Food Network phenom Paula Deen gives us the ultimate guide to entertaining in real Southern style, featuring 150 lip-smacking recipes from her and her beloved soul sisters.

Second only to Emeril in Food Network popularity, Paula Deen is the unrivaled diva of down-home hospitality whose Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah, Georgia, has become a veritable altar to country cooking. In her latest book, Deen turns to her friends to share their stories, ideas for entertaining in true Dixie style, and--most important--their prized recipes. Southern girls really know how to entertain, she writes, and they'll find any excuse to share food with their loved ones. I want to show readers everywhere how to create these occasions for themselves.

Emphasizing the art of cooking for a crowd, Paula Deen & Friends features twenty-four party events, from Christenings and Bar (or Bat) Mitzvahs to Super Bowl Sunday, Thanksgiving, and St. Patrick's Day. Readers will find a complete menu with recipes for each occasion, along with tips for ease of preparation and presentation. There's even a chapter on beverages that explains how to make the perfect Really Sweet Tea, a magnificent Mint Julep, Killer Margaritas, and much more. Seasoned with memorable stories told in Deen's inimitable voice, Paula Deen & Friends is a book that readers will turn to all year for entertaining ideas that can't miss.