Book Description
Enrich Your Family Christmas with Time-honored Traditions

Explore bountiful pages of Christmas crafts, decorating ideas, and delicious recipes, colorfully photographed and carefully detailed to help you create lasting Christmas memories.

Huddled with loved ones around a cozy kitchen table, the aromas of pine and gingerbread filling your senses, you share the cookie-baking, handcrafting, and gift-wrapping pleasures you have come to cherish. These are the traditions that warm your heart; the traditions you hope will build lasting memories for your children and theirs for many years to come.

Recapture those precious holiday moments and make your Christmas even more memorable with the many inspiring ideas in Traditional Christmas Two. Browse through page after page of Christmas crafting and decorating projects to lavish your home with festive holiday spirit. Enjoy tantalizing recipes for Christmas treats, photographed with such lifelike clarity you can taste them with your eyes. See how easily you can:

- Make handcrafted ornaments and gifts to delight your loved ones. Enjoy being creative, and show them how much you care.
- Set a festive holiday table, featuring table linens and stunning floral arrangements you make yourself.
- Craft unique Christmas accessories to decorate your home.
- Make a skirt for the tree, stockings for the mantel or an elf for the table.

Treat your family and friends to delicious appetizers, cookies, and desserts. They will beg you for the recipes.Traditional Christmas Two is packed with exciting projects and recipes, all explained with step-by-step simplicity to turn holiday crafting and cooking into traditions you will love to keep. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

the recipes are scrumptious!
I highly reccomend this book to the Mom on the go, busy working peoplelike myself, and people who love great christmas treats and beautifuldecorations!Its fun, easy and even good for the kids!

Excellent Buy-Unbelievable Ideas
This book provides the reader with so many wonderful ideas that can beused at Christmas and many other times throughout the year.It iscomprehensive and covers Tree Decorations, House Decorations, The HolidayTable, Appetizers, Beverages, Snacks, Cookies, Desserts and Gifts from theKitchen.All that in one book.It is a great buy!!!

Easy crafts and home decorating
'Twas the month before Christmas and all through my house not a decoration was hanging not even a ...wreath.And I at my craft magazines thumbing madly through, I picked up this book wiped my brow and said, "whew!" Then what to my craft making eyes should appear but a cute little stocking with an appliqued deer... happy crafting to all and to all a good night! ... Read more

Book Description
Celebrating with family, friends and good food - it's a Hanukkah tradition!Everyone's favorite recipes can now be made with all the flavor they love, and a lot less fat.Start the meal off with Ruby Borscht, Chicken Soup with Fluffy Matzo Balls and a beautiful Challah.Follow with Baked Chicken Paprikash, Sweet Carrot Tzimmes and Potato Onion Knish.Bubbe's Strudel will keep you loved by all.Gather round the table and light the candles for a meal to remember with Hanukkah Lights. ... Read more

Product Description
Children's cookbook of Chanukah recipes using name-brand kosher ingredients such as Crisco and Jif Peanut Butter; includes suggestions for holiday games; the story of Chanuka; candle blessings. ... Read more

Product Description
Illustrated with color photographs; recipes, menus, and homemade gifts for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years, including celebrations such as holiday open house, trim the tree night, holiday brunch, caroling party, and French country Christmas! ... Read more

Book Description
We all love to eat good, home-cooked meals.But who has the time?With very little effort and time, you can celebrate the holidays preparing hearty meals with this easy-to-follow recipe book. ... Read more

Amazon.com
This bright, colorful cookie book is as much fun to look at as it is to bake from. Glossy photos of Sweet Sugar Plums, Candy Cane Twists, and many other sugary delights will make your taste buds tingle. These recipes are ideal for kids and parents to make together--and many call for icing on top. This messy but creative task is bound to be the best part of the whole cookie process (aside from eating them, of course!). Since Christmas is the main focus of the book, there are several seasonal novelties to create. A cookie advent calendar is sure to make December extra exciting, and a holiday garland will be gobbled up in no time. Every recipe could quite happily be given as a holiday present, so the authors offer terrific advice for wrapping and mailing these fragile gifts. Finally, don't forget to leave some cookies out for Santa--but not too many! --Naomi Gesinger ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Yummy Yumm Yummy for the Tummy Tumm Tummy!
Oh we've been using these recipies for years now!The Elves can't get enough of them.And Santa, well, I think you know how HE feels about cookies!Why not bake some of the special treats in this book with your little ones, and leave a warm plate out for Santa Claus - with a cold glass of milk - on Christmas Eve! I happen to know for a fact he loves every cookie in this whole entire book! Who knows, maybe he'll leave you a little something extra if you make the ones with the vanilla frosting and sprinkles he likes so much!

A Book with Cookie Recipes and Great Ideas for Kids!!!
I bought this book November 1998 when my youngest daughter at the time was in the 4th grade and had a school project to do. So I took her to the book store looking through children's books for ideas and a project she could do. With all the books of ideas we found this is the book we chose and it caught my eye because it was up front of the store with all the Christmas displays and because the book had the words "Family & Kids" on it.As soon as we saw the "Holiday Garland" on page 22, that was what she wanted to do.

I bought the book, we made the "Best-ever Sugar Cookies on page 7 (which was very easy) to make the "Holiday Garland". We made the words "Noel", "Merry Christmas" and "Feliz Navidad" by following the directions and used their suggested ideas. My daughter presented her project to the class, she received a good grade on it and the children enjoyed eating the cookies.

In the past we also did the "Tasty Gift Ideas" on page 50, which everyone thought was cute and made the "Peanut Butter Sealed with a Kiss" cookies, which was good and fun to do. Just recently my niece borrowed my book for her christmas cookies that she's been making for years every Christmas. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially with kids, the cookie recipes are good, the creative gift giving ideas are good, along with the creative ideas to entertain kids with cookies are fun and not only Christmas.

Not too impressed
I found that the cookies in this book that are actually fun and creative, are by far outnumbered by the usual, standard recipes that can be found in any cookie book.
I expected more inspiration from this book!

A good cookie book
I've made several of the cookies in this book for Christmas gifts in the last two years and I've had wonderful comments on the cookies.Good ideas for gifts, etc.

great chocolate cookies
I made 4 recipes from the book, they all turned out perfectly.The chocolate crinkles were unbelievable.The sugar cookies with icing were also very good as well, and very easy to roll out. ... Read more

Book Description
Whether you live in a 1,000 sq. ft. home, a small apartment, or a tiny dorm room, this book will help you adapt that space and create a living environment where you'll feel truly comfortable. Find helpful tips and ideas for planning your space, making a tiny space appear larger, using color and texture, turning flea market finds into functional furnishings, decorating on a budget, and more. There also are ideas for unique storage solutions, walls, windows, lighting, and home offices. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Small book, but chock full of great ideas.
This book has many great ideas for each room of the home and includes large, clear, color photos showing those ideas at work. Rooms that are often overlooked in organizing books, such as craft rooms, nursery, and even the garage, are given attention here.

Some of the items for small spaces that the authors recommend are easily purchased, such as the multi-purpose storage cubes that are shown in different configurations for widely-varying uses in several different rooms.The book's resources section tells you exactly where to purchase these items.Some items, such as the futon that doubles as a guest bed for a dorm room, come with instructions for making it yourself (not as difficult as you'd think...even a beginner could do it).

This book looks at using oft-missed nooks and crannies in small apartments and houses, but also looks at how to make the most of multi-purpose rooms and single-room living, such as dorm rooms and studio apartments.

While this book is only 96 pages, it comtains more USABLE information than most books on this subject.The ideas are down-to-earth, practical, and affordable.The rooms these ideas are shown working in--although absolutely beautiful--look like places people actually live in with all of their "stuff" rather than fancy show rooms that contain nothing but furniture and decorative items. ... Read more

Amazon.com
From the man who reinvented Thanksgiving comes--Christmas!This isn't to say that Buddhists, Jews, and Muslims should read no further.We're talking end-of-the-year feasting here. Gather up the family and clear the kitchen counters. Make room in the refrigerator. The old is about to give way to the new, and a great feast is the best gift of them all, be that a Christmas feast or whatever you may call it. Rick Rodgers shows the way with Christmas 101, identifying all possible pitfalls and minefields, encouraging mass preplanning so that you, the host or hostess, can also kick back at a certain point and become part of the festivities.There is more to life, after all, than polishing the silverware.

This slim volume is loaded with recipes and information in chapters such as "Making a List and Checking It Twice"; "Appetizers, Snacks, and Beverages" (where you'll find Old Fashioned Egg Nog); "Salads, Soups, and Other First Courses" (try Orange and Red Onion Salad with Cranberry-Orange Vinaigrette); "Roasts, Birds, and Other Main Courses" (if you're over turkey, try Crown Roast of Pork with Apple Stuffing and Hard Cider Sauce); "Side Dishes and Stuffings" (how about Giant Potato and Leek Rösti?); "Festive Breads" (bake up a crusty Moravian Sugar Cake); "Candies" (we liked Chocolate-Orange Truffles); "Cookies" (roll out some Linzer Cookies); "Desserts" (enjoy Deep Dark Stout Gingerbread); and a holiday menu planner. Does that sound all-inclusive or what?There's even more than the thousand-and-one things to do with turkey that Rodgers presented in his first volume in this series, Thanksgiving 101.

What's particularly nice about this book is that Rodgers focuses on the feast, not the setting for the feast. He knows his business and he sticks to it. "When it comes to holiday decorating," he writes,

if it can't be done simply and quickly, I don't do it.... My strengths lie in the kitchen. You won't find me hot-gluing Styrofoam reindeer. But if you can fit craft projects into your schedule, be my guest.

Customer Reviews (9)

First rate first Christmas book
This book was purchased for my daughter who is setting up her first household.She was thrilled with it.It is has information on decorating, ideas for entertaining and lots of recipes.

Christmas *Recipes* 101 would be a better book title
I am disappointed in this book because it is *not* a general book about Christmas preparation, but a recipe book only. With a name like Christmas 101, and what I read in the book description, I was expecting not only recipes but perhaps an overall Christmas timetable, tips on selecting a tree as well as thoughts on natural vs artificial, information on different cultures' traditions other than strictly food based. This is a nice enough recipe book, but is is now what I expected, or wanted.

Sorry I bought the book
Recieved this book just the other day. So many recipes I will never use espically for Christmas like Black-eyed pea stew, or Parsnip and leek soup. No pictures haven't found a recipe yet I would actually make for Christmas maybe the cookies? I don't think this book is simple to make it stress free. Not what I expected.I have a ton of better Christmas cookbooks thought I would give this one a try and sorry I did. I could not recommend this book.

A GOOD CHRISTMAS EDUCATION
Having Rodgers' Thanksgiving 101 book I decided to try his Christmas 101 book, too.This is not, nor is it meant to be the all-encompassing cookbook for Christmas.It is a rather slight book at under 200 pages.

More important than the actual recipes is Rodgers' advice and tips on planning your feast, party, decorating tips for the table, music, along with great ideas for new tradtions and ways to spice up old traditions.

Whether it's your first holiday party or you're an old pro looking for new entertaining ideas, Christmas 101 Offers luscious fare with Rick's easy style, including Focaccia with Smoked Salmon and Marscapone, Seafood Chowder with Fresh Herbs, and Peppermint Profiteroles. Classic holiday recipes for prime rib, goose, gingerbread cookies, wassail, and Hoppin' John are covered as well.

Fun to read!

Too Many Misses
I own two of Rick Rodgers 101 books and have been pleased.I was disappointed in this one however because I am not a cook who uses alcohol in cooking or beverages and that eliminated many of Rick's holiday offerings.It would have been nice to have some non-alcoholic substitutions suggested.I felt that, for me, this book was not worth the price. ... Read more

Book Description
Swedish Christmas is not just a cookbook but an inspiring book full of Christmas memories, recipes and tips of how to make Christmas enchanting. With its atmospheric photographs and engaging stories, it can be used as the ultimate handbook to a magical Christmas or simply be enjoyed as an armchair book. All the recipes have been adapted to the American kitchen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The book was okay
I bought this as a gag gift for a friend because her neighbors are Swedish and when they invite her for dinner they serve only meat prepared with salt and pepper, no other spices.There are no sides served whatsoever, no vegetables, no starch.I thought there would be more recipes in this book.There were some pretty photos of food, but I would have liked more extensive photos of life in Sweden at Christmas time.The people, the culture, the traditions.I would have liked to see more of what the houses looked like decorated at Christmas, and more photos of people engaged in holiday pastimes.

Appreciation of Swedish Heritage
I really enjoyed this book.My husband's family emigrated from Sweden, and I want my children and grandchildren to appreciate their Swedish heritage.I used this book for our "Swedish Christmas" this year.The grandchildren had a great time with the girls playing St. Lucia and serving their parents hot chocolate and Lucia buns for breakfast in bread.

Our Swedish Christmas
Having made plans this year to have a Swedish Christmas, this book has proven to be invaluable. While the author presents the traditional way the Swedes celebrate Christmas, i.e., beginning with Advent and continuing until well after Christmas Day, my wife and I have decided we will take the best of the traditions and fold them all into one big day of celebration. Of course, the feature of our celebration will be the Smorgasbord. Many, many recipes are presented that sound both tasty and easy to prepare. Our Swedish Christmas will begin early Christmas Eve Day and will include a visit from the Saint Lucia girl, as played by our granddaughter, with her assortment of special rolls. We even have found a St. Lucia crown for her to wear. Our Smorgasbord table will follow many of the suggestions presented in the book.

For anyone interested in having a Swedish Christmas, this book is highly recommended.

A Swedish Christmas in America
Not only was the text in this book accurate and helpful, the photography is top notch. I ordered this book for all of my children, so that they can share the content with their families. When they were growing up we observed many of the Swedish Christmas customs. St. Lucia Day, Christmas Eve Dinner. the making of Lefse and Potato Sausage. Each of our children now lives scattered across the United States, only two of them in cities (Minneapolis and Ballard, Washington) where there is a large Swedish population. I love knowing that they will use this book, A Swedish Christmas in America, to pass these customs unto their children, several of them are also teachers, I know that this book will find it's way into their class rooms.

Adelightful Christmas album
Since both authors are professional photographers, it is to be expected that the photographs in this book are all excellent and many are artistic. I was in a dilemma as to how many stars I should give to rate this book. As a Christmas album it deserves at least five stars. However, as a book about Christmas customs I would only give it three (therefore on average I give it four).
Firstly, I would like to say that the content of the book is often written in a very warm and readable way and it is full of childhood reminiscences and vivid description. For other readers I must admit, this style might well be preferable. Personally, I had hoped that the book would have had a much greater folklore content (something analogous with Kathleen Stokker's "Keeping Christmas: Yuletide Traditions in Norway and the New Land", 2000). There is a minimal amount of interesting allusions to folk customs. However, they are not described in detail. Moreover, another problem comes from the actual translation into English. A translator should never translate certain words. For instance, on p. 32 there is a reference to the St.Lucia day(Dec. 13th) custom of boys "wearing tall, funnel-shaped hats (like dunce caps)". It would have been nice to have included the actual Swedish name for this cap (some Swedish friends of mine call it a 'strut' or 'cone' but I am not sure if there is a 'proper' name as well?). Swedish is one of the languages I speak andI believe that more Swedish terms would have improved the work and given more local flavour. Similarly, on p.12 there is a reference to the "Advent candelabra" with four candles (one for each week of Advent). Here it should have been explained that this is called an 'adventjusstarka'. Again the ubiquitous "Christmas goat" should also have been given its proper name (julbock). Such a detail is important since the word 'julbock' isvery different from the related cognate terms ofthe Finnish 'joulupukki' (who is Santa himself) and the Norwegian 'julebukking' (which refers to Christmas mumming). Likewise, "Santa's rice pudding" on p. 69 in which there is a hidden almond is called 'risgryngrot' (with an umlaut on the 'o'). This reminds me of the lucky coin hidden in the Greek 'vasilopita' or St. Basil's new year pie). Moreover, the "sheaf of straw" mentioned on p. 44 which is a bundle of oats left outside for the birds is called a 'julkarve'( with an accent on the 'a' and which corresponds to the Norwegian 'julenek'). There are indeed some fascinating references to traditions such as the fortune-telling with lead (molybdomancy) on New Year's day. I also enjoyed the superstitions mentioned in connection with the early church service on Christmas day (on p.121). This service is actually called the 'julottan' - again a word that the authors had neglected to share. There are also several basic details and customs which have not been included. For instance, no mention is made of the lucia buns being called 'lussekatter'(i.e. Lucy cats) andneither is there any mention of the custom of 'kasta julskomme' or throwing a type of braided straw figure (the 'julbock' is just one such type). This custom was performed as a joke on a neighbour's door or as a courting ritual. Another weakness is that the photographs (though beautifully taken) are not labelled. Captions would have been most useful. For instance, I wanted to know the significance (and word for) the oranges that are studded with cloves in photographs on pages 57 and 132. I have met this custom in the Ionian islands where it was called a 'prokado portokali' and it was given to solicit gifts on New Year's day. It is also reminiscent of the Welsh 'calennig'. It should also be mentioned that the bookprovide many enjoyable recipes (even if the names for these recipes are not supplied) as well as some practical tips about making Christmas crackers and a gingerbread house. The authorshave done a great deal of work and, despite my comments (coloured by my own personal taste and preferences), I am sure that this would be the ideal Christmas book for many readers. If you are looking for a beautiful Christmas souvenir from Sweden then it is the perfect gift. For this reason I would actually buy another copy of it for certain friends - however,I could not buy it for any of my colleagues. Dr. M. Sfaellou. ... Read more

Book Description
From one of America's premier culinary publications comes a delectable assortment of more than 125 traditional and new Christmas recipes, accompanied by holiday menu suggestions, entertainment tips, and special Christmas treats. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Tempting Holiday fare
This has beautiful pictures and all the meals look lovely.The recipe for Honey-brined turkey with cream gravy was out of this world.There are creamy scrambled eggs with herbs, cheddar cheese biscuits with dill and chives, wild rice dressing with pearl onions, and so much more!There is even a section dedicated explaining the differences between dressing and stuffing.Excellent!

Lack of photos mars this presentation of great recipes.
As always, Bon Appetit offers up recipes that are well-written and delicious.The scope of this book isn't limited to Christmas.If covers the whole holiday season - Thanksgiving to New Years.There are wonderful menus for entertaining in a variety of settings and many supplemental recipes.There is also a section on treats to make for gifts. Unfortunately, there are not many photographs in this book.Especially in a holiday cookbook, pictures are indispensible.As good as a recipe for a special Christmas cookie may be, I want to SEE what the finished product looks like, especially if I'm thinking about giving them as gifts.

Bon Appetit!
If you love the holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, then you will love this cookbook. It is bursting with the best-of-the-season recipes and you can choose between casual or elegant fare.If you want to plan a Christmas Cocktail Party or host a Tree-Trimming Buffet for 16...they have it all organized.

There are 170 recipes, 10 holiday parties and 100 color photographs which look just as good as the cover! Now that cover alone should sell this cookbook. A piece of cake dripping in ganache, I mean really! How can we all resist. I think you will enjoy taking this cookbook out in early November and keeping it open until January. There are so many scrumptious ideas and recipes. I mean, who ever thought of stained glass cookie ornaments or a honey-brined turkey. Their New Year's Eve menu includes Phyllo-wrapped Salmon with Leeks and Red Bell Peppers with Parsley Rice Pilaf.

If you are still thinking about New Year's Day Brunch, a Yuletide Dessert Party or just making a Buche de Noel for the first time, this is a good book to find lots of advice. You can learn how to decorate a mantle, created a seasonal centerpiece, pack and mail cookies or even make homemade candies.

This is not only a feast for the eyes, but a real "feast" cookbook. Everything is so elegantly presented. You will be very impressed.

~The Rebecca Review
Author of Seasoned with Love: A collection of
best-loved recipes inspired by over 40 cultures ... Read more

Book Description
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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Awesome recipes!
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!

Great Book! Great Recipes!
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
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. ... Read more

Book Description
Spread Christmas cheer with a gift of homemade goodness!This festive cookbook offers dozens of glorious gift-giving ideas straight from the Christmas kitchen, with step-by-step instructions, mouthwatering full-color photographs, and more.You'll learn to make:

- Sweet and Spicy Snack Mix
- Eggnog Fudge
- Mexican Chocolate Macaroons
- And more!

Escape the frenzied malls and give a gift worthy of the season with Favorite Brand Name: Gifts from the Christmas Kitchen. ... Read more

Book Description
A nostalgic trip through the holidays from the start of the Christmas season all the way through New Year's Day! Chock-full of tasty, tried & true recipes like Christmas morning muffins, glazed raspberry-orange turkey and hugs & chips cheesecake, Jolly Holidays Cookbook is also brimming with fun and festive crafts, glorious gift mixes, simple treats to make & give, cheery tips and heartfelt memories of holidays past.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Unless You Are Lucky Enough To Get To Live Under
a rock during the holiday season--you are probably going to have to be involved in some kind of festivities.Whether the whole family shindig or the mandatory office potluck, let's face it we all have to grow up and face the music sometime.Sometimes that music is "Jingle Bells" and we're stuck.This book of the series I really like when I am too tired during the season.It has good "mixes" that can be created, packaged and make lovely hostess or office pal presents.It has a lot of good beverage ideas in general that are easy.Sometimes if you just break down and buy that 30 cup coffee maker for $, you can be the king/queen of the holiday potlucks with the delicious Wassail and hot beverages recipes
located here.This is the kind of book even old Scrooge should have for backup during the mandatory holidays at the end of the year.

One of the best of the Gooseberry patch
I usually like to tab the pages of the recipes that I would like to try, but I would have to tab this entire book! I recently made the apple cinnamon bars for my daughters 5 k class and they were such a hit! ( They were for Johnny Appleseed Day 9-26)
I just cant say enough good things about this particular book! So many different ideas & recipes, so little time! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Tease? More like ... the ...opposite of tease
Sandy Lynam Clugh popped her literary cherry brilliantly. "A Cozy Christmas Tea" captures the emotions of holidays and heated caffinated beverages perfectly. While her references to the inappropriate relations between Jerome and his Uncle Larry are a bit grotesque, they do not detract from the overall experience, which shimmers with literary poise. It touched me in a way that even Uncle Larry couldn't touch Jerome. In fact, it brought back poignant memories of my childhood. It's too bad I haven't seen my Aunt Greta in years, we had a very close relationship when I was 12.
Mr. Stone's review was clearly written by someone without the maturity required to understand to capture the deeper meaning of this gripping retelling of repressed homosexual incest. The tea metaphor knocked my socks off, but Stone failed to even mention it. Maybe he just skimmed it. Furthermore, it is not fair to compare Clough to Joyce, who was only popular because he simplified his work to please the masses. Overall, Clough has written a contemporary masterpiece.

More like A Cozy Christmas Tease
Gosh what a horrible book.It recieved such great press from the New York Times:"Standout newcomer Sandy Lynam Clough hits a lead off home run with her virgin release "A Cozy Christmas Tea"."Little did I know, this is actually an erotic thriller with a highly deceptive title.Perhaps I should have listened to the New Orleans Book Review which described Clough's first release as, "a raunchy depiction of inner city incest from the point of view of an immature 12 year old."This depicts the true nature of the book more aptly.I think maybe the New York Times thought they were reviewing Joyce's, "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man."That book was awesome.Yep.Read that one instead.This book blows.Seriously, ew. ... Read more

Book Description
Christmas meets Hanukkah for millions of mixed-faith families—who deck their trees with Stars of David and spin the dreidel under mistletoe. Here is a one-of-a-kind, amusingly illustrated and endlessly entertaining guide to the joys—and oys—of celebrating Chrismukkah, the hybrid holiday.

A veritable cornucopia of seasonal delights, this handy (and often hilarious) lifestyle guide walks us through all the Chrismukkah events, history, and lore. You’ll learn about hybrid holiday traditions in decorating (ornaments, wreaths, menorahs, dreidels); innovative tchotchkes (Chrismukkah cards, stockings, lights); and a plethora of menorah options (Godzilla or snowman, anyone?). Plus, the book includes rollicking games to play and songs to sing, along with easy-to-follow recipes for Latkes with Sugar Plum Fairy Sauce, General Saul’s Chicken, Mama Mia Matzah Pizza!, Blitzen’s Blintzes, and other Noel Noshes. Your yuletide happy hours will never be the same once you start mixing a Yule Plotz, Meshugga Nog, or Manishewitz Mulled Wine.

Rounding out the mix are chapters on snazzy holiday hats and caps, interfaith dog and cat gift suggestions, and office-party dos and don’ts. It’s beginning to look a lot like Chrismukkah, and now we’ll all be ready to celebrate with style! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

blended family
This book is great for ways to help "blended" families celebrate both Chanukah and Christmas in a way that does not short change either celebration. Lots of crafts and recipes that the children can use to help them understand that it is possible to respect and enjoy both of their parents religion. I am glad I bought it. They will be glad to receive it.

A really funny book with lots of great pictures
This book fits my life...I decorate our Chrismukkah tree with menorahs as well as colorful glass balls. The wreath on our door has dreidels on it instead of pine cones and holly. Our daughter looks forward to both lighting the tree AND the Hanukkah candles. There are lots of funny tips and trivia about those who also celebrate both holidays in December. The author also has a self-published cookbook with lots of hilarious and yummy recipes - [...]

This book couldn't be any better...
I've only said that a couple times in my life. Gompertz treats the subject with insanely clever humor and heart and is a top-notch writer. This isn't just a gimmick; it's clear this guy really cares about Jews and Gentiles embracing and carrying on their own traditions...together.

I'm getting this book for all my interfaith couple friends (and the list is growing). What a terrific gift for the holiday season!

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISMUKKAH!!!!
THE BEST, MOST HILARIOUS--AND USEFUL--BOOK EVER FOR MIXED FAITH FOLKS WHO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND HANNUKAH WITH DOUBLE-THE-FUN FANFARE! FOR EVERYONE WHO KNOWS THE JOYS AND OYS OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, THIS BOOK VALIDATES, ENRICHES, ENTERTAINS, AND IS SO FUNNY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, "YULE PLOTZ!" ... Read more

Book Description
In this new recipe collection, discover hundreds of favorite Christmas dinner and holiday recipes from quilters across North America! From favorite holiday breakfast dishes to Christmas Eve meals and from Christmas cookies and snacks to traditional dinners, A Quilter's Christmas Cookbook overflows with the bounty and generosity of the holiday season. Many quilters are ordinary women and men who love both quilting and cooking. They spend lots of time in their sewing rooms, creating quilts and covers for comfort. Many also spend lots of time in their kitchens, making meals to provide sustenance for themselves and their families. Here are their treasured holiday recipes-the foods they serve and the meals they make during this wondrous season of the year! The recipes range from easy-to-make and homey foods to elegant holiday dishes reserved for that one special meal each year during the time of Christmas. Also includes a collection of stories about Christmas quilts, food as gifts, and other family Christmas memories. Louise Stoltzfus is the editor of Favorite Recipes from Quilters, the well loved quilters' cookbook! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent recipes for any time of the year
This book has excellent recipes; not just for the holidays but all year round.Love it!!I even ordered some more of Louise Stolzfus' cookbooks

Fantastic Favorite
This cookbook is hands down my favorite cookbook of all time, it is jammed
with recipes, little stories and great variety, it isn't your everyday
cookbook. I have given this cookbook as a gift many times.Try it you
WILL like it.

Treasure Chest of Traditional, Easy Recipes.
`A Quilter's Christmas Cookbook' by `Good Books' (in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania) editors Louise Stoltzfus and Dawn J. Ranck is a genuine bargain for traditional recipe collectors who keep their magazine cutouts in little `tin' filing cans designed for holding 3" by 5" index cards. I know this because this is exactly how my mother keeps her recipes, and so many of the recipes in this book are the very same she has in her little gray can.

For a list price of a mere $13.95, we get 330 pages of recipes, stuffed to almost always three to a page, giving us close to 900 very traditional holiday recipes. A quick look at the title, publisher, and the names of the editors may lead one to think that this book is all about Pennsylvania Dutch recipes, but it is not. The book is a collection of recipes from quilting hobbyists from all over the country. And, the traditional Amish and Mennonite centers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York State are in the distinct minority, While there are a fairly large number of contributions from small towns in southeastern Pennsylvania (Punxsutawney, PA seems to have an inordinately large number of contributors), my hunch is that there is at least one recipe here from every state in the Union, and some from Canada.

In spite of the geographical diversity, there is a great commonality in the style of recipes. Not only do most of them hint of hundreds of little gray boxes from around the country, there is also a strong spirit of pre-Julia Child 1950s style of cooking epitomized by Poppy Cannon, of `Can Opener Gourmet' and other books in that spirit. Two of the symptoms of this style are the use of margarine in place of butter and the heavy use of packaged gelatins (`Jell-O'). The fact that these recipes come from all over the country makes this uniformity even more dramatic. The third symptom is a heavy use of canned goods, especially canned soups, vegetables, and fruits.

As simple as almost all these recipes appear to the casual browser, many are simply too simple. For example, there is virtually never any statement of what size of egg to use in the recipe (The editors could not make such a statement, as there was no way they could know if our 900 contributors all used the same size egg.) Similarly, few recipes specify salted or unsalted butter, in the few cases where butter is used. There are also very few baking recipes that give instructions on how to determine that the baked goods are `done'. I see one recipe with such an instruction, but most recipes on either side of this example have none. So, these are distinctly NOT the kind of recipes you will find in `Gourmet', `Bon Appetit', or even `Martha Stewart Living'. I suspect that you will also not find recipes of this type in `Good Housekeeping', as all our major culinary media have been thoroughly steeped in the `fresh, fresh, fresh' and `local ingredients' mantras of Alice Waters and Deborah Madison.

All this suggests that the editors, like the editors of church and social group cookbooks all tend to assume that their readers already know how to cook well, and are much more interested in the variety in dish than they are about honing their already quite satisfactory cooking skills.

In a brief lapse of focus, I noticed that there seemed to be a rather large number of recipes using cranberries. When I came to my senses, I realized that this is, after all, a book of Christmas recipes, and the cranberry comes into season late in the year, just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. But this doesn't explain the four-(4) rhubarb recipes, when rhubarb is a traditional spring and early summer speciality.

I don't want to leave this book without stating that for a very large cookbook audience, this book is exactly what they are looking for. An enormous collection of relatively easy recipes providing excellent ideas for what to make in the weeks surrounding Christmas. So what if there is no `bouche de Noel' recipe which requires a day to make and the patience of a saint, not to mention the skills of a journeyman pastry chef. And, this book is inexpensive enough and small enough so that it will sit alongside the household's copy of `The Joy of Cooking' without taking too many family resources.

I confess there is just a bit of the insider's interest in the book, as each recipe's headnote includes the name of the quilting pattern the contributor is making when they submitted their recipe. I look at these names and draw a complete blank, although I suspect that among the quilting community, they are as well known as `Extra Virgin', `Colcannon', and `Ratatouille' are to us foodies. If I were to offer any suggestion to the editors, it would be to include a picture of each quilt, or at least some distinctive part of each quilt in the headnote, but then, this would probably double the price of the book.

Neither `Gourmet' nor `Pennsylvania Dutch', but an immense collection for Christmas cooking.The huge chapter on Christmas cookies and the Christmas breakfast dishes alone make this book worth getting.

A great collection of recipes!
Whether you are a quilter or not, you will love this cookbook.
The variety and quality of recipes is amazing...I probably have 70 cookbooks, but this is one that I can rely on regularly for having good recipes that are straight-forward, easy to follow, and (best of all!) delicious to eat. So many friends have asked for recipes that originated from this cookbook that, when they see the great collection, they ended up buying this cookbook, too!

And it's not just for Christmas!!
My favorite holiday cookbook, but also fabulous for good company recipes, potluck dinners or when you just want something a little special for those you love at home. Recipes from appetizers to desserts. Comfort food and ethnic specialities! A to Z!!

I also love reading the notes in the corners with memories of Christmas' past and enjoy seeing the regional specialties from different parts of the country. It is also interesting to see what kind of quilts patterns are being made throughout the states and that this wonderful artform is being kept alive.

A must have for anyone who loves Louise Stoltzfus' compilation cookbooks! Or anyone who loves good old fashioned good food! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Gooseberry Cookbook --Fabulous Recipes!
Another good Gooseberry Book! These books are so much fun! This book is full of home style recipes that will definitely be a hit with everyone back together for the holidays! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Funny Stuff from the Queen of the Trailer Park!
Whether or not you actually execute any of Ruby Ann's kitschy krafts, this book will amuse you and put you in the campy Christmas spirit.

Sparkling with humor and innate sense of down home fun, this holiday How-To manual will transform your white elephant trash into treasures to be cherished far beyond the next swap meet!

A fun stocking stuffer for anyone who appreciates a good bouffant hairdo or the culinary value of potato chips in any casserole recipe.

THE BEST ONE FROM RUBY ANN SO FAR
Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed all of Ruby Ann Boxcar's books, but this one I ended up reading twice already and I just got it at the first of the month.She is one of the funniest writers in today's market and she even exceeds that if possible with Move Over Santa.This is a must regardless of who you are.And the photos are as funny as the writing.Thanks Ruby Ann for another winner. ... Read more