Book Description

Should matzo balls be firm or fluffy? Plain or filled? Made with chicken fat, oil, or marrow? These questions and others are addressed in this recipe collection from the celebrated cooks of Hadassah, the Jewish women’s volunteer organization. Over 250 Jewish holiday recipes are offered and include varieties of nostalgic must-haves - from chicken soup to borscht, kreplach to kishka, Grandma's honey cake to Israel's sufganiyot - and twists on the basics - challahs (seeds or honey), latkes (carrot or potato), and harosets (from Surinam to Africa). Reminiscences by top Jewish chefs and 76 enticing color photographs by acclaimed food photographer Louis Wallach accompany the recipes. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Hadassah Jewish Holiday Cookbook-Edited by Joan Michel
This is an excellent book for the preparation of fine
Kosher dishes. For instance, the authors explain how to prepare
Yosi's Israeli Salad, Esroq cookies and Biblical Kugel- to mention just a few of the fine preparations. Biblical Kugel is prepared with sugar cinnamon, cloves, oil, ginger, raisins, figs, almonds and brandy (optional). The book depicts the
layout of the dish so that readers have a visual model in order
to prepare the food for family and guests. Lastly, there is
an extensive presentation of Kosher offerings appropriate for
almost every dining experience imaginable.

A Non Cooking Rabbi Gives This 5 Stars
I am not a cook. I am a rabbi who cannot cook. In fact, it is dangerous to put me in the kitchen. This book though is not just a great cookbook. It is an incredible historical read. If I could cook I probably would give it ten stars. Remarkable, unique, different, poignant, profound are just some of the words that describe this cookbook. Joan Michel came up with a briliant idea. The contributors from Hadassah Magazine's readership tapped into some resovoir of knowledge and history and produced a profound souffle of goodness, down- home historical family recipes filled with the holiness and history of the ages. This one is more than a keeper, it is a gift giver to all your friends.

Rabbi Yehudah Fine
Times Square Rabbi-Finding the Hope in Lost Kids' Lives
Yehudahfine.com ... Read more

Book Description

Since Martha Stewart Living Magazine's debut more than a decade ago, readers have come to look to its holiday issues for the best seasonal entertaining and menu ideas.Each issue of Living has included Martha's favorite recipes, as well as the staff's. For the first time, more than six hundred of these holiday dishes are collected in one volume: The Martha Stewart Living Christmas Cookbook.

Throughout the ten chapters of recipes, every element of holiday entertaining—from hors d'oedvres and cocktails through main courses and desserts—is covered. Whether you're searching for an eggnog to sip on Christmas Eve, planning to serve a traditional roast goose for Christmas dinner, or putting together a festive brunch for overnight guests, The Martha Stewart Living Christmas Cookbook offers a comprehensive array of classics and new favorites to choose from. Guiding you are how-to photographs and illustrations, along with sixty-four pages of beautiful color photographs that will inspire even novices to get into the kitchen and start cooking. The book is filled with tips and techniques, and it also includes a special menu section to help you create the perfect meal.

This collection of recipes—ranging from simple to extravagant—makes an indispensable cookbook, not just for Christmas Day, but for the entire holiday season. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This book MUST be in your cookbook collection!
I have read this newly-published cookbook from cover to cover today and I LOVE IT! It's not surprising Martha Stewart could put together a collection of recipes representing the Christmas holiday. Some cookbooks only focus on Christmas cookies or only Thanksgiving, but this cookbook highlights sophisticated recipes from drinks (I hadn't seen a Ramos Gin Fizz in a cookbook ever!) to entrees and of course, desserts. Sure, there are only so many things you can do with cranberries, chestnuts, hazelnuts, and pumpkins, but these are not tired, redone recipes just so she could publish yet another cookbook. This book is polished, much like the format of her h'ors d'oeuvres book. Beautiful photographs, great recipes. Anyone who loves cooking during the Christmas holidays, and not just bake cookies, will definitely love this cookbook! ... Read more

Book Description

This revised and updated edition of Season's Greetings is every cook's source for unbeatable feast, fete, and Yuletide fun. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Food for lady who has no time to cook
I bought this book on sale due to the food pictures in thebook. A person who love cooking usually can tell if the author isgood by looking at the pictures of the final product. What attracted me to get this book was her recipe for pick up drumsticks. That is the most simple recipe I had seen for baking up drumpsticks that looked like they were fried. Other ideas in the book are also great and time saving. Our church always having special holiday dinner or special dinner gets together for rivival meeting nights, etc. It is so hard to finds people who are willing to cook for such large audience. This is a life saver for ladies who are in charge of the food for those special occasion, even for a Chinese church. I had already shared some of the recipes with friends at church and they just can't wait to try them out (This also include busy guys who help their wives out with cooking). I highly recommend you to get a copy of this book. END

Terrific recipes for holiday and party entertaining.
I immediately went out and purchased this book after attending a party in which the hostess presented a beautiful and tasty appetizer buffet using eight different recipes from Season's Greetings. The recipes are all eye appealing, delicious and in most cases easy to make. Recipes also include make-ahead tips. I highly recommend it for the beginner as well as the seasoned hostess. ... Read more

Book Description

Festive recipes and ideas to make holidays special throughout the year

No matter what month the calendar is on, there’s always something to celebrate. Now Betty Crocker Celebrate! makes it easy to whip up party food and family fun all year long! It’s packed with tasty ways to enjoy 17 of the year’s most delightful holidays: New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Passover, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. There are 140 palate-pleasing recipes in all, including do-ahead dishes for the ultimate in stress-free entertaining. Who can resist a Ghostly Shepherd’s Pie for Halloween? Or a classic Fourth of July Flag Day Cake? From a Mother’s Day Brunch for Mom to a New Year’s Eve Midnight Buffet, there are complete holiday menus the whole family will love, plus decorating and presentation tips that will put everyone in a party mood.

The fun never stops–with a little help from Betty Crocker. ... Read more

Book Description

Founded in 1980, Cook's Illustrated (formerly Cook's Magazine) has emerged as "America's Test Kitchen," renowned for its near-obsessive dedication to finding the best methods of American home cooking. Over the years, we've tested 80 recipes for chocolate chip cookies, more than 70 recipes for gumbo, 40 versions of the peanut butter cookie, and more than 20 versions of such simple recipes as coleslaw, roast chicken, and hash brown potatoes. The Best Recipe is a collection of the editors' picks from the pages of Cook's Illustrated. The recipes have been edited, organized, and annotated with in-depth descriptions of how we developed the "best" recipe. And they appear alongside dozens of equipment ratings and taste tests of supermarket foods, as well as more than 200 illustrations demonstrating the most efficient food preparation methods.

In The Best Recipe, we invite you into our test kitchen, where you will stand at our elbow as we try to develop the best macaroni and cheese or the best split pea soup. You'll discover how to make a foolproof yellow cake, a perfectly cooked prime rib roast, and homemade bread in under two hours. You'll find out how to solve the problem of watery coleslaw, overcooked turkey breast, acidic salad dressing, dull tomato sauce, sticky white rice, dry turkey burgers, tough scrambled eggs, and sunken birthday cakes. You will also find the secret to bakery-style high-rise muffins and the way to make that restaurant favorite, warm, fallen chocolate cake, at home, with only a few minutes of preparation.

The Best Recipe also gives you useful tips on purchasing cookware (based on extensive test kitchen evaluations), including pie plates, food processors, standing mixers, chef's knives, skillets, vegetable peelers, and Dutch ovens. We also explain the science of cooking (how to cream butter and why, how baking powder works, the difference between semisweet and bittersweet chocolate) and offer tips on purchasing canned chicken stock, canned tomatoes, flour, butter, and dried pasta.

The editors of Cook's Illustrated have performed thousands of hours of kitchen testing to bring you a cookbook that not only provides the best recipes but also tells you how they came to be that way. Let The Best Recipe become your one-stop cooking school and your favorite kitchen reference. ... Read more

Reviews (191)

The One Cookbook Anyone Who Loves to Cook Needs
I've been buying cookbooks for decades. I'll buy cookbooks for just one recipe I'm dying to learn. The funny thing is, I'm really not that good of a cook, but I love working in the kitchen.

This cookbook just blows me away. Just like the Cooks International PBS television series, it explains the why of cooking. Lasagne without ricotta? Beef marinade without acid? How could that be? The explanations are there, and they make total sense.

I sit in my bedroom reading this book at night. I read about the things I already know how to make, looking for the subtle ideas to make them perfect. It's really not a cookbook even though it's got hundreds of recipes. It's more a book about cooking, and it's got me more inspired than all of the scores of books I've bought before.

I'll give these guys the best compliment I can think of: I wish I had written it.

A Fun, Classic Cookbook!
From one (who like many reviewers) has a collection of 200+ cookbooks, and who reads cookbooks as though they were novels-this is a classic! I subscribe to Cooks Illustrated,though only for a short while so I haven't seen many of these recipes, but I love this book! The detail is just enough to be helpful-information on adjusting the oven racks for certain recipes-higher, lower, etc.. I love the science sections which tell why certain things happen when you are cooking certain foods. At the beginning of each section, I like the editors explaining how they tested, what worked, and what didn't work for them. The recipes are not fancy, and they are basic classic recipes, but very well researched, and the choices of recipes included will appeal to many people. The Peanut Butter cookies were great, as was the Braised Green Beans Italian Style, and the Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing. I only received the book a few days ago, and I am anxious to try some of the other recipes-a great addition to any cookbook library!

Kitchen Helper
I received this book for Christmas and I love it. It is unlike any other cookbook I own (and I own alot of cookbooks!)It provides fool-proof ways to cook practically everything. I've deemed it my kitchen helper. I believe the recipes are quite tasty and flavorful. Tonight I made Sauteed Chicken Breast Cutlets with a Lemon-Caper Sauce and Quick-Cooked Carrots with Red Wine Vinegar and Thyme. I've never been able to sautee chicken breasts without them turning dry and rubbery. These turned out perfectly brown and very moist. My mother-in-law made the Prime rib Roast for Christmas Dinner. It was excellent. I love the fact that the book is educational as well - I've learned so much already about techniques and what works and what doesn't and why, just from reading this cookbook. It is alot more than just another recipe book. I'm going to give this to all my friends. I would highly recommend it. It would make a great gift for a wedding shower gift. I'm newly married myself and trying to teach myself how to cook. My husband loves the book too.

Every serious cook should have this book
This is my favorite cooking reference book! The authors explore many different standard recipes, and provide a fascinating discussion of the best way to make those recipes.

For example, if you find that your peanut butter cookies just don't come out like Grandma's did, turn to the "Cookies, Brownies, and Bars" chapter, and find a detailed discussion of what works and what doesn't when making peanut butter cookies--what kind of shortening, what kind of peanut butter, etc. And then, you are presented with the optimum recipe based on their experimentation.

By going through this book, you absorb not just specific recipes, but an understanding of basic cooking principles. I curl up with it on the couch at night and just start reading! It's that interesting!

I'm thinking that beginning cooks wouldn't find this book nearly as interesting as people who have been cooking for a while, because most of the fun of the book is you saying to yourself, "Yes! Exactly! I've seen that too! Is THAT why it came out that way?! NOW I know!"

Even if you aren't that interested in the wheres and whyfors, however, this book contains hundreds (maybe thousands! It's HUGE) of great recipes from Apricot Muffins to Sauteed Zucchini.
When I wanted to know the best recipe for Buttermilk Waffles so I could get the best results out of my new waffle maker, this is the book I turned to.

Every serious cook should have this book on her/his shelf.

A great cookbook for all the basics
The thing that sets The Best Recipe apart from other cookbooks is that you never have to worry about a "failed" recipe. Everything comes out exactly as the book says. It's great, especially for people who are somewhat inept, especially at baking. I rely on the muffin, quick bread, and fruit crisp recipes. They always come out great. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning the science behind cooking and baking, as well as anyone looking for a basic cookbook that's not as overwhelming as Joy of Cooking. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Finally, you can put aside those yellowed newspaper clippings this holiday! The New York Times Passover Cookbook collects almost 50 years' worth of delicious Seder recipes from the Times and its contributors, from Florence Fabricant's Classic Gefilte Fish to Barry Wine's Tsimmes Terrine. With more than 200 recipes, the book travels around the world of Jewish cuisine, from Artichokes, Sephardic Style--a spicy, fried, Egyptian dish--to Mississippi Praline Macaroons, a recipe that traveled with its originator from Vienna, Austria, to Natchez, Mississippi. Because the book includes recipes from both Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions, editor Linda Amster notes that the ingredients in some recipes may not be acceptable to other communities (for example, the allspice in Claudia Roden's Matzoh-Meat Pie perfectly reflects its Arab-Jewish influences, but probably would be out of place on an Ashkenazic Passover menu).

Through the years at the Times, many Passover recipes have come from accomplished home cooks in the New York area (such as Florence Aaron's Salmon and Egg Salad). More recently, however, the paper has given some star chefs a turn at the traditional Seder dishes, so you'll also find such gourmet delights as Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Beet Tartare, Paul Prudhomme's Veal Roast with Mango Sauce, Charlie Trotter's Carrot Consommé, and Maida Heatter's Chocolate Walnut Torte. In addition to the wealth of recipes, The New York Times Passover Cookbook features a thoughtful introduction on the meanings of the Passover ritual by Joan Nathan, author of the award-winning Jewish Cooking in America. Threaded through the book are four essays by Times critics and columnists Ruth Reichl, Mimi Sheraton, Molly O'Neill, and Howard G. Goldberg. Goldberg's informative piece on Kosher wines may cause you to put the sweet Manischewitz aside for a dryer Israeli Cabernet or a Californian Semillon. Whether you're looking for a classic apple-nut Haroseth or a fusion-cuisine Southwestern Tsimmes Stuffed in Anaheim Chiles, The New York Times Passover Cookbook is an excellent, comprehensive sourcebook for the Passover meal. --Rebecca A. Staffel ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Welcome and refreshing new ideas for passover
This year for the first time in many years I made a few different charosis recipes, a new chicken recipe, and a new kugle - all from this cookbook, and they were all delicious and beautiful to look at. I was so pleased I bought copies for my daugher and daughter-in-law. Every Jewish kitchen should have this book. It is definitely something to pass on in a family. From Liz Levine

An absolute necessity if you ever prepare a seder meal!
This cookbook is so wonderful, so essential, I can't recommend it heartily enough. Perhaps my greatest endorsement is this: I really use these recipes THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, not just at Passover!

I'm the type of cook who rarely makes the same dish more than once. Here, there are several recipes I make again and again. The cover recipe, Pot Roast with Red Wine and Onions, is reason enough to order this book. The matzoh balls I make every year from these pages and they are always easy, fluffy, and to die for.

Another fantastic feature is the abundance of recipes for those "other" days of Passover--the in-between days when you're not going all out for a Seder meal but you still want something delicious.

The contributors to this book are remarkable in their expertise and their diversity. Every Jewish cook should have this book!

great book
This cookbook is fantastic. Try the carrot souffle on page 110. It is delicious and has a unique texture. It is somewhat like carrot cake. However, the recipe doesn't tell you to turn it out of the pan, which you should do. Some of the recipes are difficult to make if you live in a community, as I do, that doesn't have a kosher butcher. Also, I wish that there were more simple recipes. I am struggling to satisfy my children during Passover, and this cookbook doesn't help much with that. Still, it is a great resource to have on hand.

Favorite Passover Cookbook
I am a definite "foodie", and an Orthodox Jew. I'm always looking for new recipes to try out. I frequently take out cookbooks from local libraries to try them out, and purchase the most useful ones. There is a definite dearth of good Kosher for Passover cookbooks, so I was thrilled to find this one last year.

I am buying this one today. This is not a cookbook for beginners, but all the recipes I tried were worth the effort, and were delicious. I can't wait to try some more recipes this year. It's so nice to find some recipes for Passover that are not the usual chicken/potatoes combo. There are also many recipes to use year round.

I would also like to answer the person who said the this cookbook is not for any Orthodox Jews. He/she forgot that there are many type of Orthodox Jews. If you do not eat gebrokts (a mixture of matza meal & liquid) during all but the last day of Pesach, then there are some recipes that you will not be able to use. If your tradition (minhag) is to peel all fruits and vegetables, go ahead. You think the NY Times writers are chasidish??? Please! You can get many kosher for Passover for cookbooks with recipes from your community.

Please remember that your type of Yiddishkeit is not the only one. There are many Orthodox Jews who will not have problems with any recipes in this cookbook. And again, there are still many good recipes in this cookbook, even if you don't eat gebrokts.

reply to the south american review below
I wrote a 5 star review (listed below) in February 1999. I enjoy this cookbook and have given it on sveral occassions as a gifts to friends. I find it useful and interesting, both practical and bon chic. I am writing, though, to respond to a two-star review, below, from a south american reviewer that states that "Orthodox jews don't use matzoh meal, or any vegetables that cannot be peeled" and that for him or her "this cookbook is useless." That is fine for that writer, but may I respond that the author of this cookbook, in the introduction to the book, states clearly, how the recipes were vetted with many respected rabbis and institutions. Yes, there are small sects of Jewish 'Orthodoxy' that choose not cook with matzah or matzah meal as an ingredient. If you are a member of one of those groups, then you might not find all the recipes in the book helpful. But 'in the main', the majority of Jews in the Western and Northern Hemispheres cook with matzah, matzah meal, and fruits and vegetables. The Orthodox Union (OU) has its hecksher on many matzoh meal products. Thus, I continue to recommend this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Getting ready for your first turkey or dissatisfied with the dry results you got last year? Not to worry--"Mr. Thanksgiving," Rick Rodgers, is here to teach Thanksgiving 101. And he ought to know. For the last eight years he has been traveling the country to teach his class as the media spokesperson for Perdue Farms, an industrial giant among turkey producers.

Before getting to what he calls the "Main Event," Rodgers has advice about how to plan ahead and coordinate the labor to make the day itself more enjoyable. He opens with sections on appetizers and beverages (Glittering Spiced Walnuts, Spicy Cheddar and Pecan Balls, Bloody Marys and Ramos Fizzes) and soups and salads.

The "Main Event" is everything, absolutely everything, you would want to know about buying, thawing, prepping, and roasting a turkey. You needn't look any further. There's a long question-and-answer-style section that anticipates any questions you might have. Then it's right on to everything from Perfect Roast Turkey with Best-Ever Gravy to Holiday Meatball Lasagna.

Follow all that with sections on stuffings and dressings, side dishes, yeast and quick breads, desserts (there's more to do with that pumpkin than make pie--how about Pumpkin-Walnut Roulade with Ginger Filling?), and leftovers (Turkey Tetrazzini), and you can see how Rick Rodgers's Thanksgiving 101is the cookbook equivalent of one-stop shopping for your holiday meal. --Schuyler Ingle ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Rick Saves Thanksgiving
I am a non-cooking, hotel hopping film actress. I've been on the road for several years, spending most thanksgivings eating room service turkey or having some European Film Crew Chef attempt to prepare the quintessential American Feast. Do they even eat Turkey in France? This year I found myself at home and, under pressure from my very large Italian family, I made my first T-giving turkey dinner.I happened upon Rick's book and studied it feverishly. I stashed it in my kitchen in a strtegic location; lest I be accused of cheating. My meal went off like a charm. So well, that my Catholic guilt got the best of me and I confessed. Each of my five sisters summarily went and bought the book. I can't wait until next year.Thank you Rick, With appreciation, Linda Fiorentino.

Fun and informative guide to Thanksgiving!!
This book gives great recipes with lots of detailed instructions that even experienced cooks will appreciate. But it also is a fun and informative look at our many cherished myths and legends of Thanksgiving. If you're a novice at the Thanksgiving dinner business, read this book first. If you've been down the turkey trail a few times, read this to clear your head of all the mumbo-jumbo and get back to basics.

The Reviews don't Lie!!!
I'm an avid cooker, and rather hard on cookbooks, but this book is excellent! It has everything you need to know to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal or an exotic one! I particularly like the 'southwestern' style recipes such as: Tamale stuffed Turkey and the 'pumpkin ravioli!' This book has everything, and the recipes are easy for beginners to follow. More advanced recipes are laid out step-by-step with precise directions!

This book is a 'must have' survival guide for Thanksgiving Chefs! And if you like this one, try Rodger's other book: Christmas 101!! Happy Cooking!

Excellent "Prep" Book
This book is great for all the steps leading up to the meal: shopping lists, ALL about turkeys, when to make and reheat foods, etc., and the author is an excellent writer - he's interesting and funny. However, there were many recipes that our family just would not utilize. Also, there should have been more pie recipes.
His homemade version of jellied cranberry sauce is delicious and there are definately other "keepers" that you don't have to wait for the holidays for.
I got this book at the library and I am purchasing it through Amazon for this year's holiday - for the turkey information alone, it is well worth it.

A book that saved my first Thanksgiving
This book was easy to read and to follow. I am not the best cook in the world and need cookbooks! This book helped me to make the first Thanksgiving I hosted a success! I can't say enough about it. You'll like it.
I will be using the Christmas 101 for my first Christmas too! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Terrific
I've bought a number of books published by Boston Common Press, and all of them, including this one, are superb cookbooks for the home cook. They explain exactly what to do and why to do it that way. In my experience, cookbooks of any sort (especially restaurant cookbooks by celebrity chefs) tend to suffer from poor writing and give uneven results. This one does not. To my palate, perhaps one out of every fifteen recipies falls flat, producing merely good rather than excellent results. Virtually everything is a crowd-pleaser.

The only caveat I have to add is that there is a certain amount of overlap between different Boston Common Press books and Cook's Illustrated magazine. If you own lots of their books or subscribe to Cook's, find a copy of this book at your bookstore and thumb through it to see how many recipies are redundant. Still, an great buy.

Keeping it rolling -- ATK pulls out another stellar volume
The scrappy, fun America's Test Kitchen books, companions to the top-rated TV series of the same name, tend to compare to the more staid Best Recipe series the way classes at the local adult education center compare to college courses -- not necessarily as deep or down to earth, but a lot more varied and just as informative. This, the third Cooks Illustrated book devoted solely to the TV series, carries on the fun of last year's party-and-comfort-food oriented book and the original ATK Cookbook with an emphasis on things that might fall into the category of diner and cafe food.

Organized by episode like its predecessors, Inside America's Test Kitchen goes down home with pan-roasted chicken and a quickie ragu bolognese, revisits Chinatown with beef and broccoli (a followup to last year's Kung Pao shrimp), and has fun with ethnic home cooking like cassoulet (trimmed down for weeknight use) and pollo fra diavolo. Trips to your local luncheonette include blueberry pancakes, Denver (i.e western) omelettes, the German Apple Pancake (i.e. the Baby Apple to New Englanders), corn muffins, and lemon cheesecake; even the espresso bar makes an appearance with chocolate chip cookies (including reviews of prepared cookie doughs) and a full frontal assault on the often-sawdusty oatmeal scone (flour choice is critical).

In my review of last year's book, Here in America's Test Kitchen, I pointed out that it was a keg party; if that's so, this is the hangover cure for the next morning. It's perhaps a bit difficult to top the fun factor of a cookbook that starts you off with the best buffalo wings ever, but with yet another cool factor that's off the charts, the ATK crew have at least equaled it.

Inside America's Test Kitchen: All-New Recipes, Quick Tips,
Fascinating and instructional book. They explain not only how to prepare the recipes but WHY you use different methods. I found the comparisons of brands of foods and utensils extremely helpful.

Another Great Test Kitchen Book
The books that accompany this PBS cooking show just keep getting better. I have seen criticsms of the previous two Test Kitchen books that say they contain a number of recycled recipes from the "Best Recipe" series, but in fact there is little, if any, cross-over. Additional research since some of the early cookbooks were published has sometimes resulted in a completely re-worked and improved recipe for a particular dish, but never the same recipe just re-printed from the Best Recipe series to the Test Kitchen series.

I enjoy cooking very much, and the staff of Cook's Illustrated produces the best recipes I have ever tasted. Blind taste testing at each step of recipe development hones these recipes until it would be hard to think of a way to improve them. Tasters are drawn from a pool which includes staff members, volunteers from the community, and visiting chefs, so a broad range of palates is represented. Furthermore, potential pitfalls are charted ahead of time so that you can reliably avoid them.

Often a team effort waters down the "voice" of the product. An interesting cookbook results from the passion of one or two cooks for their subject. But not in this case. The team effort produces a whole more potent than any one person could accomplish alone. This is a terrific cookbook. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

WARNING, THIS IS NOT A CHRISTMAS BOOK
I won this book last week during a Dirty Santa game at a Christmas party. Truth be told, I had to steal it away since it was the gift everyone kept taking from each other during the game, but luckily I had the last number. I just assumed it was a Christmas book that I could put on my coffee table during the holiday season for visiting friends and family to enjoy, but boy was I wrong. This book covers all the holidays from the first of the year to the last of the year with food menue ideas and even activities. It is also sure to add a laugh to that special celebration regardless if it's VALENTINE'S DAY, PASSOVER, LABOR DAY, MOTHER IN-LAWS DAY/HALLOWEEN (they're fall so close together in October that Ruby Ann suggest you celebrate them on the same day), TAX DAY, and too many more to mention. Sure she takes her humor to CHRISTMAS and HANUKKAH, but she also covers MARDI GRAS and SUPER BOWL SUNDAY as well. And even though I'm only half way through the book, I've decided that this will make the perfect gift. I can give this to all my friends who like country western since Ruby Ann shows us how to throw a party on Reba and Loretta Lynn's birthdays. And all my race car buddies will love the section on the DAYTONA 500 with recipes like Bobby Allison Artichoke Dip and Tony Stewart Cookies (with orange and white frosting). And what kind of a trailer park cookbook would it be without an entire section dedicated to ELVIS'S BIRTHDAY! Everybody loves Elvis, and everybody will love me after they open their gifts and find this wonderful read filled with tasty dishes under the wrapping. This book is 5 full stars for sure.

Laugh at ALL THE HOLIDAYS YEAR ROUND
This was my favorite birthday present. Not only did I laugh till I almost wet myself, but the food is wonderful. And the good thing about the book is that regardless of how the title makes it sound, this is not just a Christmas book, but rather a book that covers all the holidays. Even if you don't cook, you will still fall in love with Ruby Ann and all her friends at the High Chaparral Trailer Park. She really has a way of making you forget your troubles. I went out and bought her first book so now I am ready both at the same time, and I'm falling in love with all the people in her books. Where shes comes up with these stories, I'll never know. I hope that she continues to write, because with all the talk of war and such, this is what we need to escape the world we live in. Keep up the great work Ruby Ann Boxcar!

down home humor at it's best!
I have never laughed myself into a hunger stupor like I did with this book. I fell in love with it and ordered two for my friends as gifts also. It will wash away the blues of the holidays and bring a huge smile to your face, not to mention a few pounds to the waist! Ruby Ann is great- the book is as much a delight to read as are the recipes. Good home cooking and wonderful titles of each recipe to spice up your office potlucks. This one should be in everyone's kitchen library. ... Read more

Book Description

From the creators of FamilyFun Tricks and Treats comes a collection of celebration inspirations for the winter holiday season.

The winter holidays are a magical time, especially for families with youngsters. FamilyFun Homemade Holidays provides an inexhaustible guide to planning one of the most important holiday seasons of the year. This sixth book in our bestselling series features games, activities, decorations, tested recipes, and complete Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa party plans. Plus there are winter holiday ideas from FamilyFun readers, timesaving tips, and step-by-step photographs. This volume is further proof that there is no greater authority on new and fun ways to pass the time than the experts at FamilyFun. ... Read more

Book Description

I've always been a party person. To this day, I associate holidays with being a little naughty and eating and partying too much -- but now my healthy lifestyle doesn't fall apart. In Party Hearty, I help you build a few simple corrective actions right into your holiday routine so that you won't gain weight, be sick or hung over, or need to diet or detox afterword. And don't worry -- you won't be eating only raw food at your next Thanksgiving dinner. I provide delicious recipes that fit within my total health makeover guidelines. And I help you take the focus off the food and enjoy the holidays the way you did as a child, with fun invitations, decorations, toasts, scents, games and activities, exercises, music, movies, party favors, and much more.

Reviews (9)

A FABULOUS guide to celebrating special days!
Marilu Henner has a winner here! This book is packed with ideas to help us plan special parties and celebrations throughout the year. New Year's, Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine's, - even an Academy Awards Party! Name a special day - Marilu covers it. She explains the tradition of each holiday. She offers delicious and healthy menu suggestions and recipes. She also helps to plan the invitations, set the atmosphere, create activities, and propose the toast! And she makes it all so much fun with great personal stories along the way. This is a great book for anyone planning a special celebraton day - Marilu shows us how to do it all!

delicious, healthy recipes
I wanted to add a good review for this book because people have written negative things about it. The recipes are so good! I made several for different parties and everyone loved them. There's lots of other info, but if you're not interested, don't read it! Yes, it's true that the index is not thorough enough for a book that's organized differently like this one is, but that's the only drawback to this healthy cookbook.

Holidays are Healthier AND Happier
I've been following Marilu Henner's plan for a number of years and I was counting the days for this book to be released. I am so thrilled to have it and have already given some away as gifts.

The food is the main event of course, but there is so much more to this book. First and foremost the emphasis is on enjoying the holidays and making them a celebration. And I just love the fact that maintaining a healthy lifestyle gives us more energy for doing just that. The recipes in all of Marilu's books contain high quality ingredients. When I first started following this plan I wondered what I would eat if I wasn't eating meat dairy or sugar. I found out that the answer is GREAT FOOD !!!

This book also contains a lot of tips and suggestions for parties, even mentioning ideas for invitations and scents. What I love about that is that it adds another dimension. It's not just about the food. And those lists can inspire you to come up with even more ideas. The creativity in this book makes it so much fun to read. So much more than just a recipe book !!!

I love to entertain and this book is giving me so many ideas for ways to make entertaining more interesting and special.

I have so much more energy, and love life so much, since starting this plan. I have Marilu to thank for that. And now I can thank her for making my holiday shopping so easy !! I am giving copies to anyone who may have me to dinner this year !

Very disappointing
I absolutely loved Marilu's previous books and couldn't wait to receive a copy of her new book "Healthy Holidays". Unfortunately, the book is very disappointing.

"Healthy Holidays" is very disorganised. Recipes are not categorised like normal cookbooks eg entree, soup, dessert etc. Instead, the recipes are listed under each holiday eg Valentine's Day, Christmas Day etc. Too bad if you are looking for recipes for a "non-holiday" or you don't like her suggestions for the Christmas menu. I was looking for inspiration for a salad one night and had to go through every holiday in the book to find a salad I liked. She should have simply stuck with the normal categorisations and then given a list of suggested menus for each occasion.

The book should have also included a glossary and a conversion table. There are lots of ingredients which I have never even heard of! Moreover, there were no conversions at all. I am Australian and when I refer to any recipe in "Healthy Holidays" I have to refer to my other recipe books to find out the conversions!

In addition, possible substitutions would have been good. For example, I have been unable to find maple sugar - can maple syrup or honey be used instead? What is whole-wheat pastry flour? Is that just what we Aussies refer to as wholemeal plain flour?

The book was also filled with lots of "mumbo jumbo". I don't care what Marilu ate whilst filming a movie in Spain - I doubt anyone does. We simply want to have great recipes to work with.

I was desperately disappointed with this book. If you want a good recipe book, buy "Healthy Life Kitchen". Give "Healthy Holidays" a miss.

Very disappointing
I loved Marilu's previous books and couldn't wait for Healthy Holidays to be released. Unfortunately, upon receiving a copy of Healthy Holidays I'm sad to say that it was incredibly disappointing.

I found the layout of the book to be incredibly frustrating. She should have kept with her normal style and listed foods under Protein, Carbs, Dessert, Entree etc. Instead, the recipes are all listed under each holiday eg Valentine's Day, Halloween etc. Too bad if you want to flick through to find an entree or a special dessert to make on a "non holiday". Instead you have to sift through each holiday to find a recipe to your liking.

Also, the book is filled with lots of "mumbo jumbo". I don't want to know about what Marilu ate when she was filming a movie in Spain. I just want to view healthy recipes!

A glossary would have been useful - there are a lot of ingredients that I've never even heard of! A conversion table would also have been helpful (being Australian I'm always having to check conversions in my other recipe books).

If you are looking for a great recipe book, stick with "Healthy Like Kitchen" and give "Healthy Holidays" a miss. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent and beautiful addition to your cookbook shelf
This book is so useful. Every recipie lists the fiber, calories, and fat content. The pictures are beautiful and the recipies I've made have all been delicious. Creative use of herbs and seasoning and alternate ingredients take the place of fat. The roast turkey with a variety of stuffings is great. I don't cook turkey any other way now. ... Read more

Book Description

Sometimes the only thing Thanksgiving hosts have to be thankful for is putting their feet up at the end of the day. For novices, orchestrating The Feast is no easy task. And even for old pros it's a bit of a challenge. Enter The Thanksgiving Table: the lowdown on the how to. Everything from the foolproof secret to a moist bird and how to truss and carve it to menu suggestions and simple, elegant table settings. Plus, recipes for classics like cranberry relish as well as more innovative dishes--and a whole section devoted to vegetarians. And maybe best of all, do-ahead tips and plenty of food and technique photographs to make planning in advance a breeze. The Thanksgiving Table is a kitchen essential--a book for which every home cook can give thanks. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Gourmet Thanksgiving Recipes
I used the "Search Inside this Book" feature of Amazon to try out some of the recipes in this book for this year's Thanksgiving. I made the carrot pudding souffle, the jalapeno cheddar cornbread stuffing, and the sweet potato wedges. All came out wonderfully! The cornbread stuffing was the biggest hit. I strongly recommend this book.

Terrific Book - highly recommended
I purchased this book only recently and tried it out over the past holiday. I can now heartily endorse it. Ms. Morgan has put together a collection of easy to follow recipes that will liven up your Thanksgiving table. Many look like your standard fare, but have been jazzed up with new preparation techniques. A perfect example is the Chiffonade of Brussel Sprouts. I have to have brussel sprouts on my table every year, but was so bored with them. I followed her technique for shredding them, then sauteeing - they came out like a warm slaw, perfectly cooked and offset with the hazelnuts - I had no leftovers at all! I will be making that dish again, for sure.

I primarily purchased the book for her section on vegetarian entrees and again, she did not let me down. The stuffed acorn squash was, as she stated, fantastic, and my vegetarian guest was thrilled.

I do have one complaint/suggestion: I wish that each recipe had said how far in advance each recipe could be prepared ahead. I believe in a book about holiday cooking, where most people begin to cook several days in advance, knowing how far in advance each thing could be prepared would have made this book ideal for anyone preparing the holiday feast. I have enough experience to figure it out myself, but not everyone does.

I believe this book is an excellent buy, however. If you like Holiday cooking and are looking to change things up a bit, you should buy this book. You will enjoy it, and so will your guest.

A great resource
Morgan offers up a wide variety of mouthwatering dishes that are easy to make and (usually) don't require an extra trip to the store or a quest for some obscure ingredient. There are main course recipes for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike, and she even includes ideas for leftovers. Best of all is the brined turkey, which is life-changing. I'll never eat turkey any other way.

This is a really neat cookbook
In "The Thanksgiving Table" Diane Morgan has kicked Thanksgiving up a notch, maybe three.

Not only has she included recipes for some of the more traditional items for Thanksgiving dinner but she has some really interesting recipes that take the traditional and give it a slight twist, Shirley LeBlonds stuffing, for example. The twist isn't in the recipes alone but in some of the table treatments as well, burlap and corrugated cardboard on a holiday table? But it works!

"The Thanksgiving Table" includes a history of the first Thanksgiving, including the menu, how traditional do you want to get? It also includes a timetable that stretches back a couple of weeks before the event, so you aren't rushing at the last minute. I feel I must mention the recipes for leftovers, I can hardly wait.

Along with the fantastic recipes are some of the most incredible photographs I have ever seen in a cookbook.

This is a must have for all of us who enjoy entertaining on Thanksgiving. "The Thanksgiving Table" has something for everyone, a step by step for the first timer wanting to start their own Thanksgiving tradition, or it can be used to inspire us old timers with new ideas and a fresh perspective. Well done Diane! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Halloween books abound, but none is as elegantly spooky or as eerily opulent as this gorgeous guide from Martha Stewart Living. Set the scene for the ultimate Halloween party with a magical yard full of pumpkins glowing with vibrant geometrics and sparkling with Christmas lights. Welcome guests with shadow lanterns flickering with bats and haunted windows. Strew the house with chiffon ghosts and fill the air with haunting sounds. Then host a pumpkin-carving feast, a crafty party, or a ghoulish supper, and whip up eyeball highballs, croaked messieurs, and spider-web sundaes. And don't forget the creepy makeup: follow along as willing victims transform into a skeleton, mummy, and several other creatures (Martha herself becomes an astonishing black widow). Excellent directions, full recipes, beautiful photographs, and an extremely detailed source list should inspire anyone to celebrate All Hallows' Eve with style. --Amy Handy ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Book or glorified magazine?
I found the contents of this "book" to be terrific. It is full of lovely pictures and creative, scary, unique ideas. Some of them are very labor intensive, but anyone familiar with Martha would expect that. On content alone I probably would have given it 4 1/2 or 5 stars. However, I was extremely disappointed in the format. When I opened the box my first thought was, "I don't remember ordering a magazine." That's really what this is. No, it does not have any ads and none of those annoying little subscription cards fell out of the pages but those are about the only differences. It is no thicker than a standard magazine, and in fact, not as thick as most of my issues of Marth Stewart Living. Because it is a book that should get a lot of use over the years, I can't help but expect that it will look dog-eared very quickly. I would much rather have spent a little more and gotten a hard cover version or at least a thicker book with smaller, sturdier pages.

Better than you might think!
Being a HUGE Halloween fan, I would have never thought that Martha could have any good ideas for Halloween decorating. Her decorating ideas are always so cute and cheerful, right?

How wrong I was! This book has wonderfully dark and gothic decorations that really capture the essence and magic of Halloween. Even the ideas for the kids are tasteful, without being overly cutesy.

Add to this great ideas for seasonal food (who knew you could use pumpkin in so many different ways), excellent costume ideas, and party ideas, and you have a great 'grown-up' Halloween decorating guide!

And for those reviewers here who complained that the book was only a collection of Martha's previous magazine articles: The title is "Halloween: The Best of Martha Stewart Living". The "Best of" title should have clued you in that this was not brand new material. I'm sure the audience for the book was people like me, who have never picked up Martha's magazine before. I know I buy every Halloween issue now, as well as other seasonal issues.

A bit thin - more of a booklet
I preferred the photo of Martha stomping around on her front porch scaring the small children on Halloween in Westport. The parents were furious.

It was a priceless picture and showed what a mean spirited person she really is. Sadly the photo is not in the book.

A deep, engaging, and handy reference...
Here it is, the best of Martha Stewart Living Hallowe'en content through 2001! Everything is here, packaged so efficiently and beautifully that even die-hard Martha Mag collectors will want it. There are great crafts, recipes, and costume projects, but the real fun of this book is in simply looking through the pictures and informational bits.

Everything is so clever, and presented so creatively! Put it on your coffee table!

Halloween by Martha
Halloween is a great time of year. I just discovered this book and I was really surprised. It was by Martha Stewart no less! This is not your run of the mill book! The ideas are fantastic and go beyond anything I ever imagined. This is not ordinary stuff here. There are ideas for the house and yard, food and candy and way out ways to make yourself up for the evening. This is a quality publication. There is still time to order! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Michele Scicolone wrote Italian Holiday Cooking in order to save those most-loved recipes our immigrant grandparents and parents brought with them from Italy but we never thought to write down. Surely, this is comfort food at its finest. Savory Easter Pie is rich with onions and sausage; ricotta, Parmigiano, mozzarella, and Swiss cheeses; and ham, salami, and pepperoni. Can you smell it baking? Umbrian Ragu, more elaborate than most, calls for dried porcini mushrooms and black truffles. Venetian Risotto with Peas for San Marco is soft and creamy, served wetter than typical risottos, and is very simple to make.

Scicolone's introduction to each recipe includes a bit of background about where it came from, for which holiday it's prepared, and tips for preparation. She also recommends a wine for every dish. And since no holiday would be complete without dessert, Scicolone offers a beautiful selection of cakes, cookies, and other desserts, including a Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake made with ricotta, Creamy Rice Fritters, and the elusive first recipe of the 150 she collected for this project, Vecchiarelle, which are little cookies flavored with red wine and honey. --Leora Y. Bloom ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I was delighted with these authentic Italian recipes but....
This is one of the better Italian cookbooks I have come across
but I ran into a problem with the first recipe I tried. The orange semolina cake sounded great. I prepared the semolina, made the ricotta mixture and beat the egg whites. The recipe never tells you what to do with the cooked semolina! I'm an experienced cook, and I figured it went into the ricotta mixture, but who knows? We're eating it tomorrow, Christmas Eve and I guess I'll find out then. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A wonderful Christmas gift book !
This book has it all and is delightful. I bought this as a gift for my sister-in- law and am I ever glad I also got one for myself. Itis beautifully illustrated and is filled with recipes, decorating ideas and special thoughts. Its one of those books that you get out each year at Christmas time and you read it again and again.

Great gift.
Purchased this as a Christmas gift for my nephew's wife. She loved it!

A Delightful Book to Help get in the Spirit of the season
Susan Branch is a wonderful author. Not only does this book allow the reader to cook but also to become part of the wimsy and the fun that is a book from Susan Branch

Christmas Joy: A keepsake book from the Heart of the Home
Like all of Susan Branch's books, this one can be read over and over again each Christmas, and be enjoyed like it's the first time you've opened it. Very heartwarming and filled with wonderful recipes and crafts for the Holidays. This book makes a great gift for teachers!

I think everyone who enjoys cozy Christmases would enjoy it!
I loved this book. I can't wait to use her ideas for gifts, decorating, and for making cookies this year for Christmas. She does such a beautiful job illustrating and hand-lettering each of her books that it's a pleasure just to flip through them. ... Read more

Book Description

For three decades, the famed Moosewood Collective has prepared innovative meatless meals that have left vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike clamoring for more. Now, just in time for the thirtieth anniversary of their internationally acclaimed Ithaca restaurant, The Moosewood Collective presents their first-ever collection of menus for memorable occasions, with vegetarian specialties for every season.

Holidays and celebratory gatherings can present a challenge for vegetarian cooks who want to serve festive meals that will satisfy all of their guests. The Moosewood Collective has met this challenge brilliantly, with more than thirty-five ingenious menus that can transform even casual get-togethers into a party. Covering a diverse array of holidays and occasions both traditional and spur-of-the-moment, Moosewood Restaurant Celebrates provides the perfect excuse to get to-gether with friends and family more often. You’ll find inspiring food ideas for all these and more:

• Traditional holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Ramadan, Kwanza, Passover, Diwali, and Christmas
• Family gatherings, from a casual Rainy Day Picnic on the Porch to an outdoor Labor Day Get-Together to a fully orchestrated Wedding or Commitment Celebration
• Just-for-fun events, perfect any time of year, including a Tapas Party, a Birthday Breakfast in Bed, and a Sports Night Supper

There is even an additional section on versatile party nibbles and celebration cakes to choose from, plus a chapter of delectable foods you can make to give (or mail) as gifts.

Filled with practical advice on preparing holiday feasts with the minimum amount of fuss, and incorporating the rich flavors and ethnic influences that the Collective is renowned for, Moosewood Restaurant Celebrates is an indispensable assortment of lively vegetarian menus spanning a dazzling array of cultures and occasions. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Heartwarming Cookbook
What a great idea for a cookbook - food as the symbol of celebration and tradition. Want to plan a vegetarian or vegan Thanksgiving spread? You're in the right book. Even if you are not cooking, the book is a pleasure to read and browse through because it explains the origins of vaious holidays and the foods that are made to celebrate them. The recipes are organized by season and by holiday (multi-cultural holidays such as Hannukah, Ramadan, and Christmas, as well as Fourth of July and Father's Day BBQ). There are tasteful illustrations and helpful hints about how to plan a meal so that everything arrives hot at the table. My only qualm is that many of recipes look as if they might take a long time to make; although there is an index for 30-minutes-or-less cooking.

It's not the best Moosewood cookbook, but it's okay...
My biggest complaint: Lots and lots of seafood recipes. Since when did fish and shellfish become part of a vegetarian diet? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Moms should sneak a peak (and a laugh) too
You might buy this book as kind of a gag gift for new dads, but it is loaded with actual content. How to skip a rock across a pond. How to teach a kid to ride a bike. Etc. The kinds of things you really admired your dad for because he could do them; the kinds of things you would like your kid to remember you for. It's funny and light-hearteded but years later you will still be sneaking a peak at it for a refresher course (even moms will!)

Humorous and informative!!
As the founding "Father" of a group of at-home-dads I'm always on the hunt for any kind of helpful resource to pass on to my Dads. This book has proven to be one of the most well received. As any of you that have read my other reviews know, I RARELY give 5 stars. This book is just that well put together.

The book doesn't dwell on the fact that Fatherhood is just now coming into it's own. Instead, it presents basic Dad-stuff info in an easily digestible and accurate fashion in combination with some pretty humorously drawn pix.

Each topic, from tying shoes to riding a bike to tying a tie (roughly) takes about a page or so and presents it's information fairly in depth, but still very easily read. Imagine this as the little yellow book you got for your driver's test; there's 10,000 other things you'll need to know also, but this will help you pass the tests that tend to show up every few months after the age of 4.

I highly recommend this book for any new Dad; At-home or not!!

Excellant, funny resource for new fathers
This book makes a great gift for expectant or new fathers. It offers instructions on everything from teaching how to tie knots to teaching a child how to ride a bike! Humor and good instructions help the new dad as they grow with their child. ... Read more

Book Description

Count on a jolly holiday, and a simpler one, too, with a little help from Kraft.

Over 200 quick family-pleasing recipes—and plenty of photos for inspiration—make the Best-Ever Holiday Recipe Collection the only cookbook you’ll need for the season.

Start with a deliciously spooky Halloween, then take advantage of memorable Thanksgiving and Christmas menus, creative cookies, decadent desserts and quick weeknight dinners.

The recipes are tested and approved in the Kraft Kitchens and take advantage of the quality Kraft products you trust, offering you tasty solutions for every holiday occasion. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Overall Cookbook
My 13-year-old son checked this out from his school library, and now I'm buying one. It is a wonderful collection of all types of recipes: snacks, quick meals, delicious desserts, side dishes even my kids will eat! Many of the recipes include ingredients I keep on hand, but the ingredients I don't keep around are readily available, even in my small-town grocery store. My teenagers can make most of these on their own, and even my elementary-aged kids can help. I highly recommend this book for busy families.

Great Book
I Love it! I love it! This is a great cookbook. It has wonderful recipes with ingredients that can be found in any grocery store. A great book to have in any cookbook collection. ... Read more

Book Description

Happy Birthday! The latest installment in our popular Treats series will help families celebrate many happy returns with festive recipes and craft ideas. Kick off that special day with a Sparkling Cake Card, hang up a festive Party Piñata, festoon a room with Revelers' Ribbon Streamers, and then sweeten the deal with a delicious Candyland Choo Choo Cake made with an irresistible frosted train of mini-loaf cakes. Birthday Treats offers up over a dozen mouthwatering cakes and confections, four complete birthday menus with accompanying recipes, plenty of tip-top party theme ideas, and more than twenty simple decorations and favors that are sure to delight everyone--from those who can hardly wait for their birthday to those who try hard not to remember it. In the colorful, winning tradition of all the Treats books, Birthday Treats inspires the whole family to join in the birthday fun. ... Read more