Christmas & Hanukkah Books - Page 15

Victorian Christmas Cookery (Traditional Country Life Recipe)

Bruce T. Paddock

Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $9.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Brick Tower Books Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $5.34

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great Book 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book was just what I was looking for. It is full of Victorian recipes, but with modern cooking instructions. It gives recipes for many different courses and has some menu ideas, but you can also create your own, of course. It also gives you an idea of what was common for Victorian holiday meals so you can also add your own similar recipes right along with it. It is a really great book. The only downfall is I do wish it had color photos of some (if not all) the recipes. That's just my own preference - I love cookbooks that show what each finished dish looks like. Other than that, it really is a good book if you are interested in cooking up some Victorian meals. I was looking for some new Christmas tradition foods for my family, and this really helped in giving me recipes plus helping in giving me other ideas as well.

Editorial Review:

This title jumps into the Christmas feast by spotlighting the tastes and fragrances of the American holiday. From Oyster Soup and Parsley Sauce to Currant Jelly and Yule Dollies, the book explores recipes and cooking ideas popular in the last century, but with the palate of the modern family in focus. If you'd like to know how the tradition of Christmas dinner started and sample some true American favorites, then this book is a must for your kitchen library. Easy to read with clear step-by-step directions, don't miss it this season.

Down Santa Claus Lane (Christmas Remembered ; Bk. 8)

List Price: $24.95 By: Leisure Arts Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 75 new & used starting at $0.46

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Some thing for everyone 5 out of 5 stars.
17 of 17 people found this review helpful.

Down Santa Claus Lane is a gentle meander along the Victorian by-ways of yester-year, crammed with lush reditions of Father Christmas in various guises. The charts are drawn from old art work sources such as post-cards and Christmas cards. The use of colour is imaginative and trouble has been taken to find many styles. In this book Santa comes in red, yellow, green, blue, and brown. Something for everyone. There are thirty different charts, each one easy to read and the finished stitchery is displayed in numerous ways, from straight forward framed pictures to cushions, pillows, and stockings. There is even a chart dedicated to baby's first Christmas, surely no doting grandma could resist the urge to stitch that one? As this is an American book there are a few all American Santas. This is a truely super book, well up to the house standard of Leisure Arts and one of my particular treasures.

Down Santa Claus Lane 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Beautiful book includes many cross-stitch patterns of victorian and patriotic Santa's re-created from antique postcards. Projects include framed pictures, stocking, pillows, and ornaments. If you collect santa's or postcards you'll love this book.

Christmas Comfort & Joy (Better Homes & Gardens)

Better Homes and Gardens Books

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Just a bit thin on directions and weak on real world sensibilities. 3 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

`Christmas sweets & treats' is a `Better Homes and Gardens' collection of recipes and craft projects selected, I'm sure, from the pages of past `Better Homes and Gardens' Christmas issues.

I got off on the wrong foot with this book when I opened it to the first project which was for `minty topiaries' which involved gluing round peppermint candies and other edible candies to a plastic foam cone, thereby making them inedible. No matter how pretty they look, this adulterating of food simply rubbed me the wrong way, and while I have seen edible glues used, of course, on `Iron Chef America', there is no mention of such a product or option in this writing. Staying with this same project, one of the `supplies' is `Ornate silver candlestick holders'. My guess from the photograph of the finished product is that this little item can easily run to several dollars per unit, and the photograph suggests one per table setting.

This brings to mind the kind of project you can find in `Martha Stewart Living' and not `Better Homes and Gardens'. But my experience with `...Living' is that their instructions for projects are generally much more complete and their photographic spreads are better done.

The second craft project involves several very specialized materials, tools, and skills and since I am not an experienced craft person, I found the explanation of the techniques required to be just a bit sparse. They were akin to a cooking recipe's telling you to turn your mixture into quenelles. While I have never done this, I know I can run to my Jacques Pepin `Complete Techniques' to get the correct procedure. On the other hand, I have never used a sewing machine and the need for one will damp my spirits for this project.

A third objection I found with the craft projects is exemplified in the third project for `tussie-mussies' that create Christmas tree ornaments out of live `dainty fresh flowers'. My first concern is that while my Christmas tree is usually up for about six weeks, these decorations have practically no chance of lasting a week. And, the cost of such flowers in December at the average florist is likely to be pretty dear.

Since I know a lot more about cooking and baking than I do about craft projects, the baking recipes, mostly cookies were a lot less mysterious, but I had at least three objections to them. First, the book presents a few very ambitious projects for gingerbread constructions, yet the instructions for these are pretty thin. I know one could do a lot better with these since Rose Levy Beranbaum has done just that in her excellent book, `Rose's Christmas Cookies'. Another great source for Christmas cookie recipes is Dede Wilson's `A Baker's Field Guide to Christmas Cookies'.

My second objection to the recipes is that I know some of the recipes are not `best in breed'. For example, the snickerdoodle recipe here uses shortening, while my very best recipe uses butter plus a bit of corn syrup.

My third objection to the recipes is that some instructions do not follow genuine cooking practice. For example, one recipe calls for using a ¼ cup ice cream scoop, yet ice cream scoops are not rated by cup, but by what fraction of an ounce they scoop.

While there are many good things in this book, there are also many things that are half-baked, too expensive, or impractical. In place of this book, get one of the two cookie books I suggest, plus a good book on only Christmas crafts.

Editorial Review:

* Includes photos and more than 500 new ideas for beautiful crafts, foods, and decorating projects. * Everything needed for the best Christmas ever-soups to cookies, centerpieces to lighting. * Doable projects offer novice and expert crafters detailed instructions and patterns for guaranteed success. * Ideas for making one-of-a-kind projects to give away, decorate the house, and entertain guests.

Christmas: Le Cordon Bleu (Home Collection)

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Editorial Review:

Le Cordon Bleu Home Collection From the world's most famous cooking school! The Le Cordon Bleu Home Collection allows home cooks of all levels to recreate the sumptuous dishes of master chefs by following simple, step-by-step instructions, complete with gorgeous full-color photographs. Christmas 'Tis the season to wow friends and relatives with delectable dishes from the most prestigious cooking school in the world! From traditional favorites like Honey-glazed Spiced Ham, Roast Turkey with Bread Sauce and Gravy, and Christmas Pudding, to modern takes on the holiday classics, such as Onion Stuffing with Bacon Chipolatas, Pumpkin Puree, and Chocolate Chestnut Mousse, Christmas brings a whole new flavor to the holidays!

Family Circle Big Book of Christmas: Book 3 (Family Circle Big Book of Christmas)

Amazon Price: $16.16 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 1 to 3 weeks By: Oxmoor House Amazon Marketplace: 13 new & used starting at $0.50

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Editorial Review:

Experience the full spectrum of homemade holiday spirit with the newest book in this popular series, the Family Circle Big Book of Christmas, Book 4. Over 100 beautiful projects and 80 holiday recipes will inspire new family traditions and give a home a fresh holiday glow. Elevates gift-giving to a new level with exquisite handmade cards, simple yet clever presents, and delicious home-baked goods, all wrapped with thoughtful finishing touches that family and friends will cherish for years to come.

Christmas Decorations from Williamsburg's Folk Art Collection

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Checklist for a Perfect Christmas (Checklist Series , No 4)

Judith Blahink

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great guide to reducing hassle! 4 out of 5 stars.
20 of 20 people found this review helpful.

I picked up this book on a whim, and loved every minute of it. It is a nifty little guide to help make Christmas less stressful, if not simpler. I loved her day-by-day lists and homemade goodie recipies!

Editorial Review:

Author Judith Blahnik offers ideas to make Christmas a unique and special holiday--with or without Dad, turkey, or winking lights. Readers can determine how they want to celebrate Christmas--with family, alone, as a couple, or traveling. The book provides checklists to help readers plan everything from shopping and cooking to buying a tree.

The Spirit of Christmas: Creative Holiday Ideas, Book 7 (Spirit of Christmas)

Leisure Arts, Oxmoor House

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Unique Christmas Craft & Recipe Book 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

The Spirit of Christmas: Creative Holiday Ideas, Book 7, is a fun and unique idea book geared toward the craft enthusiast. In it are full-colored pictures and easy to follow instructions on a variety of themed crafts such as Christmas tree ornaments, wreaths, trims, and related holiday decorations. And, not to mention, a variety of holiday recipes for dinners and different 'desserts'.

I enjoyed this book's enticing pictures and its easy-to-read format. It is divided into sections by theme; each craft theme includes a Christmas tree and related decorations as mentioned above. All the decorations in each theme match or coordinate. The recipe section is also divided by themes (like food types.)

Overall, it is a creative, well thought out book that every holiday craft enthusiast should enjoy.

Christmas Cookies (Quick & Easy) (Quick & Easy (Silverback))

Gina Greifenstein

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Editorial Review:

Baking cookies are as much a part of the holiday season as anticipating the first snowball. You'll find wonderful recipes for making classics such as Cinnamon Stars, Vanilla Crescents, and Spritz Cookies, or try something new with Pistachio Spirals, Orange Moons, and Nougat Hearts. Enjoy this wonderful time of year with ease and great tasting cookies!

Christmas Memories Cookbook

Amazon Price: $13.22 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Mystic Seaport Museum Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $1.04

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Classic yet not overwhelming 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

My reason for attempting to purchase this incredible cookbook is because my old copy is so spattered and worn out that I am afraid of losing it to the elements. Being the mother of 4 young children, I find this book's many simple but spectacular recipes (Phyllo Wrapped Tenderloin)to be an incredible inspiration; not only to my holiday cooking but to our everday lives as well. The simplest additions, such as Madeira sauce, gravies and orange sauce for Duck are demystified, delicious and can usually be made by what's available in your kitchen. No fail desserts include various and a myriad of cookies: cookie-cutter butter cookies(the kids love this one!), pumpkin cookies, pfeffernuesse, anise cut-outs and many more. Traditional favorites such as Buche de Noel, the much dreaded Fruitcake, various Mousses and let's not forget the best EggNog I have ever made, all serve up as a refreshing yet familiar addition to our table. Finally, many of the appetizers are recognizable but are a wonderful surprise; like an old friend that you didn't expect to run into. Spinach Spread, Pates, Pesto Layered Torte and Baked Brie are just a few of the few popular items that can be made ahead and frozen. Also, a way to use Holiday leftovers is very cleverly presented; Turkey Enchiladas and Turkey Croquettes with Cranberry are my families favorites. For those of us creating our own traditions, this book is a terrific support and a treat as well. I know that someday my children will phone me and ask for that recipe for "Stuffed Filet of Beef" or "Candy Cane Cookies". In the author's own words, this book is "elegant but not initmidating".

Editorial Review:

A cookbook to accompany many years of holiday celebrations. Mystic Seaport's Christmas Memories Cookbook contains 350 recipes contributed by more than 300 members and friends of the museum. Pen-and-ink drawings along with histories of Victorian holiday dishes and recipes suitable for gift-giving are scattered throughout the book. Block Island Turkey and Captain Cooke's Plum Pudding are only a sampling of the imaginative variations on classic New England dishes in this collection. Ample pages are provided for recording your favorite holiday menus and recipes as well. The book has comb binding to make it lie flat on kitchen surfaces.