PARTY People

For actress Brie Larson and chef Courtney McBroom, life’s a party. In their recent cookbook, the authors deliver a high-energy, high-fun playbook for every occasion.

- CARRIE BOYD,CARSON DOWNING,ANNIE PROBST

Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom are self-described party people. The Academy Award-winning actress and the chef, cookbook author, and culinary producer met “over a huge vat of molten queso at a mutual friend’s,” in a fitting meet-cute for the pair who would go on to create Party People.

Released last fall, the book is equal parts recipe anthology, theme-party primer, and memoir of pure revelry. For any winter or early-spring socials—sporty watch parties, Galentine’s get-togethers, award show soirees—follow Brie and Courtney’s lead with these ideas to make every day a celebration.

Party People Punch (PPP)

“Every party needs a little something to grease the wheels,” Brie and Courtney say in their book. Inspired by Brie’s favorite childhood beverage (Minute Maid Fruit Punch), this big-batch mix dresses up fresh juices—guava, lime, orange, pineapple, black cherry—with a salty DIY chile-lime glass rimmer and, if you like, booze, club soda, or ginger beer.

"The more mundane the reason for a party, the better. It's the little things that make a life, and it's time we started celebrating them." -BRIE LARSON AND COURTNEY MCBROOM IN PARTY PEOPLE

Party People Mix (PP Mix)

"We couldn't very well make a party cookbook without a killer recipe for party mix," Brie and Courtney say. Popcorn, oyster crackers, and cashews play a salty foil to Frosted Flakes cereal, but the real tour de force is a package of dry ramen noodles: Shake the seasoning packet into a ranch powder-inspired seasoning blend, then stir the dried noodles (broken into bite-size hunks) into the medley.