A celebration of mindful snacking with more than 75 recipes well worth nibbling on, whether you’re eating for one or entertaining a group of friends—from the author of Graze.
 
“Suzanne does ‘girl dinner’ one better with Peckish, a charming collection of not-quite-meals that perfectly satisfy the way we want to eat today.”—Giada De Laurentiis

“My favorite food experiences are very often over the kitchen counter or standing midway between the sink and the stove, so caught up in the chat at hand that simmering pots are neglected and salad dressings are left half-made. What’s come to me at last is that many of the most compelling discussions and deepest fits of laughter happen in between the making and the meal itself. These moments are perfect because they have all the features one hopes for in the feast without the organization, orchestration, and, yes, exhaustion. So why not liberate ourselves and embrace the truth? So often it’s the snacks, the tastes in between, that make our hearts race.”
 
Mindful snacking (and home cooking) is the philosophy that food stylist and author Suzanne Lenzer nurtures in her own life and shares here with us. Who doesn’t love standing in front of a full fridge wondering what to pull out for a covert snack? Eating is simply more fun when we have a few choices and are free to eat how we like, not simply how we’ve been conditioned.
 
But don’t fret, thoughtful snacking is not complicated nor does it require long days spent at the stove. And while it does require a modicum of planning, the benefits exponentially outweigh the effort. Thoughtful snacking is also about moving beyond boards and platters when we entertain, by adding dimension to the table, both in what we serve and how we serve it.
 
Peckish is divided into charming chapters sorted by vessel—such as On Toast, In Jars, Skewers and Sticks, In Bowls, Napkins Only, and more—so that the home cook can plan their snacking night with ease.

Being a grazer means tasting lots of things but not committing to a single one. IPs the opposite of meal monogamy, the antithesis of boredom at the table. When you graze, you skip from dish to dish, bending the rules of convention. From shrimp with chile to unique takes on cheese and charcuterie to tiny creme brulee spoons, Lenzer gives us a guide on how to create dishes and snacks for grazing and entertaining, whether it be a dinner for two or a party for twelve. Tapping into the tapas style trend of eating, Graze is full of easy, delicious dishes, that, combined together, can make a unique meal. Cooking small bites is a way to try your hand at fun new recipes, including simple pear crisps, pizza slivers, grilled polenta cakes, scallop and plum ceviche, lavender panna cotta cups, and so much more. The book is written for home cooks eager for ideas and inspiration on how to integrate smaller dishes into their kitchen. The trend toward grazing is growing rapidly - more and more of us are interested in eating lighter meals focused on high quality, sustainable ingredients. The desire to be more conscious about consumption is integral to all of Lenzer's recipes.