Among the short stories included in Chicken Foots Stew are the following: "Birthday Parties"—as Hughes and his son Malcolm attend the ultimate children's birthday party, Hughes attempts to go one better, but he is out of his league as he finds out; "Hotels"—Hughes prepares the perfect weekend for daughter Millicent only to discover that his choice of hotels does not meet his daughter's exacting standards; and "My Ex-Wife and Plants"—Hughes' first wife Marcia discovers she has been banned from buying plants at all area nurseries. Hughes adds to her misery, by playing a practical joke that backfires tremendously.