One delicious bite at a time, Dallas-based food blogger Maegan Brown has become an inspiring maven of fuss-free cooking and entertaining. This September, the founder of TheBakerMama.com celebrates the debut of her third cookbook, Brilliant Bites (Rock Point, 2023) a compilation of tiny, tasty delights and creative sippers. We caught up with Maegan to give you a taste of her new cookbook, which we are giving away to one lucky winner!
Q&A with Blogger and Best-Selling Cookbook Author Maegan Brown, The BakerMama
Southern Lady: Why is Brilliant Bites a hostess must-have for any occasion?
Maegan Brown: Everyone loves to entertain in the South, and everything revolves around food. The brilliance of this cookbook is that everything is bite-size. You can put out a lot of different little bites, or serve them along with other items like dips or main courses. They’re so easy to serve; you don’t even need utensils, which is great for the hostess. You don’t even really need plates—a napkin will do.
SL: So many of the recipes seem like they would make a big impression at a party. Are they easier to make than they look?
MB: They are very impressive, but I love people’s responses about how easy they really are. You look at them and think, oh, that might be hard to recreate. But once you get into it and before you know it, they are ready and so cute and so delicious. That’s the beauty of it. Once people dive in to these recipes, they are going to be excited and impressed with each one.
SL: Where did you find inspiration for these creative eats?
MB: I took some really classic recipes—like steak frites or manicotti—and made them bite-size, so you can serve them in a party environment. You’ll find on a lot of my boards and spreads, which are what my first two cookbooks are about, there are bites. And that’s really where the idea for Brilliant Bites came from. I wanted them to shine on their own for this cookbook.
SL: Do you have any personal favorites from this cookbook?
MB: It depends on the day; it depends on the occasion; it depends on my cravings. I truly love them all. That’s something I take great pride in with all my cookbooks. The Meatball Lasagna Cups are such a fun way to eat lasagna. I make them for dinner with a big salad and garlic bread. The kids love it. The Charcuterie Board Cracker Bites are special because my first cookbook was Beautiful Boards. Every single person who takes a bite of them is wowed. It’s like the charcuterie board experience all in one or two bites.
SL: How has your family inspired your work?
MB: Each stage of The BakerMama has grown with our lifestyle and evolved with my family over time. I started in 2012 as just a baking blogger. As our kids grew, I started sharing more ideas. For this book, I wanted one bite to be each of theirs, one they would each give the final taste test and stamp of approval for. One of my sons could live off steak and fries, so he claims that one. In the dessert section, for my daughter, Brooklynn, there are Brookie Bites (chocolate chip cookies and brownies baked together).
It truly is a family affair. My husband created all the “Savvy Sips” recipes—classic cocktails with creative twists. We are in the kitchen as a family all the time. Everybody loves being a part of the process and especially getting to eat all the yummies.
SL: What are you making for football get-togethers this fall?
MB: So many bites in this book would be perfect for game day: the Buffalo Chicken Celery Bites; the Deep-Dish Pizza Bites that everyone gobbles up, not just the kids; the Frito Chili Pie Bites; and the Loaded Baked Potato Chips, which are so simple. When you’re grazing all day or throughout the game, I’ll have a setup to start and then replenish with everything I’m keeping warm in the oven.
SL: How does this book appeal to those less confident in the kitchen?
MB: Very few people are professional chefs. I’m not a chef. I am a home cook who feeds my family, and I want to do that in a very stress-free way. That’s how I started The BakerMama in the first place. I love cooking and entertaining, but I also want to enjoy the food and the time with our friends and family. I think a lot of people can relate to that. Some people are afraid to take on the pressures of entertaining, but you can do it so easily and enjoy it if you keep it simple.
Enter to win a copy of The BakerMama’s Brilliant Bites cookbook now through September 29, 2023.
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