Reviews (3)

Idea generator for parties, play dates and birthdays
I was looking for books that would help with active games for my daughter's summer birthday party when I ran across this book.In contrast to many other books which are organized by party theme (dog, princess, superhero, etc.), this book is helpful because it is organized first by age and then by type of activity.The age ranges are preschool (2-5), school age (6-9) and preteen (10-12).The activities are grouped by traditional games, contemporary games, group activities, outings and events (which are closer to the theme parties you get in other books) and entertainers.Each game identifies not just the target range, but how far you can stretch to encompass older kids, the number of players needed, game objective and what materials to have on hand.It also gives ideas for creative ways to modify the game to fit children's disparate interests or different settings, prizes, favors, and trouble-shooting tips.We host our children's birthday parties at home (in contrast to many families, which use other locations such as gymnastics centers, pottery facilities, etc.) so I am always looking for activities both to keep kids active, but also to calm them down at the right time.This book offered ideas for both.All in all, a very helpful book not just for the upcoming birthday party, but also for future play dates and field trips with my kids.

Kids Party Games and Activities.
This book was arranged in 3 age groups.Tha's really helpful, so you can zoom in on your child's party and find just the right activities.Each section includes lots of traditional games as well as innovative ones and other party activities, like face painting.Also included are trip parties and theme parties for each age group. A wonderful book for ideas and themes!
I think I may just like the ideas from this author, because I liked another one of her books. This book will help you with games, invitations, tips,etc. I think it's a good book to keep around and pass around. I wasstuck with no ideas and it lifted alot of stress from my party planning. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amusements    2. Children's parties    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Entertaining - Party Planning    6. Games    7. Games & Activities - General    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Indoor games    10. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / General   

Editorial Review

A fine whole tenderloin of beef is a great piece of meat to roast and serve on a special occasion, and is expensive enough it could give one pause at the open oven door--that great What If, as in what if I don't really know what I am doing. The editors of Read more

Reviews (3)

An Informative Guide for Meat Lovers
If you are not familiar with Cook's Illustrated magazine and their numerous cookbooks, let me introduce them to you. What they do is they take a recipe into their test kitchen, prepare it over and over again until they reach the very best way to make it, and then publish the recipe, along with a detailed report on their testing and how they arrived at their findings. This is a wonderful concept for the serious home cook and baker, because aside from their delicious (mostly) foolproof recipes, the cook is invited to learn the science behind the recipe, and this is a valuable learning tool. To me, the people behind Cook's Illustrated and their cookbooks are more than just a source of good recipes, they are EDUCATORS. And I have learned a great deal from them in the couple years that I have been exposed to them. "Steaks, Chops, Roasts and Ribs" is one of the wonderful cookbooks in the Cook's Illustrated series that I wholeheartedly recommend to the home cook who wants to learn more about the art of preparing various meats. Although some of the recipes within can be found in their much more comprehensive and all-encompassing cookbook "The New Best Recipe", this book stands apart if not solely for its wonderful and fully detailed section on the various cuts of meat. Every type and cut of meat imaginable is addressed in the beginning of the book, with a description of the cut, its alternate names, a rating of its flavor and an idea of its cost. There is also an informative section about the primal cuts of meat, what "branding" means and basic cooking methods. The information doesn't stop there, however, because scattered throughout the book are many other tidbits of information, like how to successfully make pan sauces, the best wines for cooking, product reviews, and helpful cooking illustrations. The recipes themselves (and their cooking methods) are varied enough to placate any home cook, from the grill maniac to the stew lover. There is something for everyone in this wonderful book. And unless you're already an expert on meat, I feel confident that you will learn something new from this book!

This is an amazing books
I first encounted this book in the library, I was attracted by the title. I was a little skeptical at first, thinking it would be extremely boring since there is no fancy picture in the book, but as I started reading it, I was amazed by the info in the book, they tell you every single detail involved to make sure everything turns out perfect. And they tell you the every single little things e.g. the science behind aging your beef...
If You Like Meat, Buy This Book
In general, this book is reliable, complete, and extremely useful to anyone who eats meat more than once in a while. It is good addition to your bookshelf and recommended highly.The primary value of this book is completeness. No matter what type of meat or cut you have, there is a relevant chapter and recipes for it; this book covers it all. Systematically developing recipes for all types of meat must have been a daunting task. Although this book is seriously flawed, if you cook based on the wonderful piece of meat you got at the supermarket or butcher rather than cooking from a cookbook from a famous celebrity chef, this book is pretty much the only game in town and rather indispensable. My main warning about this book: the recipes are focused on the proper procedure and technique, not on what is easy or convenient; some of the fussiest recipes I have ever seen come from this meat cookbook (I will refrain from complaining about the futility of Yankees trying to cook oriental food, chili, or barbecue).
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Subjects:  1. Cookery (Meat)    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Holiday - General    5. Meat    6. Methods - Barbecue & Grilling    7. Specific Ingredients - Meat    8. Cookery by ingredient   

Reviews (6)

Jiggle-icious!
As a college graduate, I had the distinct pleasure of enjoying many "gelatin shots" throughout my undergraduate career.I thought my friends and I were fairly inventive but this book shows us for the frauds we were!
Gelatin Shots for the serious shotmaster
Gelatin shots have moved beyond the college campuses and into the home of creative partygivers. Now, three friends who enjoy the creative end of gelatin have complied a book of some pretty interesting flavors.
Amazing!
Jiggelo plays on the fact that gelatin shots were once a staple only for college student.As a student, I must say this book is wonderful, especially for college students.My next party will most definately jiggelo oriented.Way to go Mary! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bartending    2. Beverages - Bartending    3. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    4. Cocktails    5. Cookery (Gelatin)    6. Cooking    7. Cooking / Wine    8. Entertaining - General    9. Food & Drink / Cookery   

Reviews (2)

Super Cookie Book
I was delighted with this book. I love the recipes and especially the directions on decorating these special treats. Would recommend!

Not what I thought
I purchased this book with high hopes and great expectations.I have the Whimsical Bakehouse and was thrilled by it.This book was not what I assumed it would be.It is a collection of Christmas cookies of varying types.There are bar cookies, gingerbread, and cutouts, to name a few.I was hoping to find a book with wonderful decorating ideas for Christmas cutout cookies since that is what is displayed on the cover.In fact, they only give a template for that cookie but no real instruction as to how to achieve the look.Now, I am quite proficient at decorating, but sometimes need some great ideas to kick start my creativity.In fact, there were quite a few truly adorable cookies in the front section of the book, but no further information on them.
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Subjects:  1. Baking - Confectionery    2. Christmas cookery    3. Cookies    4. Cooking    5. Cooking / Wine    6. Courses & Dishes - Cookies    7. Holiday - Christmas/Hanukkah    8. Holiday - General    9. Methods - Baking    10. Cooking / Baking   

Reviews (6)

Easy, Mistake proof way of pressing flowers, great projects
This is a great book for anyone wanting to learn the easy, quick, more mistake proof way of pressing flowers. It's useful tips and wide variety of gorgeous projects make it suitable for crafters of all levels and tastes. Another Truly Wonderful Book
A good overview of traditional presses as well as instructions for using a homemade microwave press. A list of flowers and herbs commonly pressed, including notes for eachwith pressing tips. Instructions for greeting cards, drawer liners, floral lampshades, boxes, picture frames, flower pots and furniture decorated with pressed flowers, and framed pressed flower pictures with lists of materials, instructions, and over 100 photos & diagrams. 112 pages hardcover

She Does It Again
They said it best when they wrote, "Joanna Sheen is a leading authority on pressed flowers and all things floral."It's so wonderful to have a book written by someone who has been doing this craftfor 21 years....now THAT'S when experience talks!I've been pressingflowers and other botanicals in books and wooden presses for ages, and I'mso glad to have discoverd the revolutionary method of microwave pressing. Read more

Subjects:  1. Collection and preservation    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Dried Flowers    5. Flower Arranging    6. Flowers    7. Flowers in art    8. General    9. Hobbies/Crafts    10. Microwave pressing    11. Pressed flower pictures   

Reviews (2)

A Campy, Kitschy Delight
By Bill Marsano. Trader Vic's Tiki Party!: Cocktails & Food to Share with Friends," by Stephen Siegelman, is perfect for retro theme parties. Trader Vic, with his famous rival Don the Beachcomber, ushered in the Tiki Bar Era of American partying, which centered mainly on the 1950s and 1960s (which of these two men actually invented the Mai Tai, signature drink of the epoch, remains in dispute--both claim it.) Those were days of restaurants blanketed with faux-Polynesian decor, when pupu platters were the rage and drinks came in bowls serving four or more and were decorated with paper umbrellas, which folks later learned to call parasols. Relive that glorious and joyously ridiculous time with this collection of tropical cocktails and food recipes for everything from finger food to entrees. The recipes are interesting, mostly pretty easy to make, and generally fun to eat or drink. The photos are very nice but the main appeal is that the recipes are clearly presented and easy to follow.--Bill Marsano is an award-winning writer on wines and spirits.
Let's Hula
The book contains "recipes for 100 of the restaurant's best loved tropical cocktails like the Samoan Fog Cutter, Potted Parrot, and of course, The Original Mai Tai, invented by Trader Vic himself in 1944." (summary from Buch Gourmet)
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Subjects:  1. Appetizers    2. Bartending    3. Beverages - Bartending    4. Cocktails    5. Cooking    6. Cooking / Wine    7. Courses & Dishes - Appetizers    8. Entertaining - General    9. Quantity Food Production And Service    10. Main courses   

Editorial Review

Christmas and cookies are synonymous. Extolling that happy truth, Rose Levy Beranbaum's Read more

Reviews (44)

a rose is a rose
I confess that I find Rose's cookbooks intimidating (she is the woman who chose her husband because he understood her thesis on why sifting was not an adequate way to distribute dry ingredients), but like the Cake Bible this is a tremendous resource for a cookie baker.Don't expect all the standards here, but some new and even challenging cookies.

SIMPLY WONDERFUL!!!!
I bought this book for myself this Christmas baking season and I am soooo glad I did. What a beautiful book. I made 4 types of cookies out of it this year and each of them were fantastic! I absolutely LOVE the lemon bars. And although other reviewers have said that the Magohany Buttercrunch didn't come out for them, I had no problems with it at all. Delicious! Aside from the tasty recipes, this book is very well written and organized and contains a wealth of information about cookie baking. Here is what you can expect to find with every recipe:
The Best Cookie Book Ever
This is the only Christmas cookie book you need.This book is always pulled out at the start of the holiday season.Not only do the georgeous pictures put you in the holiday spirit but it also reminds me of the delicious memories of the wonderful cookies I have made from this book.I know that the binding may crack(7 years and still whole) but wouldn't you rather have a well-loved book that you use or a perfect binding of a book that never gets a second glance.Sequel Please. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas cookery    2. Cookies    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Courses & Dishes - Cookies    6. Holiday - Christmas/Hanukkah    7. Cakes, baking, icing & sugarcraft    8. Christmas books    9. Cooking / Holiday    10. Desserts   

Reviews (7)

WOW!!!This is an AWESOME book to add to your collection!!!
I'd definately give this book six stars if they had the option!!!The descriptions on each item are incredibly detailed making it so ANYONE can follow the directions and have it turn out as nice as the pictures.The book takes what looks INCREDIBLY complicated and makes it so even the novice could recreate it.Definately a must have in any Christmas or baker's collection!!

Christmas Feast
If you're a Christmas junkie like me you'll *love* this book. The author manages to make breathtaking edibles that capture the season and will have you trying them out regardless of the time of year. Truly inspirational!!

Sumptuous photographs, great ideas, clear directions
I treated myself to "Colette's Christmas" by baker extraordinaire Colette Peters while on vacation.It seemed a strange thing to read while at the beach, but I was absolutely captivated.What a fevered imagination Ms. Peters has!The showstoppingly gorgeous desserts and projects she shows within include a layer cake covered with fondant that has been pieced and quilted to resemble and antique quilt (and it surely does); a chocolate bowl filled to overflowing with spectacular chocolate spheres (the cover photograph); hinged, jointed cookies which really move and make splendid Christmas ornaments (all in human forms, like Santa, Raggedy Ann, and so on); gift boxes made entirely of decorated cookie dough; a shimmering "stained glass" cake; and a three-dimensional Christmas gazebo constructed around a towering decorated Christmas tree made of piped icing.Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas cookery    2. Christmas cooking    3. Confectionery    4. Cooking    5. Cooking / Wine    6. Courses & Dishes - Desserts    7. Holiday - Christmas/Hanukkah    8. Cakes, baking, icing & sugarcraft    9. Christmas books    10. Cooking / Desserts   

Reviews (1)

Presents a complete method of learning pronunciation
Diana Belucci's newest reference title isn't just a another dictionary of pronunciation as might be anticipated: rather, How To Pronounce French, German And Italian Wine Names creates and presents a complete method of learning pronunciation to provide keys to the phonetic pronunciation of over 15,000 wine terms, regions, and grape varieties in five different languages. How To Pronounce French, German And Italian Wine Names could've appeared in our 'Literary' or 'Languages' section but deserves mention here for its in-depth interest to wine buffs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cooking    3. Entertaining - General    4. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    5. France    6. General    7. Germany    8. Italy    9. Pronunciation    10. Reference    11. Terminology    12. Wine and wine making    13. Names, French    14. Names, German    15. Names, Italian    16. Names, Portuguese    17. Names, Spanish   

Reviews (2)

downhill
I have been collecting the Best of Gourmet series since the annuals began in the early 80s.Even though I subscribe to the magazine and clip recipes I still buy the annuals.I'm sorry to say that this volume doesn't live up to the rest of my collection.I thought that maybe last year was an anomaly as I would have barely given that volume 4 stars.This year the book just has not lived up to my expectations.The layout is poor and merely pickup from the pictured recipes in the magazine, the food photography does not match the recipes on the page, the photos are randomly placed.This was a work that was put together carelessly and looks like the work of a committee.Sorry, I just can't recommend the book this year.

A very good source for serious entertaining.
`The Best of Gourmet 2006' by the editors and writing staff of `Gourmet' Magazine appears better to me than I was expecting, especially if you are fond of entertaining between 8 and 12 people at a clip. If you are a regular subscriber to `Gourmet', I guess this book can be something of a tough decision, as virtually all the material herein is from the magazine. In fact, I would be willing to bet that practically all the recipes from the magazine in the last year are in this volume. I suspect it should be labelled `Everything but the Duds'.
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Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining - General    5. Methods - Gourmet    6. Regional & Ethnic - Italian    7. Cooking / General   

Reviews (1)

This is an extremely useful book!
I can't believe that this book is out-of-print!I used it as a reference book when choosing the flowers for my wedding.I am an ignoramus about flowers and the four-color pictures were invaluable to me.Also Gilly Love lists flowers available by season which saved me a ton of money.If you can find this book, it is well worth the money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Cut flowers    3. Cut foliage    4. Dried Flowers    5. Floral Arts    6. Flowers    7. Gardening    8. Gardening/Plants    9. Pictorial works    10. Reference    11. Crafts & Hobbies / General   

Reviews (5)

Wedding Flowers Made Simple
Great Work!!I'm a florist and am constantly gathering information for my artistry.

Wedding Flowers Made Simple: Over 80 Glorious Floral Designs for That Special Day
The photography in the book was beautiful but the bouquets were not practical for most brides.I did like that flowers were identified with amounts needed.

Very Disappointing
I got this book out of the library, along with "Bouquets: A Year of Flowers for the Bride" and the Knot book, and I would have to say, this was by far the least useful.For one thing, there was nothing simple about it-- the arrangements either involved mountains of flowers, or varieties of orchids I had never seen anywhere else, or arrangements that were closer to balancing acts.There is one picture that seemed to have literally hundreds of calla lillies around a doorway.Come on!
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Subjects:  1. Bridal bouquets    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Flower Arranging    4. Flower arrangement    5. Reference    6. Wedding decorations    7. Weddings   

Editorial Review

This opulent collection of fine recipes and impressive menu ideas is a collaboration between esteemed food writer Joyce Goldstein and Chuck Williams, the founder of the Williams-Sonoma kitchen stores. Their collective culinary know-how pays off in a big way--not only do their dishes look stunning on paper but they are also recipes that can be prepared with relative ease in the home kitchen. Read more

Reviews (5)

beautiful photos, but.....
I bought this book on the strength of the other Amazon.com reviews and looked forward to receiving it.However, when I started reading it, I felt that there was very little in it that I actually wanted to cook.I am an accomplished cook and baker, own over 600 cookbooks, and not afraid to try new recipes.But some of the combinations in here seemed a bit unnatural, and the menus appear to be comprised of items which all require a fair amount of time and preparation.In my experience, the key to successful entertaining is striking a balance between a few showstopping dishes and those items which are of sufficient quality and freshness to be prepared and served simply, with a minimum of unneccessary flourishes.As much as I love to cook, I don't want to spend a week in the kitchen before a dinner party, do you? However, the photography is gorgeous and very inspiring, and there are a lot of tips which are worth reading.Although I will consult this book for certain things, like table decoration and the dessert recipes, I think the recipes out of the Southern Living books on the whole are better.

This is the best reference book ever for entertaining !
This book is the perfect combination of elegant entertaining ideas and "how-to's". I just love the themed menus--there is everything from a formal tea, a holiday (Hannukah) buffet, a Mediterranean Easter feast to a romantic dinner for just two. If you don't want to reproduce the exact menu, you still get some great ideas as starting material for any kind of party you might want to give. The recipes are not overly elaborate. In fact, they are pretty easy yet well-chosen. I particularly like the salads. I also found this book useful for progressive dinner ideas. more than you pay for.
I entertain very often, and that's why I originally purchased this book.As it turns out, I use it several times a week just for the family.It's not only beautiful it's full of information.All of the recipes have color picures and many recipes have alternatives if it's the wrong season for some of the ingredients.I'm very pleased with the book and the price is fantastic for what you get. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining    5. Entertaining - General    6. Menus    7. Sale Books   

Subjects:  1. Cooking / Wine    2. Entertaining - General    3. Regional & Ethnic - American - General   

Editorial Review

We have witnessed a reemergence of cigar culture--everyone is doing it, in popular movies, TV, and in the many cigar-friendly clubs which have sprung up. Read more

Reviews (5)

It's Fidel-icious! It's Fidel-ectable!
A detailed and richly illustrated tome discussing the finer points of cigar selection and enjoyment. As the title suggests, this is a guide for the connoisseur, not the novice. The perfect gift for anyone urbane enough to let a trash fire burn three inches from the tip of his nose.

A great little book.
This book is packed full of useful information. A Good Work, but is getting dated
This is a good reference work for cigar lovers, but it is becoming dated. An update would be appreciated. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Entertaining - General    3. Sale Adult - Cooking / Wine    4. Tobacco-Related    5. Cooking / Entertaining    6. Etiquette & entertaining    7. Food & Drink / Cookery    8. Sale Books    9. Reference    10. SALE BOOKS-ADULT    11. Entertaining    12. Cigars   

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Entertaining - General    4. Methods - Outdoor    5. Outdoor cookery    6. Picnicking    7. Seasonal    8. Tailgate parties    9. Cooking / General   

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - Soups & Stews    5. Entertaining - General    6. General    7. Holiday - General   

Reviews (5)

Surprisingly good!
Flavorful recipes and dishy chef come together in bill's food. The recipes are simple, turn out surprisingly well and are quite forgiving. The two main strengths of the content are that the book has lots of contemporary ideas (the yogurt pannacotta, for example) and recipes with multiple possibilities (corn cakes work as appetizer / brunch entree). The layout and pictures are attractive, instructions are simple, very much in keeping with the theme of the book: slow down and enjoy your food :-)

Cooking made Simple
Bill's cooking book is very simply written and it doesn't contain any difficult language used sometimes by famous chef. The one disapointing thing is that the book is mostly seafood and if you are not a fan you just bought the book that might not offer much to you. Overall, great book to learn from.

Simply wonderful
I just bought this book and spent the weekend making a selection the recipes - the tomato soup made by roasting tomatoes, garlic etc and whizzing it up in a blender (no water, no stock...), crispy skinned salmon with a sesame soy glaze and lime slice (as opposed to the lemon slice) as desert. Bill's recipes seem to achieve the same great results with at least half the effort. Compare his recipe for cheesecake with that in the Joy of Cooking and you will see what I mean. His version involves no baking at all and I can't wait to try it out. When I made the base for the lime slices in the food processor while the tomatoes roasted for the soup I was struck several times by a feeling that everything was easier than I was expecting. I will definately buy Bill's other books when I am through with this one. The photography and layout are inspiring and accurate of the results, which I always think is the measure of a good recipe book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - General    5. Entertaining - General    6. Methods - Professional    7. Cooking / Entertaining   

Reviews (1)

Follow the instructions, 1, 2, 3
This book provides clear and concise instructions on how to produce arrangements.Along with the beautiful pictures, pen sketches show how each flower should be positioned.Arrangements in diverse locations show just how modern ikebana can be.A wonderful read, whether as a guide to ikebana or as a coffee table book. ... Read more

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

Reviews (1)

MISLEADING BRITISH TITLE MASKS HELPFUL BEGINNERS' WORK
To begin with, THE FLOWER ARRANGING EXPERT is NOT a book for flower-arranging experts!It's a part of an 18-volume softcover series that covers all aspects of gardening and home agriculture, with volumes bearing names like "The Rock & Water Garden Expert," "The House Plant Expert," and "The Evergreen Expert."Perhaps in their native UK these works are not confused as how-to's for experts only; instead, they take a neophyte and turn him/her into a relatively sophisticated practitioner of the craft, up to the threshold of expertise, as it were.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Flower Arranging    3. Flower arrangement    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Crafts & Hobbies / Flower Arranging    6. Floral crafts    7. REFERENCE - WEDDING/ETIQ TRD HC