Christmas & Hanukkah Books - Page 9

Parties and Projects for the Holidays

Martha Stewart Living Magazine

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

Mediocre for Martha 2 out of 5 stars.
38 of 39 people found this review helpful.

In this month's (Nov. 2000) issue of ************************, Martha's traditional opening letter proudly describes the way she gave a presentation to potential stockholders about "spreading our costs of creating fresh and timely and evergreen content." What that means for us, Martha's consumptive public, is increasingly recycled content, which is unfortunately the case in this book.

While previous Holiday books have also consisted of compilations of recipes and projects from the magazine, they were richly useful and well-organized. This book doesn't even bother to reformat the original content. The book is divided into three parts - "The Parties," "The Projects," and "The Recipes." So, "The Parties," are basically reprinted articles from the magazine in their original "story" form, whose recipes are inconveniently clustered at the back. Of course, the quality of the recipes is high - included in this book are my favorite cookie recipe ever (Torie's Oatmeal cookies), and you'll be interested in the menus if you're thinking of making crown roast or roast goose this year. "Party plan" timelines are also included. However, I see no real reason to buy this book if you've subscribed to the magazine for a few years, or what advantage this book has over the newly released compilation of MSL recipes.

"The Projects" section's obvious intended highlight is the creation of the candy decorations featured on the cover. People with children might be interested in this, as there is a menu devoted to accompany a "Candy Craft Party with Kids," with the quintessentially traditional peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches, mac and cheese, little pigs-in-blankets, and cocoa with candy canes. Other projects, like ideas for giveaways, are skimpily represented.

On the whole, I am a great fan of Martha's, but I find previous Holiday books, such as "Christmas with Martha Stewart Living," or "Handmade Christmas" more charming.

Editorial Review:

The fourth book in the popular "Christmas with Martha Stewart Living" series, Parties and Projects for the Holidays helps holiday hosts impart the warmth and good cheer of the season to all their holiday entertaining and decorating.

Good Housekeeping A Very Merry Christmas Cookbook (Good Housekeeping)

By the Editors of Good Housekeeping

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

Editorial Review:

Good Housekeeping wishes you a happy holiday with recipes for cooking up a warm and loving Christmas.

What makes Christmas merry? A house filled with the aroma of freshly-baked cookies, tables heaped with platters of colorful, yummy treats, and that special feeling when everyone's sharing the holiday meal. Cook up a special, delicious Noël for the ones you love with the help of the editors at Good Housekeeping. They know how to create the tastiest traditions, and these gorgeously illustrated recipes will make for a happy and scrumptious holiday. Since each recipe is triple-tested, you can be sure everything will turn out great. The memorable fare for this festive feast includes Pimento-Studded Deviled Eggs, Christmas Quesadillas, Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy, Apricot-Ginger Carrots, and Brandied Bûche de Noël. Or try something truly decadent and unusual, such as a Caviar Pie. Plus, there's advice on planning the menu and instructions for preparing beautiful table decorations.

Gooseberry Patch Christmas - Book 3

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

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

Hi, I'm a big fan of Gooseberry Patch, and I recently had the opportunity to review Christmas Book 3. I highly recommend it for those looking for fun craft ideas, and great recipes. In particular the Honey-Roasted Pork Loin and Harvest stuffing recipes were divine and went over well with my family. Unlike other Gooseberry Patch books, this series is larger and contains pictures. Sure to have something for everyone!

Inspired 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book is so full of ideas and suggestions, and it's fun to read. I feel I can adapt some of the gift jar ideas for other holiday giving as well. It's a great book.

Awesome recipes! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

If you love good food, you have to buy this book! The desserts section in particular are just nothing short of out of this world. My husband started calling me a gourmet cook after I started using these recipes from this book throughout the year. The pork loin roast and stuffing is awesome, but so are those chocolate and peanut butter cookies (they call for a pound of butter, if that gives you some idea of how delectable they are!). The recipes in here are just incredible and you need to get them to use every day. You certainly won't be disappointed and even the decorating tips are great. Buy IT!

Editorial Review:

This third edition in the popular series features 160 pages of down-home Christmas decorations and delicacies from Gooseberry Patch. There are over 65 projects and 100 recipes, accompanied by beautiful photography of finished projects.

Christmas With Southern Living Cookbook

Southern Living

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Christmas with Southern Living Cookbook 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

This book has so many wonderful recipes. Deciding which ones to use is the hard part. I love to use these recipes year round. They are all very original and tasty.

Polish the silver, set out the best china, light the candles 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

It's Christmas...all through this book. I "borrowed" this book a couple of years ago and finally returned it, but only after buying my own copy!

Southern Living puts out the best cookbooks. The recipes are tried and true, easy to follow and, always, delicious.

In Santa's Bakeshop you'll find Fresh Lemon Muffins, Gumdrop Wreath Bread, and Herb Buttered Crescents. My family loves Cheesy Pretzel Rolls, which fast became a classic when I first found the recipe.

The Cream-filled Chocolate Cake on page 64 became a staple for birthdays in our house, so it gets a workout more than once a year.

Chapter titles are as festive as the season: Merry Munchies, Visions of Sugarplums, Elfin Delights (full of treats for the children like Santa Claus Cupcakes), Frosty Fixings and Making a List, to name a few.

Although there are appetizers and some sandwiches (like Peanut Butter Candy Cane sandwiches for the kids), the emphasis here is on sweets -- drinks, cookies, cakes, breads and candies -- so don't buy this one if you're looking for entrees or vegetable dishes.

The book is gorgeous. Illustrations are Christmasy and colorful photographs that are as appetizing as the recipes. As usual, with a Southern Living Cookbook you can't go wrong.

Editorial Review:

The experts at "Southern Living" offer a beautiful new volume dedicated exclusively to classic Christmas recipes.

Christmas With Victoria 2003

Jennifer Cegielski

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

Editorial Review:

Devotees of romantic Victoriana are generally devoted as well to Victoria magazine, turning to it regularly for decorating, entertaining, and style ideas. Christmas with Victoria collects the year's best, centered on the holiday theme.

Gorgeous photographs proclaim, in the words of editor-in-chief Peggy Kennedy, "the many moods of Christmas: nostalgic, pastoral, elegant, or ... pretty." In trademark Victoria style, the expected touches all make their appearance; the ornaments, trimmings, displays, and table settings all feature such elements as yards of pastel ribbons, lots of lacy flourishes, arrays of antique crockery and vintage flatware, the patina of the weathered farmhouse, the gleam of silver candlesticks.

An extensive food section (comprising about half the book) supplies tempting recipes for an afternoon open house, a full-fledged winter feast, and a multitude of baked-goods gifts. There's really not much substance to the project component--a few ornaments and stockings, some sachets and garlands, and the like--but everything, as Peggy Kennedy declares, is very pretty. --Amy Handy

Christmas With Southern Living Cookbook

Oxmoor House

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

Making Life Easy using Southern Living Cookbooks 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I made a fantistic discovery when a co-workers loaned me her copy of "Christmas with Southern Living Cookbook," Volume 3, 1999 Ed. Within 1 week, I had tried out four recipes with marvelous results. The shopping lists were most helpful. My family was elated that I prepared what they called "Sunday Dinners" during the week. I found using the recipes to be a "no-fail" task, very easy to follow and produced "fine dining."

Editorial Review:

Two hundred holiday recipes from the pages of Southern Living cover everything from appetizers to desserts, with complete holiday menus, shopping lists, and helpful cooking tips.

Farmhouse Christmas: A Collection of Well-Loved Recipes, Holiday Trimmings, Heart-Felt Memories & Homespun Gifts to Give

Gooseberry Farms

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

Great Ideas to Make a Christmas You'll Remember 5 out of 5 stars.
27 of 30 people found this review helpful.

This book is wonderful....reading it is like talking to a good friend about holiday traditions. There are ideas for homemade gifts such as pancake mix, cookies in a jar, ornaments, and keepsakes. The recipes sound delicious and include items like an edible cookie bowl, Granny's Pot Roast, Caramel Apple Crisp, and Snickerdoodles. Build a fire, grab some hot cocoa, make some homemade gifts, and cook up some warm food for your family....this one is a hit!

Another Great Book wtih all the Holiday Trimmings! 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 14 people found this review helpful.

Farmhouse Christmas is another great Gooseberry Patch Book filled with charming memories and excellent recipes sure to warm your heart and feed your tummy!

Learn how to make Oatmeal Molasses Bread, Sugar Cream Pie, and Country-Style Ribs or Mom's Chicken & Dressing!

Those of you who are not familiar with Gooseberry Patch, will be charmed by the stories, illustrations and suggestions for healthy and happy living put together by country friends, Vickie and Joann!

Farmhouse Christmas is another excellent volume in the Gooseberry Patch collection.

Editorial Review:

Enjoy the simple pleasures of a country Christmas. Brimming with fresh ideas, Farmhouse Christmas Cookbook has old-fashioned recipes like country chicken pie, golden mashed potatoes, hearty beef brisket and sugar cream pie. Learn to make Grandma's hug quilt, share yummy gift mixes from your pantry and create homespun giftwrap. Filled with charming illustrations...it's a classic.

Traditional Christmas Cooking, Crafts & Gifts

Cy Decosse Inc, Cy Decosse

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Traditional Christmas is Wonderful 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This is one of the best Christmas books I have ever found. There is a second one called Traditional Christmas Two that is also very good. They have everything from decoration crafts and ideas to gifts that you can make to recipies for those holiday meals and intertaining. I had both books and lost them in a move and did not rest until I managed to replace them. They are great!

Very Nice Book 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Beautiful photographs. Instructions are easy to follow and supplemented with photographs. I was disappointed that the recipes emphasize use of the microwave oven. (We have opted not to have a microwave oven). They don't give parallel instructions for conventional ovens. Otherwise a great book. Everything from traditional to creative new crafts. I'm glad I bought it.

Editorial Review:

Helping readers to revive the honored traditions that have always been cherished and create exciting new ways to enjoy the holidays even more, this idea- and photo-filled holiday volume shows them how to decorate their homes beautifully, create attractive Christmas crafts and gifts, and cook festive, memorable meals and treats.

The Spirit of Christmas: Creative Holiday Ideas (Spirit of Christmas)

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

Editorial Review:

With more than 80 projects and nearly 80 recipes, The Spirit of Christmas: Creative Holiday Ideas overflows with ideas for bringing the excitement of the season into your home. Organized by style, the decorating section of this lavishly illustrated volume offers a nice choice of varied looks for wreaths, garlands, ornaments, mantelpiece toppers, and more. "Noble Estate," for instance, evokes the genteel splendor of a grand country home; "Dreamy White Christmas" focuses on snowy and silvery shades; and "Reindeer Games" fills the room with charming renditions of Santa's herd.

The gift chapter includes a lovely decoupaged clock and etched goblets. The extensive food section features a Yuletide feast, breakfast with Santa, a progressive dinner, a cookie swap, and many other delectable recipes. Directions are good, although their placement at book's end, far from the finished photographs, means frequent flipping back and forth. Most projects are relatively easy, and all relevant patterns are included. Whatever your style or skill level, you'll find Christmas inspiration aplenty here. --Amy Handy

Bon Appetit Christmas: Entertaining, Holiday Baking, Gifts from the Kitchen

Bon Appetit Editors

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Lovely& Practical Large Format Holiday Cookbook 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This is a really lovely large format book for holiday baking, entertaining, and gifts from the kitchen. It has little, or perhaps no, redundancy from Bon Appetit magazine, so there is plenty for subscribers and non-subscribers to enjoy. The book has 17 chapters. Four chapters address one entire holiday feast each, with each meal in a different style. Five chapters provide recipes especially suited for other holiday season festivities such as a tree-trimming supper, a dessert buffet, a cocktail party, and an open house. Other chapters are dedicated to specific types of food, rather than entire meals. These include chapters on: breads, cookies and cranberry sauces as well as Christmas puddings, a buche de noel, an elaborate chocolate cake, and a croquembouche, whose chapters include step-by-step illustrated instructions on how to construct these holiday masterpieces. The "Gifts from the Kitchen" chapter offers an array of 22 recipes for cookies, candies, sauces, jams, breads and more that are easy to make and sure to impress. Every recipe isn't accompanied by a photograph, but there are many large color photos throughout the book. The paper is also of very nice quality. "Bon Appetit Christmas" is a worthy addition to the library of any cook and makes a lovely gift for those who like to bake or entertain.

Editorial Review:

From the editors of America's most popular food and entertainment magazine comes a sumptuous collection of more than 125 new and classic Christmas recipes to help readers celebrate the holidays with style, ease, and a table full of luscious foods. The recipes are accompanied by do-ahead tips and serving suggestions. Color photos throughout.