Tasty Over the Top

Introduction

First things first: let’s define Over the Top. Does “over the top” mean these are impossible recipes that require flawless technique and lots of equipment? Um, no, that book does not sound like fun at all. Does “over the top” mean you’ll be putting things on top of things? Yeah, that definitely happens here. There are also things in things, plus lots of drizzling and stuffing. But no, that’s not really the point either. Does “over the top” mean you’ll be exploring flavors, presentations, and combinations you’ve never considered? Yes! That you’ll tackle things that are wild beyond belief but still totally doable? Oh yes! That these recipes will encourage you to question everything you’ve always known to be true and mark the moment that begins now, your new life, full of over-the-top food? Yaaaassss!!! That’s absolutely what this book is all about.

“Over the top” can even be a small thing—often a simple thing—that makes the every-day extraordinary, such as Tomato Soup in a Grilled Cheese Bread Bowl (whaaaat? see page 60), Peanut Butter & Jelly Donuts (flip to page 34 to flip out), a Milkshake Overload that you have to see to believe (check the photo on page 134), or a Grilled BLT Salad (head to page 72) that has everything you love from the sandwich but in a salad. In this book, you’ll find 75 recipes that will blow your mind with their creativity, sneaky hacks, and Over the Top deliciousness.

While the recipes score big on flavor and creativity, they stay simple on ingredients and execution. For example, you may be making a Cheez-It Quiche, but you’re doing it with just six main ingredients (page 36, pronto!). Or a BBQ Sheet Pan Supper that’s just a matter of wrapping things in foil and baking them all together on a sheet pan with collards, mac, ribs, and all (giddyup to page 81). Or—get this—a Salad Party Platter that’s as easy as unwrapping a few items, popping some lids, and laying salad ingredients on a table, but it’s also literally the most elegant thing you’ve ever seen (the glow-up starts on page 92). You’ll see a lot of packets, jars, cans, bags, and boxes of common grocery items throughout the book. It’s definitely a working-smarter-not-harder vibe in these pages.

When it comes to plating these treats, now is the time to go big and go bold. Over the top is a total mood. It’s confetti, sparklers, little cocktail umbrellas, RuPaul’s Drag Race, gel pens, WWE, mood rings, Jock Jams, Lisa Frank, T-shirt cannons, gold lamé, muscle cars, K-pop stans, Britney’s Instagram, hot dog eating contests, roller coasters, and tacky pool floats. Does that make sense? Don’t worry about it! Grab your wildest dish and dress it up, pile it on, glitter it, sauce it, garnish it. (That’s the big.) Or reject the flair and let the food speak for itself. (That’s the bold.) Sometimes a simple plating can be the most stunning presentation, and the surprise is all in the first bite. Or sometimes a truly insane plating can be like, “Ayo, bro get a pic of me for the ’gram real quick.” There’s no wrong way, only creative perspectives.

What’s most important is having fun. These recipes are meant to spark your imagination, make you laugh, make you think, and make you question what food can be. Go in with an open mind and see where it takes you. Nothing is that serious, most of all food, so start cooking with a wink and a little flair. That’s the real meaning of “over the top”!