Seasonal Books - Page 6

Backyard Grilling: For Your Grill, Smoker, Turkey Fryer and More

Jim Casada, Ann Casada, Kate Fiduccia, Teresa Marrone

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Editorial Review:

The Ultimate Cookbook for Cooking Outdoors!

Preparing meals outdoors is becoming more and more popular. It's not restricted to burgers-any food can be a success. The recipe can be simple or elegant; the process quick or slow.

This book covers all types of grilling equipment and other outdoor cookers with tips for using each one. More than 150 recipes include complete cooking instructions for beef, poultry, pork, and fish-with a variety of substitutes for wild game and fish.

• Grill Types - hibachi, open-style, covered kettles, homemades
• Fuel Types - propane, hardwood, charcoal, composed briquettes
• Cooking Methods - wet or dry, indirect or direct
• Hot or Cold Smoking - using brines, rubs, marinades
• Roasting - spit and in-ground
• Deep Frying - turkey, goose, duck, pheasant, whole fish

Want more reason's why you will love this book?

• Each co-author has outdoor industry recognition as a cookbook expert.
• All regions of the country are represented in specialty ingredients, cooking methods and utensils.
• Includes 150 recipes for domestic meat, poultry, and fish along with game substitutes-venison and other big game, upland gamebirds, waterfowl, saltwater and freshwater fish.
• All ingredients and recipes are fully cross-referenced in the Index.
• Complete nutrition information for each recipe.

JUST FOR KIDS COOKBOOK (Christmas at Home)

ERICA SINDELDECKER, BRITTANY SINDELDECKER

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

Happy cooking and baking! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 10) for Reader Views (10/07)

Do you like to cook and bake at Christmas? I always enjoy cooking and baking with my mother at Christmas. But sometimes those cookbooks have directions that make it so much harder. If only, the recipes were easier for us kids to follow. Brittany and Erica Sindeldecker have done it. They have created a Christmas cookbook just for us kids.

After reading these recipes, I am more anxious to try cooking and baking some of these great recipes. There is everything from appetizers, beverages, main dishes, side dishes, cookies, candies and desserts included. As each section is introduced, another tidbit about Christmas and its many Scripture verses, like the story of Christ's birth, are included.

Hopefully around Christmastime, a whole meal will be planned and prepared by a kid thanks to Brittany and Erica's help in "Just for Kids Cookbook." Hopefully the meal will be topped off with peanut butter and jelly cookies or another one of these taste tempting treats! Happy Cooking and Baking, all you children!

Editorial Review:

This fun collection of holiday recipes includes dozens of easy-to-fix dishes that are not only delicious, but also kid-friendly and creative.

The Wicca Cookbook: Recipes, Ritual, and Lore

Jamie Wood, Tara Seefeldt

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Celestial Arts Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $6.49

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

: With menus and recipes for each of the ten sabbats, this is a major resource for anyone planning a dish for the countless potlucks we hold at every season. I began reading it with some fear and trepidation. When the authors began speaking of Medieval customs, I was terribly afraid that the recipes would concentrate on things like boar's heads and roast oxen, or whatever the Witches of Old might have at their seasonal gatherings. On the contrary, the recipes that Wood and Seefeldt include in this attractive collection tend to be simple and very good, at least to judge from those that I've sampled. And no, the ingredients are not at all exotic. I tried making latkes, which were quick and easy to mix in my medieval Cuisinart. With a bit of apple in the mix, they were very good. I also had no problems with soups, which were simple and delicious.

But the recipes are only the beginning. A fascinating introduction gives a positive, brief picture of Neo-Pagan Witchcraft, as background for anyone new to the Craft. Then, for each of the sabbats and for each recipe, there is an introduction, suggesting, among other things, rituals for blessing the meal and for invoking the appropriate Deities. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed reading the whole book, from cover to cover, which is something I've never done with any of the hundred-or-so other cookbooks sitting on my sagging shelves. This is likely to become my favorite cookbook, and I suspect it could be yours, too.

Not just a cookbook, this unusual publication outlines the spiritual relevance of the eight major pagan holidays and offers appropriate rituals, menus, and recipes for each occasion. The recipes are easy to follow and make use of ingredients at their seasonal peak. From dandelion wine to medieval honey cakes, the dishes preserve a culinary tradition closely connected to natural rhythms and enduring symbolism. The authors also include an appendix on growing an herb garden and a resource list of herb seed companies and nurseries.

Classic & Contemporary Christmas Cakes

Nadene Hurst, Julie Springall

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Christmas Cake Inspiration 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This beautifully photographed 112-page book features new and inspiring Christmas cake designs. Using vibrant Christmas reds, deep royal blues, and creamy ivory, these cakes beautifully capture the joys of the Christmas season.

The book includes a brief Introduction, and then is arranged by the individual cake. There are twenty-two unique designs featured in the book. Each cake contains an equipment list (metric and US conversions included), a listing of any special equipment required, a full-color photograph of the cake, and steo-by-step instructions on how to assemble and decorate the cake.

The cakes include: Christmas Cracker Surprise, the beautiful cover cake called Crown of Holly, and even decorated slices of fruit cake called Yuletide Slices.

Techniques used in this book include: Rolled fondant (used in the majority of the cakes), piped royal icing, Gum Paste, Pastillage, and Modelling. Recipes for Light Fruit Cake, Rich Fruit Cake, Rolled Fondant, Gum Paste, Pastillage, Modelling Paste, and Marzipan are included.

At the end of the book you will find templates for all of the cakes, and an equipment list with definitions.

While intermediate to experienced decorators will benefit most from these designs, beginning cake decorators will be able to adapt them for their skill level using the intructions provided.

Editorial Review:

Re-creating the desserts in Classic & Contemporary Christmas Cakes may take some time, but the results are gorgeous." --Bon Appetit

California Fresh Harvest: A Seasonal Journey through Northern California (California Fresh)

Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, Steven Brandt, Gwen Prichard, Alice Waters, Gina Gallo

List Price: $26.95 By: Favorite Recipes Press (FRP) Amazon Marketplace: 28 new & used starting at $5.31

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A Junior League Classic! 5 out of 5 stars.
26 of 26 people found this review helpful.

I originally received this cookbook as a gift. I was so delighted with it, I subsequently ordered four additional copies to give as gifts. The recipients are still thanking me! First, the recipes are creative and delicious -- fully enhancing the flavors of bountiful, diverse, fresh ingredients found in the San Francisco Bay Area and Wine Country. (It's hard NOT to eat well in this region!) Second, the cookbook itself is uncommonly successful in evoking this spectacular setting with gorgeous photos, sidebars of interesting sidetrips, local restaurants and wineries, and mind-boggling facts regarding the abundance of local agriculture. Food preparation tips, background information on local food and wine festivals/events, and delicacies such as Meyer Lemons are also highlighted. While it's fun to simply browse through this beautiful cookbook, it's even better to sample the Junior League's trade-mark "home cooking with flair." Full menus are offered here. My personal favorites are the Baja Guacamole, Savory Polenta w/Asiago Cheese, Garlic-Roasted Chicken, Pork Tenderloin w/Apricot Ginger Sauce, and Cherries & Berries Compote w/Crispy Puffed Pancake. The Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars are worth the price of admission all by themselves! I'm not surprised this cookbook is winning national rave reviews and awards. They are very well deserved! It is so beautifully rendered, it puts most commercially-produced cookbooks to shame.

Editorial Review:

Arranged by season, this cookbook highlights the abundance of fresh foods cultivated in Northern California. In addition to our members' favorite recipes, which have been triple-tested in our own kitchens, California Fresh Harvest provides fascinating food lore, inspirational menus, wine pairings, cooking tips, and information on local events and special destinations. In the tradition of the treasured, original California Fresh cookbook, again the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay has created a classic for Northern California residents and visitors alike.

The Beach House Cookbook

Barbara Scott-Goodman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Seafood - who could ask for more? 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

The table of contents started me drooling (look in the See-Inside-the-Book above). The book makes good use of readily available seafood plus fresh fruits (for fruit cobbler or a sundae). Sure, the recipes may be found in a variety of cookbooks, but this pulls together the ones you want while at the ocean.
A few recipes use ingredients that I wouldn't have on hand (capers, chickpea flour), but most are straight forward. The color photographs really whet your appetite.
This was favorably reviewed by the Baltimore Sun saying it "captures the evocative moods of summer."

Editorial Review:

A great day at the beach calls for great food especially delicious, quick dishes that leave time for fun in the sun. Barbara Scott-Goodman serves up more than 75 recipes for sensational meals for those spending a weekend at the coast or for whom the seaside is home. Recipes for appetizers, soups, sandwiches, main courses, salads, desserts, and cocktails feature farmstand fruits and vegetables, fresh fish and shellfish, and meats for the grill that celebrate summer's bounty. Steamed Mussels in Tomato-Fennel Broth and Chicken & Soba Noodle Salad with Spicy Asian Peanut Sauce make for delightful post-beach fare. Fire up the barbecue for Grilled Swordfish with Mango Salsa and voil ! instant backyard beach party. For dessert, Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie or Brownie Sundaes with Raspberry Sauce are guaranteed to please. With photos that capture the beauty of both the coast and the cuisine, The Beach House Cookbook offers all the right ingredients for fabulous dining with an ocean view.

Cozy Country Christmas Cookbook (Gooseberry Patch)

Gooseberry Patch

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

Nice, Homey, Recipe Book 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Cozy Country Christmas is the latest in a long line of Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. As a collector, I've come to appreciate the friendly tone of these cookbooks, and the fun (and easy to make) recipes. Cozy Country Christmas was delightful... I really got in the mood for the holidays after reading this one.

My only concern/minor dislike was that there were 48 pages of memories in the first section, and while I enjoyed reading them, I don't think they have much re-read value.

Overall, an excellent book by the fun folks at Gooseberry Patch. When will the next one be out?

Editorial Review:

Warm gingerbread fresh from the oven, the smell of fresh-cut pine and loved ones gathered 'round the big Christmas feast...all this and more is wrapped up in our newest holiday cookbook, Cozy Country Christmas Cookbook. Along with a chapter full of heartfelt memories and one with all your best ideas for decking the halls, we have your favorite festive recipes like yuletide coffee cake, snowdrift snack mix, parmesan pull-aparts, chicken chestnut casserole, crockery sage dressing, peppermint eggnog punch and cranberry-apple pie. There are plenty of gifty goodies and presents to pamper everyone on your list.

Jeanne Bice's Quacker Factory Christmas: Simple Recipes, Fabulous Parties & Decorations to Put Sparkle, Not Stress into Your Season (The Quacker Factory)

Jeanne Bice

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Quack Up Your Holidays!

Are you longing for the festive twinkling of holiday lights but yours are tangled and on the blink? Ready to wrap your Christmas gifts but can't remember where you hid them? Would you like to get your friends together for a holiday open house but don't know when you'd find the time or what you'd serve them? Relax. Or, as Jeanne Bice, founder of The Quacker Factory says, "Don't get your tinsel in a tangle!"

Jeanne Bice, known to millions of fans as "the Head Quack" of the clothing line, The Quacker Factory, and designer-crafter extraordinaire, is here to show you how to make your home fittingly festive without the fuss. With the home-spun charm that has made her one of QVC's most popular on-air guests, she will help you add sparkle to your season, whether you've been hosting holidays for years or don't know which end of the turkey is up.

If you're looking for appetizers that break the ice without breaking your back, are stuck on what to make for the holiday bake sale (again!), searching for the perfect gift while avoiding the mad rush at the mall, or just wanting to add more joy to your season, Jeanne has the advice and inspiration.

In addition to over a hundred family-favorite recipes, she shares simple Quacker-style decorating ideas along with complete menus for hosting themed parties, including a Crock-Pot Caroling Party, a Trim-a-Tree Party, a Cookie Exchange, and a Christmas Dinner Extraordinaire. From her never-fail no-lumps gravy and outrageous stuffing to original twists on old stand-bys like sweet potato casserole and corn cheese bake, you'll be ready to entertain with poise and pizzazz.

With charming artwork and stunning photography, this all-in-one guide gives you everything you need to create fabulous holiday gatherings and the magical memories that go with them.

JUST CHOCOLATE COOKBOOK (Christmas at Home)

AMY ROBERTSON

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

just chocolate 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

the lack of photos is the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars. what fun it was to make some of the recipes in this book. I was looking for a change of pace and this cookbook provided that for me.

Another Sweet Stocking Stuffer 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (10/07)

Whenever holidays approach, most of us realize that we could use some more little gifts and stocking stuffers for an array of friends and relatives. The "Christmas at Home" series offers a variety of tiny cookbooks that would make excellent stocking stuffers or truly nice gifts if they were included in a gift basket with one of the tempting `finished products' from within their pages.

The "Just Chocolate Cookbook" by Amy Robertson deals with a subject that is close to most of our hearts - wonderful chocolate. The book is divided into five chapters, each of them filled with delicious offerings. There is the Cookies and Bars chapter, featuring such diverse bites as German Chocolate Cookies, Chocolate Pizza Cookies, Cow Pie Cookies, Rainbow Brownies and many more. The next one is Cakes and Pies, filled with delights from Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes and Earthquake Cake to French Silk Chocolate Pie and Chocolate Pecan Pie. That tempting chapter is followed by another fun one - Holiday Candy and Fudge. Who could say no to Homemade Turtles, Heavenly Christmas Fudge or Quick Chocolate Truffles? The party Mixes and Snacks chapter brings you such diverse treats as Muddy Buddy Party Mix, Milk Chocolate Popcorn and Mint Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball. But it is the last chapter, Christmas Morning Breakfast Foods, which turned out to be my favorite. I just have to decide how many of the wonderful breads, muffins and waffles I will be serving this year. The Chocolate Chip Orange Zucchini Bread and the Gingerbread Waffles with Hot Chocolate Sauce are a sure bet though...

The four recipes that I've tried out so far produced wonderfully tasty treats. They were easy-to-follow, but since the cookbook lacks the photos of the finished goodies, I am not sure if they looked right. For future use I would also like to have an Index of the contents included, so that I could quickly see if a particular recipe is included in the book.

The "just Chocolate Cookbook" would make for a sweet little gift for any chocolate lover out there - and that covers a great percentage of us all, doesn't it?

Editorial Review:

This delightful book is chock-full of delicious recipes-all featuring chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate! From the best cakes, pies, candies, and other chocolate confections.

The Cool Mountain Cookbook: A Gourmet Guide to Winter Retreats

Gwen Ashley Walters

Amazon Price: $19.95 List Price: $19.95 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: Pen & Fork Communications Amazon Marketplace: 13 new & used starting at $9.97

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

Cook's Peak 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

The pressure is off. I've found the perfect gift for my sister-in-law on her upcoming birthday. An avid skier as well as a lover of fine food, my sis-in-law is sure to adore "The Cool Mountain Cookbook: A Gourmet Guide to Winter Retreats" by Gwen Ashley Walters.

When the book arrived, I leafed through its pages and found them as inviting as a down comforter on a snowy night. Detailed stories about the 20 featured ski lodges supplied me with miles of satisfying armchair travel. I knew that my sis-in-law had been to a few of the featured resorts and I imagined her reading the book, revisiting them like old friends. For those she hadn't yet experienced, Walters helpfully supplied addresses, as well as information about accommodations and activities.

Walters' evocative descriptions make the reader feel at home before he or she arrives. This passage about the Strater Hotel in Durango, CO made me feel as if I were a guest at this historic hostelry. "The rooms have diaries for guests to jot down their thoughts and experiences. Page after page tell of special moments remembered by couples, families and travelers. In another time, you might have spotted Bat Masterson polishing his six-shooter or Louis L'Amour penning a new western novel, as both were guests of the hotel."

Postcard pretty photographs of resorts transported me from the classic colonial Equinox in Vermont to the rustic chic of Deer Valley Resort in Utah. But it was the gorgeous color photographs of dishes such as Three Onion Tart, Chorizo and White Cheddar Breakfast Burrito, and Honey Soy-Glazed Chilean Sea Bass with Ginger Butter Sauce that sent me rushing off the slopes and into my kitchen.

First up, Orange Mustard Pork Tenderloin. Huge, huge hit with the family. I sometimes skip marinades to save time and this recipe proves what a big mistake that is. Soaked in a mixture of Dijon mustard, olive oil, garlic, orange juice, herbs, spices, and a few other goodies, this pork was absolutely succulent. A definite keeper recipe.

An oven-roasted Tomato and Avocado Soup sounded just right for the next sample (after all, I wanted to make sure my sis-in-law would like her gift). Just the aroma of the Roma tomatoes baking in the oven with fresh basil, fresh tarragon, and fresh parsley was worth making this dish.

Some overripe bananas dictated the next recipe choice. Banana Chocolate Chip Bread was a snap to whip together and bake in a loaf pan. Seasoned with a bit of orange zest, it was the pinnacle of yumminess.

I could tell from the glitch-proof recipes that Walters, a professional chef and Certified Culinary Professional, had worked hard to translate these chefs' creations into home-cook user friendly recipes.

At this point, "The Cool Mountain Cookbook: A Gourmet Guide to Winter Retreats" is becoming a bit creased and there are all those stickies marking recipes I still need to try. And, darn it, my sis-in-law's birthday is fast approching. If I give her the book, how will I find out for myself which chocolate dessert-the Warm Vahlrona Chocolate Tart, the Chocolate Volcano on page 132, or the Warm Chocolate Cake on page 140-is worthy of a serious chocoholic's attention?

I may just have to purchase another copy for her birthday gift--while I further explore the "The Cool Mountain Cookbook: A Gourmet Guide to Winter Retreats" for more tips on my favorite winter sport: dining on fabulous fare in front of a roaring fire.

Editorial Review:

Recipient of the 2001 GLYPH award for "Best Cookbook" and a national Benjamin Franklin Award finalist, The Cool Mountain Cookbook showcases 20 top-rated ski lodges, including The Little Nell in Aspen, Stein Eriksen in Park City, and Lake Placid Lodge, in the Adirondacks.

Mouthwatering color photos of the food, stunning pictures of the resorts, and more than 130 recipes featuring the fine Alpine cuisine from these noted resorts make The Cool Mountain Cookbook the perfect gift for the mountain lodge lover, avid skier, or cookbook collector.

Pecan-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Maple Barbecue Sauce, Lemon Poppy Seed Waffles with Strawberry Mint Sauce and Chocolate Volcano cake with Raspberry Puree are just a few of the tempting recipes, all home-tested and rewritten for the home cook.