Customer Reviews (3)

Ruby Ann
Ruby Ann Boxcar is the funniest author!Her description is wonderful.
I have read many of her books and all are laugh out loud funny!The recipes she includes are a scream, too.

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

Product Description

Everyone knows that the holidays are hectic—but Rick Rodgers, cooking teacher and bestselling cookbook author, knows that they don't have to be. Christmas 101 offers the busy cook carefree ways to entertain with surefire recipes of old favorites, menus, timetables, make-ahead tips, and more. Rodgers will help you throw fabulous cocktail parties and traditional buffets, cook a perfect roast, and spice up your favorite recipes with a contemporary twist.

Customer Reviews (10)

best recipes
This book has the best cookie recipes! I get rave reviews on the cookies, and the fruitcake is out of this world. people (well, those who like fruitcake) literally beg for the recipe. I have not tried many of the entrees or sides, but they look good. The best things about this book are the great instructions, the timetables, and tips. You know all you need to know about a recipe before you try it. highly recommended!

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! ... Read more

Product Description
Christmas beers, also known as Winter Warmers, are a tradition dating back at least 2,000 years, with the ancients making highly intoxicating brews to celebrate winter’s Saturnalia. This brewmaking evolved into a holiday celebration when medieval monks, the world’s first professional brewers, pulled out their finest ingredients to produce soul-warming styles for the occasion. Today brewers continue the custom, either with centuries-old recipes or newfangled concoctions with spices and herbs, enabling thirsty beer fans to put aside their everyday favorites each winter and deck the halls with the world’s most flavorful ales and lagers, brewed especially for the holidays.Beer expert Don Russell taps into holiday cheer with a look at the world’s best—unusual, exotic, rich, one-of-a-kind brews—detailing the styles and flavors that will leave beer lovers in a froth. From Smuttynose Winter Ale to Santa’s Butt to Troegs Mad Elf to Left Hand XXXmas, there’s a beer for everyone, even a Hanukkah beer, He’Brew Jewbelation. Including funny tales and trivia behind the beers, homebrew recipes and food recipes with Christmas beer as an ingredient, and instructions for building and cellaring your own vintage holiday brews so you can enjoy Christmas 365 days a year, Christmas Beer will put even the most curmudgeonly beer drinker in the holiday spirit. Cheers! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good book that could use a few more recipes
Good book portraying many of the both traditional and non-traditional holiday beers from around the world.Could use a few more recipes for brewing clones or types of holiday beer.Overall, an enjoyable read for any beer enthusiast.

A book about Christmas Beer --- Awesome!
There is no better time of year than Christmas because of all the wonderful beer that becomes available. The book reviews the top 50 best beers and then includes reviews of a number of other Christmas/Winter beers as well.

The book had opportunities to dig more indepth on the different beers and be more descriptive -- but, I'm hard-pressed to criticize any book devoted to Christmas beer.

If you love this type of beer and look forward to this season, I highly recommend this book -- it is a fun read!

Reviews but no recipes
I purchased this book thinking it had the beer recipe as well as the review, it contains reviews only. Nice little book but not what I was looking for.

Buy two. One for yourself and a beer buddy.
This is a great beer book! It's compact, filled with lots of facts and lists, and includes pictures of the bottles (so many great labels!). I love the book and am going to buy a copy for my brother (my home brew partner). Holiday beers are my favorite and this book gives me a list of new beers to find.

HSHILL
Great book,up to date.I love Winter and Christmas beers and this one has them all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great food!
The recipes in this book are excellent! It is filled with great Southern recipes! They are the ones that are usually passed on by word of mouth from generation to generation.It is great to find them all in one book. ... Read more

Product 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 is also brimming with fun and festive crafts, glorious gift mixes, simple treats to make & give, cheery tips and heartfelt memories of holidays past. Hardcover, 224 pages. (9-1/4" x 6-1/2") ... 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

Product Description
The magic of Christmas is all around! Gooseberry Patch included yummy treats like sweet & sticky s'more bars, Grandma's peanut butter fudge and baked apple donuts. You'll also find savory dishes like warm red-skinned potato salad, cheddar-basil biscuits and honey-glazed turkey breast...tried & true favorites. Includes easy ideas for making magical ice ornaments, a red mitten valance, a gingerbread wreath and much more. Hardcover, 224 pages. (9-1/4" x 6-1/2") ... Read more

Product Description
Over 60 of our favorite Christmas recipes, with handy tips. Purse-friendly size make meal-planning on the go easy.Durable softcover, 128 pages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

RECOMMENDED!
Another favorite Christmas recipe book to add... can't get enough Christmas recipes - try this out and share with friends!

our favorite christmas cookbook
Gooseberry Patch delivers again.A wonderful, exciting little Christmas cookbook.I have already started trying the recipes and it's only September! ... Read more

Product Description
The spectacular all-in-one guide to Christmas cooking, decorating, and entertaining

Perfect for all kinds of Christmas inspiration, Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook gives you everything you need to make the holiday sparkle-tasty recipes, entertaining essentials, decorating tips, and creative gift-giving ideas. Packed with hundreds of recipes for traditional dishes and creative new flavors, this comprehensive Christmas cookbook is chock full of great ideas.

Special features help you tackle standards like roast turkey, while tips on decorating make the season bright. There is even a complete chapter on edible gifts_from cookies and candies to hot chocolate and jam.

• Features 250 recipes for appetizers, main dishes, breads, desserts, candies, and more
• Lavishly illustrated with gorgeous full-color photography throughout
• Includes a helpful Holiday Survival Guide and Holiday Countdown Calendar that help take the stress out of Christmas planning

From decking the halls to gathering around the table for a beautiful Christmas dinner, the Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook will help make every Christmas spectacular. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent choice
Excellent choice for the coming holiday season. I am especially excited about the huge section towards the back with ideas for gifts. Very creative things like fudge, candy-making, powdered drink mixes, life-saver ornaments, etc. Additionally, there's a section on crafts, like making your own garland with real dried apples as well as centerpieces with pine cones and candles. All this paired with dinner recipes, appetizers, desserts and best of all, alcoholic drinks - cran-tinis, homemade eggnog, the works. I am very excited to have this book, and for $13.57 (retail $19.99), it beats any other cookbook I've owned in the past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Yummy!
If a photo is worth a thousand words, some in this cookbook are worth a thousand calories. Yummy!

I was drooling as I flipped through the salads and pasta, but the desserts--that's where I stopped.

The Strawberry Chocolate Trifle would make any challenging mother-in-law take notice. The White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies were such an usual combination I will have to try them myself.

The cookbook contains other amazing recipes and photos throughout:

-- Appetizers and soups
-- Main dishes and salads (need to eat so you earn dessert)
-- Side dishes
-- Brunch (great Bacon and Herb Breakfast Bake that is a bake-ahead dish)
-- Sweet treats (need I say more?)
-- Drinks

The easy-to-make recipes and the fabulous photography will entice even the novice cook to make things out of The Essential Christmas Cookbook. What a great gift it would be to that novice or even very seasoned (pardon the pun) cook!

Armchair Interviews says: Homemake biscotti, anyone? (pg 118)

Featuring more than eighty Christmas culinary classics
Enhanced with the color photography of Merle Prosofsky and featuring more than eighty Christmas culinary classics updated for the modern kitchen, The Essential Christmas Cookbook by food consultant, magazine writer, and restaurant cooking stylist Lovoni Walker is the perfect for the novice chef seeking to grace the holiday dining table with truly memorable fare. From Sweet Chili Chicken Skewers with Lime Aioli; Creamy Roasted Yam Soup; Lamb and Red Wine Braise; and Smoked Cheese Mashed Potatoes; to Orange Salad with Pine Nut Vinaigrette; Cauliflower Broccoli Bake with Garlic Crumbs; Christmas Pudding with Two Sauces; and Pumpkin Tart with a Ginger Crust, The Essential Christmas Cookbook offers even the more experienced cook with delightful new recipes to please any palate and satisfy any appetite.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fabulous do-it-yourself Christmas book!
I have actually had this book for at least 15 years and use it all the time for recipes, crafts and decorating. It's the best! I bought a new one for my daughter and she loves it too. It's nice to have any Christmas craft or recipe you can think of all in one place. One of my treasured books.

An easy-to-follow treasury featuring simple instructions
Christmas Favorites: The Holiday Handbook is a spiral bound collection of not only favorite Christmas recipes, but also a wide variety of fun and festive holiday projects that the whole household can enjoy participating in. From Christmas Tree care and decoration tips, to making a pom pom bow or an herb and spice wreath, the extra treats round out the mouth-watering recipes such as Lemon-Turkey Bake, Frozen Caramel-Peach Delight, Light and Luscious Ice Box Pie and more. An easy-to-follow treasury featuring simple instructions, Christmas Favorites is sure to bring delight and delicacies with a minimum of fuss to holiday gatherings.

Fabulous down home Southern cooking!
Every recipe in this book is a huge hit...potato casserole, "super" brownies, instructions on cooking ham and turkey (and what to do with the leftovers!).This is a book you will pass on to the next generation in your family (I know we have!!!My mom has given me two copies of this book!)

All time favorite cookbook!
This cookbook is a treasure trove of classic recipes that can be used year round.The "company chicken" recipe is a beloved family favorite.This is an absolute must have for any cook! ... Read more

Book Description
Barbour's Christmas impulse books are great for stocking stuffers, office gift exchanges, or personal enjoyment. These attractive, 160-page books on popular topics, priced at only $2.97 each, will appeal to a wide range of customers. Each book is interwoven with biblical inspiration, keeping the Christmas focus just where it should be -- on Christ.

This proven seller offers dozens of tasty, but easy-to-use recipes for Christmas dinners -- large or small. ... Read more

Product Description
This book has over 200 recipes, from starters and main dinners, stuffings, preserves, baked goods and desserts, to buffet and party foods, edible gifts and festive drinks and cocktails.All of the traditional favorites are included plus a wide range of vegetarian and more alternative dishes to add interest to your menus.Many of the recipes featured here can be prepared in advance to ensure a carefree and special celebration. ... Read more

Product 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

Customer Reviews (1)

You Don't Have to Wait till Christmas to Enjoy this Book
I know it's only May (it's May 11th as I'm writing this) but for reasons I can't explain, I'm in the holiday spirit and feeling that way, I went to my stash of cookbooks and pulled out GIFTS FROM THE CHRISTMAS KITCHEN, because though this book is and was meant to be about goodies you can make in your kitchen and give as a gift on that special day, you can also turn to it for better than excellent deserts, coffee cakes, muffins, scones and so much more.

I made the delicious Black Russian Truffles and let me tell you these babies melt in your mouth. They are just oh so good. And what a nice surprise to the end of a meal, I mean anybody can go the market and pick up a tub of rocky road, that doesn't tell whoever you're making dinner for that he's special, but these truffles sure do. This book would be a very nice addition to anybody's cookbook library and if you get can't think of that special gift, it's a good place to turn. ... Read more

Product Description
With its holiday games and festive recipes, this card-sized booklet will keep you busy solving riddles and sampling sweets throughout the holiday season. A perfect gift! ... Read more

Product Description
A cozy Christmas with family & friends! Merry Christmas is filled with scrumptious recipes from breakfast through dessert like classic breakfast casserole, cheese & mushroom stuffed chicken, tangy beef brisket, Miss Polly's perfect potatoes, tuxedo brownies in a jar, cranberry-chip cookie mix, cookie dough truffles and ooey-gooey homemade caramels. It even has a chapter full of heartwarming memories and another of nothing but gift mixes, tasty treats to make & give and holly-jolly crafts. It's sure to be a favorite! Hardcover, 224 pages. (9-1/4" x 6-1/2") ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

merry christmas (goosebery patch)
My daughter recently purchased a Gooseberry patch cook book and was so thrilled with it that I purchase this book and one other for her for her late Nov. birthday. She thinks they are the greatest with hints for making Christmas really memorable and the recipes are so good and most are easy to make and different than most you find in other cook books. We wil definately be ordering more of these books in the future.

219 Pages of Fun Ideas
This book is loaded with recipes and good ideas for sharing them.The Pumpkin Cream Muffins have a cream cheese center that makes them special.The White Chili, if you've never tried it, is delicious! The Christmas Tree Cinnamon Rolls are so easy, yet impressive looking.And I am tempted to try the Hot Chocolate Muffins, made with hot chocolate, for a breakfast treat.

Add to that the quick ideas that you can do or make in minutes,like Powdered sugar apple party favors.They take minutes, but make a lasting impression."Merry Christmas" makes it look like you've tried hard and been real thoughtful, but it makes it quick and easy to do so.

I would recommend this book.

A little dissapointed
I was on a waiting list for over a month for this book then it was "lost" by my mail carrier so I had been waiting a while and the anticipation was not met by what was inside.

There is a section on homemade gifts but really nothing new. There is also a big chapter on peoples shared Christmas memories, while sweet it was not what I wanted to pay for. There havent been any recipes in here that I have tried yet so I guesse that its not that memorable of a book.

Get Jolly Hollidays instead, that is an awesome book. ... Read more

Product Description
Gifts of homemade sweets, savory snacks, dips, and mixes come from the heart. Discovereasy-to-fix food gifts in creative, easy-to-follow packaging ideas. Over 240 recipes for food gifts plus over 100 fabulous ways to present these delectable goodies to family, friends, and coworkers. ... 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