Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Decorating    4. Entertaining - General    5. Floral decorations    6. Flower Arranging    7. Flower arrangement    8. Hobbies/Crafts    9. Floral crafts   

Editorial Review

Open to virtually any page of the voluminous Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Handicraft    5. Holiday - General    6. Holiday cookery    7. Holiday decorations    8. House & Home    9. Seasonal    10. Christmas books    11. Crafts & Hobbies / Decorating    12. Food & Drink / Cookery    13. holiday   

Reviews (7)

Reliable & Delicious
There are few cookbook authors whose recipes I use without testing them ahead of time, usually several times.Marlene Sorosky is actually the ONLY one.This book is no exception. Everything I have tried is marvelous, the first time and every time thereafter.Try it, you'll like it!

Must have for everyone
Everything in this book is wonderful and, if you follow her directions, turns out.We give this book to all our friends and family because it's so wonderful!Steak in a bag is to die for and I'm not a steak fan.Moby mellon is great,Chocolate Mouse cake is wonderful.Liver Pate is always a hit.Can't go wrong with this one.

Excellent, easy recipes
Instructions are easy to follow.Chili cheese bites are a favorite with my guests.Nice color pictures.Too bad it is out of print. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking / Wine    2. Entertaining - General    3. Tablesetting   

Reviews (1)

A great book to add to your floral crafting collection
This is another wonderful floral craft publication from Leisure Arts. To avoid repetitition I invite you to view my reviews of "How to Arrange Dried Florals If You Think You Can't" and "How to Do Wreaths If You Think You Can't" as both of these books follow the same format as this one.The only reason I have not rated this book as well as the others is that I prefer the finished look that only high quality "silks" can achieve and not all projects in this book achieve this look.Still, there are nearly 90 projects for your review and the vast majority of them deserve credit. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Flower Arranging    3. Hobbies/Crafts Non-Book   

Reviews (2)

Wedding Flowers
Paula Pryke Wedding Flowers is a wonderful book. The bouquets are absolutely beautiful and inspiring. She provides excellent directions. Festive Flowers by Pryke is another great book.

For the bridezilla who wants a whole book on hiring someone
It's a lovely book on choosing wedding flowers, but like all products from the Bridal-Industrial Complex, it's more about giving you a complex than giving you a wedding. Paula Pryke comes up with some beautiful arrangements, and she gives you lots of wonderful information about the history and meaning of flowers, what flowers are in season, and how to go about choosing flowers. That said, she is, as is unsurprising for a professional florist, utterly convinced that decorating a wedding is something for hired professionals to do. She says in the intro that you should, at the very least, hire someone to do the bridal bouquet, the implication being that if you do not, you will suffer ignominious failure. This is especially frustrating, since many of the bouquets she showcases for the bride are simple, classic, one-type-of-flower affairs, of purple calla lilies or roses making a wonderful impression, simply gathered in a ribbon. There is a lot of great information, but not much practical how-to. And much of what's good in the book (the seasonal suggestions) you could get from merely speaking to a competent florist, which is what she encourages you to do anyway. Save your money, or at the least, only buy this used. It's better as a coffee table book than as a resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Manners And Customs    3. Minor Arts    4. Photography    5. Reference    6. Weddings    7. Gardening / General   

Reviews (3)

Lovely book!
This book is gorgeous and great for generating ideas for wedding bouquets. Highly recommended!

Beautiful Bouquets
The book is organized by color which makes it great for the bride who knows what color she wants.Good designs and many ideas for the bride to choose from.

Lush!
A gorgeously photographed book with a very clever "contents" page, this book is a must for anyone involved in weddings and/or floral design. Each bouquet is richly photographed and simply labelled. The Bride's Bouquet is an invaluable reference and resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts & Hobbies / Flower Arranging    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Flower Arranging    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Reference / Weddings    7. Weddings    8. Bridal bouquets    9. Design    10. Floral decorations    11. Flower arrangement    12. Gardening / General    13. Planning    14. Reference    15. Wedding decorations   

Reviews (6)

Not much new here
This is a nice book if you still need a collection of the basic popular Christmas stories & songs.It's put together nicely, but there wasn't much new or unique in the book, except a couple of poems.There were some nice illustrations, but the book wasn't worth it just for those.So if you are looking for something new, not just the same old Christmas stories, don't get this book.But if you want all those in one place this is a good choice.I also found it a bit hard to read for long periods since it's small, but very thick.Handling it & keeping it open to read was tiresome.

Perfect Christmas present - and order an extra for yourself
Nostalgic, fun Christmas presents come no better. The assortment of stories, music, and pictures contained in this book cover a huge scope. It is just the sort of book to snuggle with as one nurses a toddy and enjoys the scent of pine.

Christmas Treasure Trove
I love all of Lena Tabori's "Little Big Books", especially the Valentines and Halloween ones, but this Christmas one is my favorite of all. This book is a "must have" for reading to children during the Yuletide season and is a wonderful (and necessary) indulgence for oneself as well. The illustrations have been gleaned from the charming Victorian art of a bygone day and archive the simple, cozy Christmas traditions for us to recover with the turn of a page. 11 Poems, 13 carols with music, 21 stories, 14 recipes, and over 200 illustrations including 55 full color 19th century images make up this delightful volume. You will see the writing of Robert Frost, Louisa May Alcott, Kenneth Grahame, O. Henry, Ogden Nash, William Shakespeare and many others. Read stories from the Bible and also from the pen of beloved First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas    2. Christmas cookery    3. Christmas stories    4. Holiday - General    5. Holidays (non religious)    6. Holidays - Christmas    7. Inspirational    8. Inspirational - General    9. Religion    10. Christmas books    11. Customs    12. Religion / Holidays / Christmas   

Reviews (4)

Beautiful creative ideas!
This book is packed with gorgeous, lush photos of creative floral arrangements. Absolutely beautiful, unique ideas with easily understood directions and pointers. A great buy!

Absolutely Beautiful
I first purchased this book while taking a course in floral design. The book was passed around the classroom with everyone doings ooooohs and aaaaahs. Even if you are not a floral designer, but simply a person whoenjoys flowers or you want to have a spectacular looking party or wedding,this book is for you!

Breathtaking!
This is a book for flower fanatics at all levels. The arrangements highlighted in this book range from contemporary and sleek to out and out exquisite. The photography is superb and the colors of the flowers jump offthe page - you can almost smell the roses and lilies! I will definitely belooking at more of Paula Pryke's books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Flower Arranging    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. General    6. Gardening / General   

Reviews (2)

One-of-a-Kind Spectacular Display
Gorgeous feast for the eyes of one man's inventive design using natural leaves and flowers - a creative inspiration for anyone in any field of art and natural beauty.Breathtaking visual displays and installations skillfully photographed.

Bridging the gap between floral decoration and art/sculpture
In this exquisitely photographed volume of cutting edge (forgive the pun) floral decorator and Dutch flower shop owner Daniel Ost's innovative floral and leaf/branch/twig sculptures, this artist in greens, browns and multi-colored flora attempts to bring us into a totally new realm of plants and flowers as art and architecture. The narrative is written in three languages (depending on the edition, mine was in German, French and English). The photography demands that the reader extend his or her senses to try to understand how articles formerly animate could possibly be intertwined into seemingly brand new, even shockingly nouveau, inanimate statements of artistic freedom: some soaring sculptures of fine vines wrapped around deep purple stems and white.yellow lilies; other basketlike formations of plant material interwoven with flowers so small that one has to imagine the fine tiny winds gently rustling this very Japanese, Zen-like water lily (looks alive but isn't).Read more

Subjects:  1. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Floral decorations    4. Flower Arranging    5. Flower arrangement    6. General    7. Nature & Wildlife    8. Photo Essays    9. Photography    10. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    11. Art / General   

Reviews (6)

USE CAKE FLOUR!
My husband bought this as a gift for me since I LOVE CUPCAKES!I have never baked anything that didn't come from a box, so I was excited to try it.We have tried a few of the recipes and the only suggestion I have is to use cake flour instead of the flours they recommend.When we followed the recipes exactly, the cupcakes didn't seem to be as fluffy as boxed cakes.However, once someone told me to try the cake flour, it made a huge difference.I recommend this book because of the varieties and its is cute too :)PS:I don't like the 500 Cookies book as much.

Misleading title -- but good recipes
There really aren't "500 recipes" in this book -- a lot of recipes they say "take the base and change it slightly" to get a new flavor, which is fine.But then there's an entire chapter on "special occasion" cupcakes for birthdays, Christmas, etc. that all use the same base cupcake recipe, but uses different color frostings and somehow that makes it a "different" cupcake to add to the total.
Fantastic Cupcake Recipes
Excellent starter book for people wanting to make really different cupcakes. So many recipes for interesting flavours. Designs aren't the most creative I have seen, but the flavours and recipes are certainly imaginative. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cake    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - Cookies    5. Courses & Dishes - Desserts    6. Entertaining - General    7. Methods - Baking   

Reviews (8)

Repackaged prepared foods
I was INCREDIBLY disappointed with this book purchase - especially because I paid FULL PRICE for it. I have absolutely NO USE for it. Why?
Nice variety of food gift ideas
I prepare homemade Christmas gifts every year for my coworkers.I have used this book on several occasions with very good results.I have a collection of books dedicated to homemade food gifts, and this is one of my favorites.

easy recipes with great results
I've made several of the recipes in this book to give as gifts over the holidays & I always got rave reviews. I found the recipes to be very clear, with easily found ingredients. Nothing I made was too complex or confusing. I had never made candy before but got excellent results with these recipes.I would venture to say they seem idiot-proof.I will be using this book again (third year in a row) for my holiday baking/gift-giving.
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Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Gifts    5. Holiday - General    6. Seasonal    7. Cooking / General    8. Food & Drink / Cookery   

Reviews (2)

Sorry, it's a beautiful presentation, but...
I agree the book is visually well presented and appealing, but the content is not suitable for home cooks, nor aspiring chefs.I admit I am 'flexible' in the use of 'fusion' cooking and terms, but I had definite ideas in mind when I read "Asian TAPAS".The (Spanish) tapas I know and love are not so labor intensive, nor contain such large shopping lists of ingredients.Elegant food?Absolutely.Flavorful and interesting food?Without a doubt."Tapas", as I know them?Absolutely not - the French influence of intense preparation and manipulation (not a bad thing, don't misunderstand me), is inappropriate here - frustratingly intense efforts for 'tapas'.Also, where in the U.S. does a typical home cook/aspiring chef find, or more importantly, Afford, abalone??It's my understanding that the finest North American source of abalone was California, and, greedy folks as they are, they overfished their abalone to extinction.Do you have the staff required to do all the mise en place and prep work for these works of art?Some cookbooks are more the display of the talents of the author chefs, rather than a source of encouragement and teaching to home chefs.This is the second time I have bought a cookbook without visual inspection - I will not do it again.

A beautiful recipe book that blurs cultural lines
Co-written by an executive chef, Asian Tapas: Small Bites, Big Flavors is a beautiful recipe book that blurs cultural lines in its presentation of exciting flavors from Bali, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, China, and more. From Flaky Cashew Nut Puff Pastry Squares, to Summer Green Tea Noodles with Mussels, to Spicy Crab Salad Sandwiches and more, the preparations within combine traditional ingredients to create inventive and mouth-watering, succulent dishes. Each recipe is accompanied by a full-page color photograph that captures the dish with the precision of a skilled artist. A beautiful, captivating compendium recommended for kitchen cooks of all skill and experience levels who want to try preparing something a little different.
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Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Courses & Dishes - Appetizers    4. Entertaining - General    5. Regional & Ethnic - Asian    6. ASIA    7. Cookery dishes & courses    8. National & regional cuisine   

Editorial Review

Cheryl and Bill Jamison, authors of Read more

Reviews (4)

Authoritative, thorough and friendly
With 850 recipes, including 200 sauces and rubs, big and thorough are the operative words for this James Beard Award-winning team's latest (after "Good times, Good Grilling").
terrific book
Have not by any means read, or tried, the whole book. But the section on equipment is very helpful. The entire book looks really very good, as are all of their books. This is one of the 2 weeks of the year in which it is nice, as opposed to cooking ON the sidewalk sort of heat where I live. So outdoors is great.
Satisfy your hunger for the best
The Jamisons have done it again. If anyone knows grilling and bbq-ing and entertaining it's this amazing couple. This book is a great collection of classic recipes, many with an unsual twist. Not to mention the drinks, the rubs, marinades. Ilove to entertain out int he backyard, and I think it's the best book on outdoor entertaining perhaps ever. It's a party from the very first page. I can't recommend it enough. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Barbecue cookery    2. Cookery    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Entertaining    6. Entertaining - General    7. Methods - Barbecue & Grilling    8. Methods - Outdoor    9. Outdoor Life    10. Cooking / Outdoor   

Reviews (5)

As inspiring as his classes
This is a long awaited book by Ron.This is as wonderful as the classes he has given on floral design.I would put him in the same catogory as Kenneth Turner.

Inspirational elegance
WOW! I was just given "The Center of Attention" as a holiday gift and was stunned as I opened each page. The cover did not do the contents justice. Some of his concepts seem simple enough for someone like me to replicate. The photograpahy and lighting was beautiful. This is a book to keep out for others to enjoy as well as a perfect gift for anyone with an eye for beauty.

A splendor-filled book that eschews mere words
Aside from a brief text forward, The Center Of Attention is a splendor-filled book that eschews mere words and devotes itself entirely to photographs of eye-catching and heart-stopping tablescapes using flowers, vegetables, and other plant themes as created by master floral designer Ron Morgan. Powerfully enhanced with a wealth of full-color photographs by Pamela J. (works of art in and of themselves), The Center Of Attention fully captures Morgan's beautiful floral design masterpieces ranging in a wide variety of moods from fresh spring morning to somber candlelight evening. The Center Of Attention is enthusiastically recommended for serious and dedicated students of floral design, as well as the non-specialist general reader with an appreciation of skilled and artistic flower arrangements. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Decorating    4. Dried Flowers    5. Flower Arranging    6. Hobbies/Crafts   

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Dried Flowers    3. Floral Arts    4. Flower arrangement    5. Decorative arts & crafts   

Reviews (11)

GORGEOUS flower ideas for the bride
You'll get beautiful ideas for your bouquets, for the mothers' flowers, for decor and spotlight pieces. Maria McBride Mellinger has created a timeless collection of gorgeous images and explanations that will help you create your own perfectly personalized floral pieces.
A True Classic
Keep in Mind that this book is going on 15 years and it is still relevant and beautiful.This book has been part of my collection since 1995.I work in the industry and still draw from this book.It is a thin book, but it has a strong impact.

Bridal Flowers
Great work - I'm a florist and I am constantly gathering information for my artistry. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bridal bouquets    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Flower Arranging    4. Flower arrangement    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Love / Sex / Marriage    7. Wedding decorations    8. Weddings    9. Crafts & Hobbies / Flower Arranging    10. Floral crafts   

Reviews (7)

Don't waste your money!
What a disappointment!This book contains a few basic recipes, which are padded with recipes for everything from yeast bread to quick bread (with no explanation of what they're doing in a cookie book) and cookie recipes from various marketing boards.There are awesome cookie books on the market (and available from Amazon); even Betty Crocker's would be better than this -- and, for about the same price, you can get Judy Rosenberg's wonderful, detailed, book of awesome TNT cookies.Don't waste your money on this one!

A mouth-watering collection of holiday cookies
The collaborative effort of Kristin Johnson and Mimi Cummins, Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Recipes, Stories And Tips For Making Heartwarming Gifts is the perfect Christmas season cookie compendium that will prove to be a family favorite all the year round. A mouth-watering collection of holiday cookies, Christmas candies, and yuletide snacks, each cookie is enhanced with a full-color photo. In addition to the easy-to-make recipes, kitchen cooks are also provided with tips for baking, storing, giving, and shipping these fragile and delicious treats. From Buttery Pecan Tartletts; Zinger Lemon Bars; and Scottish Shortbread; to Cranberry Decadent Cookies; Hazelnut Cappuccino Cookies; and Butterball Santas, Christmas Cookies Are For Giving is an enthusiastically recommended addition to any family-friendly cookbook collection.
Let it Snow, I'm Baking Cookies
"Like many of you, we want to stay connected to our loved ones and to our friends and family around the world. Christmas cookies are more than just baked goods. They are a tangible and tasty link to our past, our traditions, and our memories. They are gifts hand-made with love especially for their recipient."

Subjects:  1. Baking - Confectionery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - Cookies    5. Holiday - Christmas/Hanukkah    6. Seasonal   

Reviews (6)

Fine, if you're a snob with an unlimited budget.And you care more about what people think than how much fun they're having.
This book should be entitled, "How to Plan the Ultimate Party where money is no object if you can afford everything except the party planner".Or "Party Planning for rich jerks by snobby designers."
Awesome Party Planning
This book gets down to the nitty gritty of party planning. What an amazing help it was!

Perfect guide for the perfect party!!
This book successfully answers all party planning questions for all types of parties and all types of planners.Great recipies, fun ideas....perfect reference!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blank Books / Diaries / Memory Books    2. Blank Books/Journals    3. Cookery    4. Cooking    5. Entertaining    6. Entertaining - General    7. Home Management    8. Methods - General    9. Non-Classifiable    10. Parties    11. Party decorations    12. Planning    13. Cooking / Entertaining   

Reviews (1)

Great and Easy
Good recipes, easy for anyone to follow.I manage a senior citizen facility and they are enjoying the change to our menu! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining - General    5. General    6. Methods - Quantity    7. Quantity Food Production And Service    8. Cooking / General    9. Hospitality industry   

Reviews (5)

A waste of time
"Try The $50 Dinner Party" by Sally Sampson.Sally's book is super and we used for a very elegant party at our large beautiful home.

Awesome Book - pick it up
This is one of my favorite books on entertaining.I love all of Martha's stuff and this one is one of my favorites.Anyone considering entertaining on any scale should pick this up and read it!!

Terrific book filled with "good things"!
In spite of Martha Stewart's recent troubles, her legacy continues with this splendid book. It is fresh, intelligent and packed full of great tips and ideas for the entertainer who wants to make a splash without spending a fortune. The thing I like about Martha Stewart's approach is her emphasis on simple abundance--the notion that you can achieve good results through creativity and ingenuity. I think those who want to criticize Ms. Stewart should consider how many people she has inspired through this approach to good living! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Entertaining    4. Entertaining - General    5. Menus    6. Party decorations    7. Table setting and decoration    8. Tablesetting    9. Cooking / Entertaining    10. General cookery