Patricia Heaton Parties

I don't usually get excited about cooking shows. But with Patricia Heaton's Parties, this is worth writing about. She keeps it real. It's not some gourmet show using foods we've never heard of. She doesn't flaunt her celebrity. She comes off as real life mom and wife. She shares stories about her life and her work. She even encourages you to enjoy time home by yourself. Have a drink, eat some yummy food and relax! Her recipes are easy and oh so yummy! She always comes up with ideas for a cocktails to go with her dishes, something you don't always see.

I can't really find any drawbacks to this show other than the fact that it moves kind of quickly. But with DVR and online episodes, you can do the show at your own pace. Overall, this show gives you great ideas when you want simple entertaining without the fuss.

I stumbled across this show one morning and gave it a go because I love Patty and her work. However, this show is quite a disappointment. The interactions seem very rigid and you can feel the feigned enthusiasm and discomfort her guests are experiencing. It doesn't seem like anyone genuinely wants to be there. You can't tell if this is because they are awkward in front of a camera or because the supposed friendships are not reciprocal. The recipes are strange and really don't suck you in with interest. It just seems like Patty and her guests were just throw in front of a cooking show camera and asked to wing it. I don't know what's worse: the show or the fact that the insufferable Pioneer Woman is aired afterward.

Listen, I'm not a chef by any means. I grew up in a household where the closest thing to a home cooked meal was pancake night. Food Network terrifies me because of how complicated some of the methods are.

I found Patty's show while I was in college and it was my basis of my cooking skills. The recipes are easy to follow and fairly basic. It's what I rely on every time I entertain or just need a quick meal