estate and personal memorabilia, the book has the feel of a scrapbook, and embodies the feeling of a well-lived life. Cheerful, colorful, and unpretentious, Cornelia will give you all you need to know to eat the most nutritious way possible and to serve it up with great style.