Meet Mary & Martha...

Hi, folks! We're Mary & Martha. Pleased to meet you! We plan on spending lots of time in your kitchen, so we thought you'd like to know a bit about us first...
I'm Martha, and I have a kitchen fetish. It is where I spend most of my time. I love to experiment with food and the preparation process-and sample my work. But some things I make are just too pretty to eat, and I'm rather disappointed to see the creations that took me hours to prepare disappear into my family's eager mouths within minutes. So I've learned to make fantastic homemade recipes appealing to both the eye and the palate using timesaving tips I'll share with you. Stick with me, and you'll be able to conquer anything in the kitchen-even if you're culinarily challenged (ahem...like my friend Mary).

Thanks for that wonderful vote of confidence, Martha... I'm Mary. I always say that the kitchen is the heart of the house. Where else can you find such warmth, family togetherness, and inspiration in one room? While I love to cook up tasty treats and meals for my family, I've always been the laid-back type who looks for ways to cut down on my kitchen time to make more family time. So I find my true inspiration in the easy, simple stuff that's still delightfully delicious! Then I can savor the best of both worlds-and not feel like I'm compromising one for the other. It's my desire that you'll find some heartfelt inspiration within the pages of this book-in addition to some recipes that you can't live without!

We're ecstatic that you'll be joining us as we dive into our favorite dishes - everything from breads, soups and salads, sides, main dishes, cakes and pies, to cookies and bars - and more! All recipes between the covers of this book hold the Mary & Martha stamp of approval - so you know that each and every recipe has been tested in our kitchen before it's been passed on to yours.

Whether you're looking for a family favorite or something new to try, we have dozens of scrumptious selections to choose from. So roll up your sleeves, put on that apron, and...Happy cooking!

Dear Family Chef,

Often find that you're just plumb tired of the same old boring menu week after week? Help is here! Escape the culinary doldrums by joining us in the kitchen - where you're guaranteed to experience renewed enthusiasm as you indulge in 200 family-pleasing favorites, loads of kitchen tips, and heartfelt inspiration.

Between the covers of this book, we've included every food category from appetizers to desserts (and all the things in between!), so you'll never have to wonder what to bake, slice, mix, or boil again. As an added bonus, we've also tossed in a measurements cheat sheet and a substitutions guide - for when you need a little extra culinary know-how.

With all this, you'll have everything you need at your fingertips....So dig in, roll up those sleeves, and happy cookin'!