Special Occasions Books - Page 5

Baking Illustrated: A Best Recipe Classic (The Best Recipe Series)

Amazon Price: $23.10 List Price: $35.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: America's Test Kitchen Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $18.45

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 60 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The mysteries of cream of tartar revealed! How to make maximum use of blackening bananas! The hidden meaning of folding in dry ingredients until just blended! Perfect pie crusts for perfect fools! It's all here in Baking Illustrated, from banana bread to pecan bars, and everything imaginable in between--500-plus pages of densely packed, illustration rich, photo finished information all devoted to baking. Tools, techniques, ingredients, tips, and perfect, tested recipes.

There's cooking and there's baking, and the two should never be confused. Good cooks are ever commendable. Good bakers, on the other hand, have something about them bigger than skill or imagination, something that reaches back to the beginning of agriculture and the first inklings of civilization. Good bakers are their own mystic society. So hats off to Cook's Illustrated for throwing open the doors and sharing the mysteries with the rest of us. Baking Illustrated absolutely has it all. You'll find chapters devoted to "Quick Breads, Muffins, Biscuits, and Scones"; "Yeast Breads and Rolls"; "Pizza, Focaccia, and Flatbread"; "Pies and Tarts"; "Pastry"; "Crisps, Cobblers, and Other Fruit Desserts"; "Cakes"; and "Cookies, Brownies, and Bar Cookies". No mean undertaking, all that. Tools are tested and names are named. Techniques are stripped back then rebuilt. Cook's Illustrated carries all this off with a style and relish for inquiry and detail that sets a standard. Nothing is taken for granted because there's no fudge room with baking. It works or it doesn't. So trust is a big issue. And the end result of all the mighty labors of the Cook's Illustrated staff is text you can trust. This is a baking book that works.

And those blackening bananas? Simply keep adding them to a Ziplock bag you store in the freezer, then use them when you wish and as you like. --Schuyler Ingle

The Summertime Anytime Cookbook: Recipes from Shutters on the Beach

Dana Slatkin

Amazon Price: $21.45 List Price: $32.50 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Clarkson Potter Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $19.42

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Nestled in the sand on the Santa Monica coast, Shutters On The Beach is everyone’s favorite luxury seaside resort, serving up fresh and delicious food with style year-round. In The Summertime Anytime Cookbook, Dana Slatkin shares 130 irresistible recipes from her family’s celebrated hotel for any day or night at the beach.

Whether it’s a scorching summer day or a foggy morning in early spring, Slatkin knows better than most that life at the beach truly revolves around the weather. So The Summertime Anytime Cookbook is cleverly divided into the chapters Sunny Days, Cloudy Days, Balmy Nights, Stormy Nights, Misty Mornings, and Beach Basics. Perfect rain or shine, the appealing, fuss-free dishes are Shutters favorites, including Plum Tomato Soup with Baby Grilled Cheese Sandwiches; Dungeness Crab Cakes with Avocado Tartar Sauce; Bull’s-Eye Eggs; and Yogurt Mousse with Honey-Poached Apricots.

Along with recipes for colorful entr?es and side dishes, fresh picnic fare, simple sauces, and fabulous desserts, The Summertime Anytime Cook-book offers inventive style and entertaining ideas for casually elegant beach living, such as Five Wonderful Ways to Spend a Cloudy Day at the Beach, How to Make the Perfect Smoothie, and Six Uses for a Bucket of Sand. Slatkin also shares expert tips on creating over-the-top hotel hospitality, decorating with relaxed sophistication, and preparing homemade spa treatments.

With simple, artful food for every day and night, and stunning color photographs, The Summertime Anytime Cookbook is your secret to bringing the best of the beach into your own home.

Christmas with Southern Living 2008: Great Recipes - Easy Entertaining - Festive Decorations - Gift Ideas (Christmas With Southern Living)

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Not yet published By: Oxmoor House

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Editorial Review:

The Christmas experts at Southern Living magazine continue the holiday tradition with this all-new 28th edition of Christmas with Southern Living, the cooking, entertaining, and decorating classic that's steeped in gracious Southern style.

One-hundred forty brand-new recipes—the most ever in this book series—include ultimate show-stopping desserts, innovative chocolate and vanilla treats, incredibly easy side dishes, and a Quick & Easy Christmas Dinner that features a freezer-to-oven turkey recipe with a two-ingredient glaze.

Entertaining friends and family is a breeze with the Simple Christmas chapter, a collection of two dozen quick recipe options that require little effort yet yield luscious results.

In addition, you'll also discover fresh decorating ideas that begin with the front door and take you all through the house. Whether you fancy a traditional look, whimsical style, or casual elegance, dozens of festive wreaths, garlands, and door and mantel decorations will stir your creativity.

Big, colorful photographs will inspire your holiday table settings with designs that are "see-and-do" simple. From a centerpiece that holds individual take-home bouquets to twig balls stuffed with glittery tinsel garland, you'll be amazed at how quickly your table transforms from everyday to holiday.

Whether you need help planning the perfect holiday menu, baking special treats for giving, or trimming your home with welcoming, seasonal flair—this filled-to-overflowing book from the Christmas cooking and entertaining editors at Southern Living magazine has everything on your wish list for the most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas with Paula Deen: Recipes and Stories from My Favorite Holiday

Paula Deen

Amazon Price: $15.64 List Price: $23.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Simon & Schuster Amazon Marketplace: 81 new & used starting at $2.82

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 36 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

"I've gone through all my books and put together this collection of my most treasured recipes and memories for the holiday season to share with you...You'll find a few new dishes, a sprinkling of new holiday stories, and some family pictures you might not have seen before."

There's no holiday Paula Deen loves better than Christmas, when she opens her home to family and friends, and traditions old and new make the days merry and bright. Filled with Paula's trademark Southern charm and happy reminiscences of Yuletide seasons past, Christmas with Paula Deen is a collection of beloved holiday recipes and stories interspersed with cherished family photographs. Included are Paula's most requested homemade gifts of food; a collection of cookies sure to become your family's favorites; easy dishes for a Christmas breakfast or brunch that will let you enjoy the food and your guests; impressive fare for Christmas dinner and holiday entertaining and, of course, spectacular cakes, puddings, pies, and other sweet things.

"So Merry Christmas, y'all, and best dishes and best wishes from me and my family to yours."

Inspirations

Preston Bailey

Amazon Price: $29.70 List Price: $45.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Bulfinch Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $23.91

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

chic ideas 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I'm an Interior Designer and this is a practical guide for clients visually. I'm not for copying works but inspiration to what we can do of endless possibilities.

Beautiful pictures 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book so I can find ideas for my wedding decoration, it has great and beautiful pictures, but obviously it's impossible to try to imitate Preston Bailey's ideas. I do recommend this book. You can use it afterwards for a coffee table book.

Editorial Review:

INSPIRATIONS is a lush sourcebook of ideas for creating the perfect ambiance for any major party or event. INSPIRATIONS is packed with gorgeous photographs of 10 such parties. Ranging from modern to romantic, and the majority of arrangements pictured have never before been seen. The chapters will focus on Bailey's inspirational elements derived from art, travel, nature, and more. Preston Bailey has established himself as the floral designer for celebrities and the affluent alike, and he continues to set the bar for event design. Over the past year, some of his clients have included Donald and Melania Trump, Regis Philbin, and Oprah Winfrey.

Brown Bag Success: Making Healthy Lunches Your Kids Won't Trade

Sandra K. Nissenberg, Barbara N. Pearl

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $4.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

don't waste your money 1 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I hope to spare some other mothers who are looking for healthy lunchbox ideas from buying this book! The recipes are not what I would describe as nutritious ("Chilly Cherry Fruit Soup" uses a 16 oz. can of cherry pie filling as the base for the soup), nor are they original. Some of the tips include such big ideas as "pack the night before" and "use a frozen juice box as a freezer pack". One word for that...duh! This book actually recommends making snack chips out of pie crust and cinnamon sugar. If you want to turn your child into a diabetic, by all means buy this book. If not, buy any cookbook by Annabel Karmel, she's much healthier and more creative.

Not very novel, creative, or different 1 out of 5 stars.
5 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I got better ideas from parenting magazines. These were not very novel, creative, or healthy. It was also very thin. It was just a bunch of different kinds of sandwiches and soups. I was looking for something to break out of the rut, and this was not it. If the ONLY thing you can think of is PB&J, then you might get something out of it, but for those of us who can think of at least a little more variety, don't waste your money. I think the people who rated this multiple stars must be trying to boost the product's rating so they can sell theirs back, lol. :)

The Simple Art of Napkin Folding: 94 Fancy Folds for Every Tabletop Occasion

Linda Hetzer

Amazon Price: $8.00 List Price: $10.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: William Morrow Cookbooks Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $5.45

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great book 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I like this book. It has a lot of cute folds, it is easy to follow and the book is laid out well. It even has a section on some folds for children. The only thing that could possibly make this book better would be if it was in color.

Editorial Review:

Use The Simple Art of Napkin Folding to duplicate those beautiful napkin folds you've admired at elegant restaurants and memorable events. It's easy with Linda Hetzer's detailed step-by-step directions and illustrations.  Using cloth or paper napkins, create standing triangular-shaped folds (the "Tavern") for dinner parties.  A few accordion pleats transforms a piece of cloth into the "Poinsettia." Need festive ideas for a children's birthday party?  Make "Sailboats" or "Paper Airplanes." Graduate to more intricate designs that combine napkins with silverware, flowers, and wineglasses.

Special features include

• A stain removal guide for heirloom linens and synthetic fabrics
• Easy-to-follow instructions for making napkin rings
• Graphs for embroidering initials on napkins
• Instructions for stenciling your own napkins

Filled with inspired ideas, The Simple Art of Napkin Folding turns any square of fabric into a work of art.

Paula Deen & Friends: Living It Up, Southern Style

Paula Deen

Amazon Price: $17.16 List Price: $26.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Simon & Schuster Amazon Marketplace: 70 new & used starting at $6.45

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 63 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Sharing a delicious meal is everyone's favorite way of bringing together friends and loved ones. In her new cookbook, Paula Deen & Friends: Living It Up, Southern Style, Paula Deen -- author, restaurateur, and Food Network star -- turns to her friends to share their stories, ideas for entertaining Southern style, and, most important, more than 150 of the prized recipes they serve to their family and friends.

With the trademark Southern charm that has made her beloved by fans everywhere, Paula's new book features delicious, down-home entertaining menus, with recipes that are guaranteed to be instant crowd-pleasers. Whether you're planning an intimate family dinner, hosting an elegant cocktail party, or feeding a hungry crowd for lunch, these mouthwatering meals are the perfect way to share any occasion with good friends -- and have fun doing it! From a tailgate picnic to a bridge supper, a christening to a camping trip, and a family dinner to an ice cream social, there are recipes to delight any gathering.

Throw a down-home Birthday Bash with Beer-in-the-Rear Chicken, Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Corn on the Cob, and Buttermilk Pound Cake with Strawberries and Whipped Cream. Or host a casual Cookie Swap with friends and watch those Peanut Butter Brownie Cupcakes and Rolled Oatmeal Cookies disappear! An outdoor lunch wouldn't be complete without real Southern Fried Chicken and Buttermilk Corn Bread. And comfort foods like Quick Crab Stew, Shrimp and Wild Rice Casserole, and Black Bottom Pie are soul-satisfying dishes that warm the heart and soothe the spirit. There are also recipes for refreshing cocktails and beverages, from the Southern traditional favorites, like Plantation Iced Tea and Mint Juleps, to Lemonade and Hot Cranberry Cider.

Entertaining Southern style is about much more than the food; it's about spending time with the people you care about. Paula and her friends are the experts when it comes to creating delightful meals that are easy to prepare, so you, too, can relax and enjoy the fun with your guests. Each chapter is filled with helpful tips and time-saving techniques, as well as the memorable cooking stories that inspired Paula and her friends to create these recipes. You'll be inspired to share memorable meals and occasions with family and friends, as Paula Deen & Friends invites you to live it up, Southern style.

Southern Lady: Gracious Tables: The Perfect Setting for Any Occasion

Phyllis Hoffman

Amazon Price: $26.37 List Price: $39.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Collins Living Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $9.19

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Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Entertaining doyenne Phyllis Hoffman shows how to prepare a stunning table for any occasion.

So many of the events of our lives, from the formal to the informal, are celebrated by gathering around a table. Whatever the occasion—whether it's a holiday dinner, Sunday brunch, or a casual lunch with friends—the table is the place where we relax and enjoy each other's company while savoring a great meal.

No one knows how to dress a table with elegance and flair better than Phyllis Hoffman, publisher of Southern Lady magazine, the quintessential resource for entertaining the gracious Southern way. Now, Hoffman draws upon her years of expertise to create Southern Lady Gracious Tables, the definitive guide to creating gorgeous "tablescapes" for every occasion.

Starting with the basics, Hoffman presents a series of breathtaking spreads for a whole range of occasions, from formal settings to casual get-togethers, and describes how to achieve each look, right down to the recipes—55 in total—for her mouthwatering specialties. Enjoy a lovely outdoor lunch of tasty Fried Green Tomatoes with Crab and Green Chile Cream Sauce, or finish off a dinner party with delectable Praline Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce.

Hoffman then builds a "wardrobe for the table," navigating through the complex world of dinnerware, fine linens, and serving pieces. Each and every element of the table—from fruit saucer to lemon fork to water goblet—is covered in a friendly, helpful way.

Finally, there's advice on adding that all-important personal touch, with instructions on how to craft flowers, family heirlooms, collectibles, and other unexpected treasures into the perfect centerpiece, place marker, or accent. All along, her advice includes refreshingly simple techniques for presentation and encourages the reader's own creativity in playing with colors, patterns, and styles.

Complemented by lush photography and told in Hoffman's accessible, encouraging, and deliciously Southern voice, Southern Lady Gracious Tables is a must-have for every aspiring hostess, south or north of the Mason Dixon. The perfect gift for any woman who loves to entertain, it has all the tools, tips, and inspiration you need to elevate the ordinary to the unforgettable.

Confetti Cakes For Kids: Delightful Cookies, Cakes, and Cupcakes from New York City's Famed Bakery

Elisa Strauss, Christie Matheson

Amazon Price: $19.79 List Price: $29.99 Not yet published By: Little, Brown and Company

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Editorial Review:

Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes has created confections as elaborate as a platter of sushi, a wine bottle in a crate, and a designer handbag. Now she focuses her talents on her younger fans with this enchanting collection of cakes, cookies, and cupcakes for kids. Strauss starts readers off with 20 delicious recipes and all the basic techniques needed to complete any project in the book. Then she offers step-by-step instructions for 24 jaw-dropping designs that can become the centerpiece of any celebration. Projects span the imagination--from a charming sock monkey, to an MP3 player, to playful hula gingerbread girls and boys--and will appeal to anyone looking for the perfect way to thrill a child with a delectable, spectacular creation.