Editorial Review

Emeril Lagasse needs no introduction. TV chef par excellence, and author of eight other cookbooks, he's become something of a one-man industry. Read more

Reviews (13)

Emeril Rocks
Excellent book. Easy to follow recipes that make comfort foods a pleasure to prepare; and of course to eat.

My most favorite cookbook - BAM!
I've always hated potluck occasions because I never knew what to bring.I've been to too many such occasions where the menu ended up being mostly deserts.So being a fan of Emeril's, I decided to give this book a try, and man, I'm glad I did.Everything I've made from it has been wonderful and well-praised.My husband's and my favorite recipe has to be the antipasto pasta salad.It whips up quick, so we often eat it for dinner.I spent several hours on Christmas Eve putting together a Breakfast caserolle for Christmas morning, and despite the prep time, I was still glad I made it because it was wonderful, and I learned to do something new.
Great book
I've always been a fan of Emeril. This book has some great recipes. Keep in mind they are for a crowd. All the recipes I have tried so far were a huge hit.
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Subjects:  1. Buffets (Cookery)    2. Casserole cookery    3. Cookery, American    4. Cooking    5. Cooking / Wine    6. Courses & Dishes - General    7. Entertaining - General    8. General    9. Cooking / Entertaining   

Reviews (14)

The perfect holiday book
I bought this book when I first discovered Susan Branch books. I loved it so much I gave it to all my sisters and sisters-in-law. They have all used it as a reference during the holidays and even through out the year.I have given this book to so many others as well and they all love the book. I can only state that this book stands up with all the Susan Branch products and is wonderful and so useful.

A Wonderful Gift!
This book is so charming!I received it as a gift from a dear friend many years ago and I re-read it every Christmas!Recipes, ideas, and holiday thoughts pulled together with Susan Branch's truly unique artistry make this a favorite.

A beautiful holiday treasure!
No matter what else is going on, this book is a wonderful holiday "pick-me-up".You will feel instantly more "Christmasy" after looking through it.I keep it on my coffee table throughout the holiday season.Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas cookery    2. Christmas decorations    3. Cookery    4. Cooking    5. Cooking / Wine    6. Entertaining    7. General    8. Holiday - Christmas/Hanukkah    9. Reference    10. Christmas books    11. Cooking / Reference    12. General cookery    13. Handicrafts   

Reviews (16)

Serious Fans Only
I say serious fans only because these recipes are almost universally too time consuming and difficult for the average--or even advanced--home cook. If you're someone who seriously loves Emeril Lagasse, then you might want this book since his personality is stamped into it and it does have charm and some nice illustrations of delicious-looking dishes, but what I said up there stands: this is for show, not real life use. Without a lot of experienced help, you're not going to be able to create most of theitems featured in here, and isn't a cookbook supposed to be about fixing the foods listed within it?

Greatvariety of recipes
We userecipes weekly from this book. There are many varieties of recipes that appeal to our family. Emeril makes it fun to cook, not only fun, but great to taste.

I need an army of kitchen staff
Boy, it was not easy to follow the recipes.Keep in mind that Emeril has an army of kitchen staff to do the prep work and the cleaning afterwards. I worked as a chef before and I found thebook too far fetched for a home kitchen.I also agree with other reviewers that it's not a pretty book to display. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining - General    5. General    6. Regional & Ethnic - American - General    7. Cooking / American / General   

Reviews (1)

A good solid beginning
This isn't the longest flower-arranging book in the under-$20 category, nor the most profusely illustrated, but Judith Blacklock's TEACH YOURSELF FLOWER ARRANGING has considerable merits of its own.The British series of TEACH YOURSELF books covers everthing from learning Afrikaans to practicing Zen, and this is a worthy, relatively short (120 pp.) work that doesn't stray too far from its promise to teach just the basics.
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Subjects:  1. Arts And Crafts    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Floral decorations    5. Floriculture    6. Flower Arranging    7. Flower arrangement    8. Hobbies/Crafts    9. Crafts & Hobbies / Flower Arranging   

Reviews (4)

An Especially Good book for Entertaining. Great ideas!
`Rose's Celebrations' by noted author of authoritative `Bibles' on baking cakes, pastries, and bread, Rose Levy Beranbaum has all the appearances of a `throwaway book, given its picture laden cover, oversized format, and the author's aforementioned expertise in baking rather than in savory cooking.
Roses Celebrations
The photography is spectacular as always with Roses books. I just made my first recipe from the book: Lavender Ice Cream on pg93 and came across a discrepancy that I hope does not echo throughout the entire tome. The firstone is the fact that you're to use a SMALL saucepan and stir the yolks(5.25 ozs), part of the sugar and salt and add 32 ozs. of hot cream/milk tothis mixture. A small saucepan is usually 1 qt to 1-1/2 qts and too smallfor a recipe this size. In addition, the lavender does not get strained asis shown in the photo.In terms of visuals and texture, it doesn't gethigh marks,although the flavor is absolutely heavenly.I would suggeststeeping the lavender in the hot cream/milk, making the creme anglaise andthen straining the entire thing. Since this is my first recipe, it would beunfair to rate all the recipes as problematic. The recipes do seem verygood.

one of my favorite cookbooks
This is a colorful, well-illustrated cookbook with recipes for many kinds of celebrations.The recipes I've tried work well and are delicious, and the author's obsessively detailed style makes it easy to follow herrecipes.It is worth trying to find this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining - Party Planning    5. Holiday    6. Holiday cookery   

Editorial Review

Michael Chiarello is the real thing--a nice guy and a great cook, enviably telegenic, and privileged to live in the Napa Valley, northern California's Eden, where he's surrounded by the best raw ingredients and the most enthusiastic dinner guests on the subcontinent. On top of all that, he's absolutely generous about sharing his secrets--and his pleasures--with the rest of us, delivering a warm and inviting new world to the home kitchen.Read more

Reviews (7)

Just Buy It!
We are serious foodies and particularly love all regional Italian cooking.Admit we are bit skeptical of Italian American recipes but after watching MC on TV (finally got a Food Channel on satellite here in Australia) decided to invest in the book.It is brilliant - every recipes tried has scored a "do again"and the pantry items are great. Even a beginner can follow the recipes and experienced cooks will appreciate the layers of flavour that MC is always talking about.Buy this book - you won't be sorry! Off to buy his latest now....

Outstanding!!!
I bought this book because of the lemon rosemary chicken I saw Michael prepare on the Food Network. I made it myself and it was just as good as I imagined. The recipes are easy to prepare and every one that I have tried, I have loved.

Love the Napa Style
Michael Chiarello's Napa Style cooking show is one of my top rated cooking shows, and when I discovered his new, you too can cook his down to earth recipes, I just had to have this cookbook.The cook book is very self explanatary, the recipes succinct and the pictures make it all seem so easy.Michael's Napa Style is extremely refreshing in today's lifestyle. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California style    2. Cookery, American    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Courses & Dishes - General    6. Entertaining - General    7. General    8. Cooking / Courses & Dishes / General    9. General cookery   

Reviews (25)

The smoking lamp is lit!
As I'm fond of telling whoever will listen, I never touched alcohol until I went to seminary.Cigars are an even more recently acquired vice.My older brother got me into Macanudos, and since then I've enjoyed Avos, Buteras, and Arturo Fuentes.I'm even a regular at a Portland cigar bar, where I unwind after a long workweek with tawny port, long stogie, and a good book.I've learned enough about cigars to be dangerous, so I wanted a more formal knowledge base about them.Therefore, I decided to pick up this guide.
A review from Leuven
For someone like me who's just a beginer in the world of cigar it's a very useful book, with lot's of interesting stuff.
excellent place to start
very informative and easy to read.gives a lot of useful information for the beginning smoker.has a lot of money saving ideas and covers all the bases. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cigars    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Entertaining - General    4. Reference    5. Crafts & Hobbies / General    6. Food & Drink / Cookery    7. Hobbies, Quizzes & Games    8. Antiques & Collectibles    9. Entertaining    10. Tobacco-Related   

Editorial Review

If you consider eating with friends and family a joyful, indulgent celebration chances are you love a good feast. And who better to carefully guide you through the daunting task of preparing that Read more

Reviews (31)

FeastFood to Celebrate Life
One of the best cookbooks I ever bougth. It's like a hobbie in itself. I plan to try a different receipe every weekend with great results!.

"Feast" gives great inspiration for celebrating life!
In her fifth cookery book, "Feast", Nigella Lawson offers a collection of recipes and occasions to mark our lives. It is her experience that "food is the vital way we celebrate anything that matters" (vii). Before us, then, is a book replete with recipes new and familiar to mark occasions traditional (Christmas, New Year, Easter), foreign (at least from my ethnocentric perspective: Venetian, Eid, and Rosh Hashanah), and fun (Valentine's Day, Breakfast, and Midnight). A feast is not just a meal; it is a condition of an innate human need to mark an event or occasion with those to whom we have a close bond by augmenting it with food.
Anything by Nigella is great!!
This was the first book I bought by Nigella Lawson and I loved it so much that I immediately bought every other book by her that I could find.The recipes are great and most of them are very easy to prepare.Besides that, the book is joy to just sit down and read, as are all her books!!!I also should mention all the gorgeous photographs of the food.You'll love this book!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining - General    5. Holiday - General    6. Holiday cookery    7. Methods - General    8. Cooking / Cookery for One   

Subjects:  1. Appetizers    2. Cookery    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Courses & Dishes - Appetizers    6. Entertaining    7. Entertaining - General    8. Home Economics (General)    9. Cooking / Appetizers   

Editorial Review

For every bride (and her mother), Read more

Reviews (10)

elegant but not inspiring
This is a book about bouquets, not wedding flowers overall. The title is misleading.The picutres are very simple and well laid out however, I did not find that there were many original ideas in this book.They bouquets were super simple and clean.I like a little more flair than what was presented in this book.If you like that very plain look, than this is for you.

Wedding Flower Books
I have been going through several wedding flower books and I find this one to be the best!They have realistic arrangments for people on a budget and they give a list at the back of the book as to what flowers are in season when.They also show several diffent greenery items you can use.It is great!

Very Helpful
I can already tell that this book is going to ensure a huge success at my friend's wedding. We are doing all of the flowers and the book has given us great ideas and lovely pictures. I compared it to other books and it seemed to have the most color pictures in it, which help when you are following the photos. Just like several of the other books by the Knot.com it is well organized and has great check lists and timelines. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bridal bouquets    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Floral decorations    4. Flower Arranging    5. Flower arrangement    6. Reference    7. Seasonal    8. Wedding decorations    9. Weddings    10. Crafts & Hobbies / Flower Arranging    11. Floral crafts   

Reviews (2)

Addressing Flowers
Ron Morgan is an artist, an assemblage artist, who substitutes paint brushes and oils and canvases with living flowers and the components of still life. In this magnificently illustrated book Morgan shares his famous skills in the most congenial way, allowing us as viewer to appreciate his artworks by sharing the materials with which he works.
An enthusiastically recommended source of inspiration
In the Company of Flowers presents masterpieces of floral arrangement and table setting by legendary floral designer Ron Morgan. Over 180 full-color photographs on every page, some of them two-page spreads, reveal 60 unique table settings that incorporate flowers, fine silverware, and centerpieces into breathtaking examples of transient beauty. The photographs speak for themselves; In the Company of Flowers has very little text, aside from a few words by Ron Morgan, a synopsis of the materials and containers used for each table setting, and a handful of tips about caring for flowers. An enthusiastically recommended source of inspiration, and a restful work of wonder that invites the reader to simply page through its contents. Also highly recommended is Morgan's previous volume of centerpieces, "The Center of Attention".
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Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Flower Arranging    5. House & Home    6. Tablesetting    7. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (1)

Full of New Ideas!
I'm addicted to Christmas books & magazines, so I wasn't sure if I'd really find anything new or unique in this book.This is the first Gooseberry Patch book I've ever looked through, so I can't comment on how it compares with other G.P. editions, but I did find many cute and clever craft ideas and recipes that were new to me.One idea I plan to try is the Framed Hankie Card Holder that uses a wood frame and 3 Christmas-themed hankies to create pockets to hold received cards (sounds odd, but it's cute).Other ideas I liked for my home using red & white fabrics and holiday-themed tea towels include a Quilt, Tea Towel Gift Bags, Table Runner & Chair Back Covers.A clever gift for kids to make is a covered chip can filled with chocolate-dipped potato chips (the kind of chips that all have the same shape and line up in a tall can).Lots of snowflake-themed gifts, a few pet gifts, wrapping and card ideas.Plus, there are dozens of great, new recipes for food gifts, holiday meals and entertaining (hot drink mixes, decadent desserts, soups, and some new side dish combinations). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts And Crafts    2. Cookery    3. Cooking    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Decorating - General    6. Entertaining - General    7. Holiday - Christmas/Hanukkah    8. Seasonal   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (10)

The best Betty Crocker cookbook yet.
This is a very beautiful cookbook. I love the photos in it. At the end of the book is recipes you can cook and make for gifts. Toward the front of the book is a "Olive Appetizer Tree" that would be great for parties.
Zero review...seller never sent the book
This book never came....we are still waiting for it. Can't review a book we don't have. We are hoping that Amazon will refund our money...way too much time has passed! We are very disappointed!
Mouthwatering Entertaining Delights!
Some of my friends give me strange looks for having a "Christmas" cookbook in my kitchen all year round, that is until they sample some of the things that I have made out of it! Many of the cookies in this book lend themselves particularly well to being assembled into food gifts for the holidays.
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Subjects:  1. Christmas cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Holiday - Christmas/Hanukkah    5. Holiday - General    6. Cooking / Holiday    7. General cookery   

Reviews (17)

Jaw Dropping Coffee Table Book
A treasure! Gorgeous photography on glossy paper; perfect gift or coffee table book. Easy recipes mixed with very do-able settings that create beauty in the extreme. Every page is special.

Visually stunning and an incredible resource
This book is absolutely amazing.Although I do not have all the resources as Ms. Roehm, the recipes are supurb, while the suggestions and ideas are easily adaptable to the smaller scale and your personal environment.If you are looking for a resource on interior design, think again...this is an entertaining guide.There are also lots of helpful hints regarding color usage and flower selection.This book is my new entertaining Bible!Step aside, Martha!

Nice recipes ...
I've only made a few of the recipes so far, but they turned out very nicely. In particular, the lemon-dill pasta will become a staple of mine from here on out.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining    5. Entertaining - General    6. Seasonal    7. Cooking / Entertaining    8. Etiquette & entertaining    9. General cookery   

Reviews (5)

Isn't for the party-giver who likes stress
REAL LIFE ENTERTAINING: EASY RECIPES AND UNCONVENTIONAL WISDOM isn't for the party-giver who likes stress: it advocates a more carefree method of throwing a party whether impromptu or planned way ahead, foregoing fancy plans for budget-conscious convenience. Techniques for entertaining pair easy yet elegant recipes with ideas for festive themes. Color pictures throughout enhance the displays.
Perfect for those intimidated by dinner parties
I throw a fair number of parties but struggle with how to enjoy them more.
I threw my first dinner party... for my parents!
I threw my first dinner party ever with this book... and somehow was crazy enough to invite my parents!
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Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - General    5. Entertaining    6. Entertaining - General    7. Home Management    8. Methods - Quick & Easy    9. Quick and easy cookery    10. Cooking / Entertaining    11. Etiquette & entertaining    12. General cookery   

Reviews (4)

A focus on 'milestone' birthdays from one to one hundred
BIG BIRTHDAYS: THE PARTY PLANNER CELEBRATES LIFE'S MILESTONES isn't just another birthday book for parents: it's a focus on 'milestone' birthdays from one to one hundred and provides a party planner's experience gained from planning such for famous stars and personalities. You may recognize him from his TV appearances: a fair for elegance, humor, and design lend to a party planner that pairs delicious food recipes with decorating tips. Color photos throughout capture the finished products and excitement of his approach.
a MUST read
Having a summer birthday has never been much fun, it somehow always goes uncelebrated. This year I was inspired to throw my own festivities. What was supposed to be a quick search for party ideas turned into a total body experience after delving into David Tutera's book Big Birthdays. In his book he executed and fabulously captured five birthday parties exploring the five senses (look, scent, texture, sound and taste) through each event. His tips ('Tutera Tips') were the most helpful; it was almost as if he could hear my questions and answer my thoughts concerning each party scenario. After my celebration they will have to reprint the book, Tutera's ideas were truly an inspiration. This book is a must-have for any status of event planner.

Highly Recommended
This year my grandmother ceebrated her 80th birthday, and with that, I wanted to surprise her with an elgant dinner party for some of her closest family and friends. Having never embarked on such a thing before, I set out to Amazon to find a book that would help me from beginning to end. David Tutera's latest book, Big Birthdays, gave me many great ideas. I immediately fell in love with the sophisticated White-On-White dinner party. The instructions and focus on details allowed me to easily recreate the atmosphere and ultimately throw a spectacular party!! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to host such an event and will definately look to David Tutera in the future for inspiration for another great get together! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Birthday parties    2. Cookery    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Entertaining - General    6. Entertaining - Party Planning    7. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords    8. General    9. Handicraft    10. Social Situations And Conditions    11. Etiquette & entertaining    12. House & Home / Decorating   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (5)

Veg-o-rama
A well written, detailed book wherein each chapter brings a new vegetable and great ideas. I was primarily looking to make vegetables play a more central and creative role in my cooking, and this book has been the answer. You'll be carmelizing onions and braising endive in no time.

Good book, but many repeats
I love Cook's Illustrated. I subscribe to their magazine, I subscribe to their website and I own several of their cookbooks. Very rarely have they ever steered me wrong with any of their recipes and tips. This is one book that I was disappointed with, however---not because the recipes aren't great or the layout of the book isn't up to par, but because many of these recipes can be found in their comprehensive cookbook "The New Best Recipe" (a great book, btw. It has just about everything you could ever need). There are only a few different recipes in Perfect Vegetables that cannot be found in the New Best, and the money I spent to get a handful of new veggie recipes was not worth it, in my opinion. If you already own the New Best, than I would be very hesitant to spend any money on this book. I would physically look through the book at a bookstore before buying to see if this is something you would really like to own. If you don't own New Best and are looking for a wonderful veggies cookbook, than this one is for you!

MAKES NON VEGGIE EATERS LIKE VEGETABLES
THIS COOKBOOK IS FANATASTIC!! I don't like cauliflower but I followed a recipe and it turned out fabulous. My husband doesn't like as asparagus and he ate up the roasted asparagus with roasted red pepper vinagerette.
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Subjects:  1. Cookery (Vegetables)    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Holiday - General    5. Reference    6. Specific Ingredients - Vegetables    7. Vegetables    8. Cookery by ingredient   

Reviews (4)

Now that's cooking
No food stylist here, real food cooked and shown by a chef who by the photos and the opening of each chapter loves what he does and cooks from the heart. I have many cook books being a fan of food and chefs and those TV chefs pump them out, doubt if they even write them on thier own.
So much passion!
This chef rocks. I have attended two of his lectures and demos with class mates on cooking and food. He has so much passion and love for what he does. He said to us in his class I cook with water I do walk on water we are here together to share and learn from each other with a simple thing called food. The man is full of talent, love for his craft and this book shows all of his. We love you chef!

Good Cooking
This is a fist class cook book. With so many out there, this book has a nice designe, great pictures that show food you want to eat! It even has breakfast and lunch items, not all meals revolve around dinner.
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Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Entertaining - General    4. Methods - Professional    5. Cooking / Entertaining    6. General cookery   

Reviews (2)

Beautiful Food For Celebrations!
I bought this book last year and used the Thanksgiving recipes. This was the first Thanksgiving I ever hosted at my house, and thanks to this book, it was a HUGE success.Not only does the book provide the grocery list and recipes, it also provides detailed discussions about various cooking techniques, organizational tips, and timelines to help you get your act together and keep it that way clear through until your event is over.
Leanne and Flylady--a winning team
Leanne (the dinner diva) and the Flylady (Sink Reflections) are a winning combination for anyone that wants to keep their household running smoothly but still feel like a guest in their own home.What an amazing feeling to actually feel pampered in your own home as if someone else is taking care of everything for you but you're really the one doing it for yourself (with their help of course!)I discovered Leanne through Flylady and it has been one of the best things to ever happen to me. I've been on her menu mailer for awhile now which is also wonderful.It is much like the books she has out only delivered weekly to your inbox. I just adore it!This book however offers something really extra and different that can help you build family traditions and make holidays extra special.Instead of dreading planning the holiday meal (or worse going to Denny's!) I am finding myself looking forward to it now.Right now you can actually get the Thanksgiving menu from the book free off her website to try it out.Much of what is in the book is similar to that only with different holidays/occasions.It would never have even occurred to me to plan special meals for some of what she suggests. I am just so thrilled to have this resource.The main thing to know is that Leanne is for *real* people.The recipes are easyfor you to understand and Leanne always explains things in full detail.The author of this book (and the others in the series) is also totally accessible to the public.Not only does she constantly ask for reader's opinions and suggestions but she USES them!!I have actually seen her incorporate new recipes and ideas after people suggested them.She also does a radio show now on World Talk Radio with Flylady (Marla).For the price the entire book series and menu mailer are worth every penny. Think about what you can pass on to your children about cooking and menu planning with this book and the others. For those who never learned to cook/menu plan she is a true friend.She is also a sincere person who shares herself with others.You can read more about her in another book she co wrote called Body Clutter to help people lose weight.I think she's terrific and I'm so excited to finally have this book!As you can tell I'm a big fan of both Leanne Ely (Dinner Diva) and Flylady (Marla Cilley).If you have not yet discovered these two then you are missing out.They have helped me more than prozac and therapy combined for getting my franny in gear!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Dinners and dining    5. General    6. Holiday - General    7. Holiday cookery    8. Cooking / General   

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Dinners and dining    5. Entertaining - General    6. Menus    7. Tablesetting    8. Cooking / General    9. General cookery