Editorial Review

Martha Stewart's decorating ideas are deceptively simple. Thematerials are readily available and the instructions are easy, masking the sophistication it takes to realize the simplistic beauty of aplain white plate with a single maple leaf as a place card. "GoodThings" is what Martha Stewart calls the "easy tips"segment of her television show, and, in fact, all of the tips in thisbook are remarkably easy (at least, in comparison to some of her otherprojects). Martha's potato, sweet potato, and onion latkes areremarkably good, and are particularly recommended for those who maystill doubt whether they can match Martha in their own kitchens. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Cut & Paste Job. Avoid
Rehash of articles in her magazine.Avoid.

Nothing Good Here But Try....
...these others books that I think are grand: The best of the magazine !
If you don't subscribe to Martha's expensive magazine (I don't), then this book is the only thing you need to own.It is the best of all the good ideas without weeding through ads. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Decorating    5. Gifts    6. Handicraft    7. House furnishings    8. Interior design    9. Seasonal    10. Crafts & Hobbies / Decorating    11. Floral crafts    12. Home furnishing & decoration    13. Household hints   

Editorial Review

While this book is very much in the style of Martha Stewart, the parties that it depicts were planned and executed by other folks. There's a Louisiana lunch at a stately home outside Baton Rouge, complete with maquechoux oysters and pecan-crusted catfish; a garden harvest party, with mountains of vegetarian delights served in an East Hampton garden; a Vietnamese-Thai feast in a garden by the Sacramento River, with the signature flavors of Southeast Asian cooking--lime, ginger, lemongrass, chile paste--gracing spring rolls, chicken, and fish; a soul-food brunch given by an interior designer in Harlem that includes collard greens, gumbo, and sweet potato tarts. Details such as how to make lovely, lotus-like napkin folds are illustrated in "Good Things" sidebars. From the down-home barbecue in a horse arena in Marfa, Texas, to the Polynesian fantasy picnic on the beach in Maui, the key to a great party, says Martha, is caring--"about people, originality, the most attractive settings, and lovely, finely honed, time-honored traditions." And let's not forget food. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I Love Theme Parties!
Theme parties are great!Getting your guests to "dress the part" isn't at all difficult!If you want people to dress up, just inform them that it is a "themed costume party".Your guests will try to out-do each other with their creative costumes.It really makes things a lot of fun and makes decorating in a theme really worth the effort!My friends and I have one about once a month.
Dreadful.Our partywas almost a fiasco
We planned a wonderful dinner party for 100 guests at our waterfront home. I hired the best chef & event planner I could find and told them to follow this book. They said they many of the things just would not work or would take forever. Get's the juices flowing!
Now I know that we can't all go to Texas to have an authentic Tex-Mex fiesta, but the ideas are great none the less. Who care's if no one comes dressed the part? This book is all about themes. Themes that you can manipulate and call your own. Each party is beautifully photographed and the recipes are delicious. They even offer her infamous "Good Things" as a sidebar for many of the parties. Don't let the perfection overwhelm you. This book delievers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining    5. Entertaining - General    6. Entertaining - Party Planning    7. Menus    8. Parties    9. Tablesetting    10. Cooking / Entertaining    11. Etiquette & entertaining    12. General cookery   

Reviews (4)

Nice idea
As a recent purchaser of an old house, I really enjoyed the first few sections of this book and thought it might really be helpful for our remodel.However, it quickly turned into a big spend-fest, as other reviews have mentioned.Get this only for the nice pictures and commentary, certainly don't expect advice on how to do anything yourself.

Wonderful!
The Photos and the home are beautiful! Maybe not good for ideas to restore, but the federal colonial farmhouse was done in wonderful taste and style. I reccomend it to anyone who loves old homes. It's my favorite book. How nice!

A diary of a major renovation
This book chronicles the renovation/restoration that Martha Stewart completed on a historic New England farmhouse.It is very specific about many of the tasks that she completed, and gives some general how-to information (how to hire a contractor, create a landscape design, etc).I was disappointed because I was looking for ideas to restore and renovate my "new old house" and didn't really find much inspiration here.Much of the decorating revolved around painting murals and designs on the floor, which is something that I don't plan on doing.If you are planning a major renovation project to a large, historic home, this book might be a good starting place but I wouldn't rely on it for all of my information.Although it didn't really help me with my specific plans, it was an interesting, sometimes sketchy, read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Conservation and restoration    3. Decorating    4. Design & Construction    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Interior architecture    7. Interior decoration    8. Remodeling & Renovation - General    9. Themes, motives    10. Home furnishing & decoration    11. House & Home / General   

Editorial Review

A beautiful floral arrangement can add the perfect touch of beauty and elegance to your home, and who would know this better than our favorite doyenne of the dainty, Martha Stewart. In Read more

Reviews (13)

A real letdown and overpriced
I found the Fine Art of Flower Arranging by Nancy D'Oench, Mick Hales.It is so much better than Martha's book.

A Disappointment - Well Below Expectations
Perhaps my expectations were too high?Martha produces a beautiful magazine and her new Best of Weddings book is superb so I thought that this book, although older, would be a nice addition.I was disappointed.Although the book was published in 1999, it seemed even more outdated than that.The flowers used seemed repeated over and over again and the book was centered completely around the varieties in Martha's garden. For a more thorough view, I'd like to recommend 2 books in place of this one.Jane Packer's Fast Flower Arranging is fantastic and shows beautiful arrangements that can be made quickly even by a novice.For actual, technical "how to" steps and design theory, I'd recommend Judith Blacklock's "Flower Arranging" (might be called Teach Yourself Flower Arranging in some indexes).Once you know proper floral design techniques, you can use any kind of flowers (NOT just those from Martha's garden) to create beautiful arrangements.

Not exactly a how-to book, but great pictures
I wouldn't really consider this a how-to book, as most of it is pictures of arrangements with a paragraph or two about the flowers. To paraphrase, "Martha loves spring when the peonies in her garden are blooming. They look stunning massed together." Most of the description is of her garden.Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. Flower Arranging    6. Flower arrangement    7. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (4)

Allergies Lead Me to Soy
At the recommendation of my grandmother, I purchased this book for help in preparing recipes prepared with soy.I was diagnosed with many allergies and I can no longer eat dairy products, corn, mushrooms, etc. (that's only the beginning, the list goes on!).I knew about tofu but I didn't know what to do with it.Using this book as a guide, I prepared a spinach lasagne following the ingredience for spinach ravoli (pg. 35).It was delicious, if I don't say so myself!I would definitely recommend this cookbook. I like using it as a guide to help with new ideas in food preparation.Bona Petite!

Food-Snob Friends
I loved this book. I've been a vegetarian for years, and have had to livewith the scorn of my food-snob friends, many of whom wouldn't come to myhouse for dinner parties. So I cooked a feast of Ginsberg's recipes andimpressed them all-finally. The Chinese food is especially tasty, althoughthe biscotti was terrific. I brought it to work and everyone ate it up.

Do not waste your money
The recipes are time intensive and many are tasteless.Health food does not deservice the badrap. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery, International    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Diets - Special Conditions    5. Health & Healing - General    6. Health & Healing - Low Fat    7. Health & Healing - Weight Control    8. Low-fat diet    9. Recipes    10. Vegetarian cookery   

Editorial Review

Susan Spungen, the founding food editor of Read more

Reviews (4)

Refresh Your Receipe Collection
Many flavorful and some simple to prepare meals for the new or bored cook who needs some fresh ideas. She includes excellent versions and variations on classics, The directions for food preparation are clear and complete.

Excellent Essays on Familiar Recipes, Beautifully Packaged
`RECIPES, a collection for the modern cook' by former `Martha Stewart Living' Editorial Director for food and entertaining, Susan Spungen is the answer to my question over what Miss Susan was doing with herself since her name disappeared from the `Martha Stewart Living' masthead. Miss Spungen was one of the very few `Martha Stewart' staffers who commonly appeared on `In Martha's Kitchen' when it ran on the Food Network before Ms. Martha went into the slammer. Since Ms. Spungen was obviously had talent in converting information about food into good magazine features, I expected her name to pop up somewheres. Well, here it is, as the author of a book with either the most unoriginal or the most clever of titles for a cookbook since Apicius.
It's a keeper, but ...get out your magnifying glass!
This book has received quite a bit of high praise (NY Times gave it a glowing review) and it's easy to understand why: the book itself is beautiful and the recipes are fresh, really delicious and not too complicated. It is readily apparent that Ms Spungen was once an employee of Martha Stewart, as aside from Martha penning the book's forward, you can see the "MS Esthetic" throughout the book. This unfortunately includes a typeface that is really too small and it makes the book a tough read. I assume that I'm like most people in that I read a recipe carefully (OK, sort of carefully) before cooking and then refer back to it a dozen times on the fly while in the kitchen. (And no, I'm not yet of an age where I need reading glasses!) But having to stop and fumble around until I can read detracts from all the book has to offer. That said, this is one of those cookbooks that makes a terrific wedding shower gift or housewarming gift to someone in their first apartment: the recipes will become workhorses in anyone's repertoire, but while you're at it buy them a magnifying glass too. ... Read more

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

Reviews (7)

Not very good.What a waste
Try the Margaret Roach book which is excellent or even a Jerry Baker book.Martha probably enever did any real gardening in Nutley, NJ.

Actually attainable ideas for the "average" gardener!
I know, I know, this is Martha's stuff, the woman we all love to hate!However, the book is arranged in a friendly fashion, giving a month-by-month tour of her gardens, with information on typical chores she will expect from her gardeners that month! Good student, but could try harder
Over here in England, we are just beginning to be included in the Martha Stewart 'empire'.(Of cousre we have our own home grown lifestyle gurus, but I think a toughie like Martha could wipe the floor with the lot ofthem!)As a keen gardener I was eager to get my hands on this book tolearn more about American gardening plants and styles, and ideas; to mysurprise this book is in essence a rehash of the work of the very EnglishPenelope Hobhouse, Rosemary Verey and Christopher Lloyd!Still, a goodbook, and a good read, despite the photographic quality not being up to theusual standards for garden books.Read more

Subjects:  1. Connecticut    2. Cookery    3. Gardening    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. Gardening/Plants    6. General    7. Horticulture (General)    8. Gardening / General   

Reviews (4)

Just awful - nothing turned out!
I gave a small dinner party for neighbors and nothing turned out.Our best friends also became ill.

The whole menu
I've had this book for a number of years and everytime I have company or want to spoil my husband I pull out this MS classic. I have the whole meal planned, take the xeroxed pages shopping, and I have a great dinner. No guessing what side dish goes with what. I truly appreciate the planning that went into this edition and the recipes are excellent.

One of her best!
This is my favorite Martha Stewart book - and I have several. The menus are original but yet not over the top. I have actually tried and used the recipes - and have been asked for them - which to me is the ultimate compliment. The pictures are great - this is a book you will actually use - instead of just reading and putting back into your cookbook library. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

This is the book that launched an empire. Martha Stewart's Read more

Reviews (13)

This Is The Amazing Book That Started It All
This book is Martha Stewart's first major work that put her on the train to success. "Entertaining" is a classic book and over 20 years old. It is so much fun and is so very interesting to read now because Martha's career is so well known, and it is to a large extent based upon the great ideas that she placed in this book. Martha wrote this book in her prime and filled it with ideas, recipes and decorating tips. The reader will learn how to put on the party of a lifetime.
Inspiring and Beautiful
A beautiful book chock full of not only recipies but ideas and inspiration. With complete menu ideas, holidays, and everything from cocktail parties to a Hawaiian Luau, Thanksgiving Dinner to an indulgent dessert party, this is a massive collection that raised the standard in cookbooks, and it continues to inspire. A timeless classic no serious collection is complete without.

A look at early Martha - well worth it
It's interesting seeing what Martha was doing before Asian influences became popular in the 1990s. As a result, the food here leans more towards french and Italian-influenced cuisine.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Entertaining    4. Entertaining - General    5. Tablesetting    6. Cooking / Entertaining    7. Etiquette & entertaining    8. Food & Drink / Cookery   

Editorial Review

When you look past the cover of Martha Stewart's latest effort, you find it's not all about framing your fern collection. (Whew!)It is, however, about defining your home's style using accessories that look expensive but (generally) aren't.There's some very practical and budget-conscious advice here in the chapters about pictures, tables and stools, lamps and shades, shelves, screens and mirrors, and pillows and throws.You can disguise the humble origins of inexpensive adjustable shelving by adding wood trim around the edges and painting everything, including the metal standards and braces, to match the wall color.You can break up or conceal space with screens you make yourself from plain wood panels or old windows. You can update small outdoor tables with do-it-yourself mosaic tile that goes on in one piece.You can, of course, make a large framed entryway mirror from an $800 slab of mirror glass, as Martha does-- but really, no one will check your bank statement to see how much you spent, and it will reflect just as clearly with inexpensive hardware-store mirror glass.Some of the best projects are for sofa pillows, bed and table linens, and lampshades.Though Martha's voice isn't much in evidence in the text, her concepts are definitely here: the instructions are simple and straightforward and the look clean, comfortable and unfussy. --Read more

Reviews (14)

Decorating Details Marth Stewart
Really nice book, to read and to have as a coffee table book

I had a bad experience
I spent a few weeks following her suggestions and thousands on the materials.We had a dinner party to show off the ideas I used and some people were polite with compliments.My husband found a few of our "friends" laughing at Martha's ideas. Interesting, practical ideas
This book is the follow-on to "How to Decorate," Martha's first book. This book concentrates on the small details: how to display pictures, how to arrange your collections, and so on. The introductory chapter on how to display pictures and photographs is particularly good, giving ideas (complete with beautiful photographs) on how to display pictures and explaining principles such as where to place pictures, how to arrange them, and why certain arrangements of pictures work in certain places and not others. Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Interior decoration    5. Themes, motives   

Editorial Review

Our favorite Doyenne of the Dainty serves a delicate and oh-so-tasty blend of low-fat elegance in this handsomely designed cookbook.No calorie counter, Martha proves how a lush variety of grains, fruits,and veggies can be a delicious alternative to fatty dishes. She offersmore than 170 recipes, showing how to transform the freshest seasonalingredients into scrumptious treats guaranteed to delight both thepalate and the eye. From Grilled Portobello Pizza to a luscious LimeSoufflé, Martha will change the way you think about healthyeating. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Great reading for anybody!
I bought this book as a little gift for a friend who was in the hospital.The book is not as big as the Martha Stewart Christmas book that I had previously ordered which I loved.However, the pictures are great and the overall layout makes reading it a lot of fun.As always, Martha has a wonderful flair for making cookbooks enjoyable reading even if you never try any of the recipes.

This Delivers
Most people think it is impossible to deliver on a weeknight a dinner that is elegant, healthy and quick.This book makes the impossible quite possible. Martha's "healthy pleasures"
This 1997 book grew out of what Martha Stewart calls her "ever-growing search for the new and different", and it has many interesting ideas and recipes for fresh, healthy eating, and menu planning. As one would expect from Martha, the appearance is almost as important as the contents, with marvelous photography, and great use of vintage plates and Depression glasswareRead more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Health & Healing - General    5. Low-fat diet    6. Methods - Quick & Easy    7. Recipes    8. Seasonal    9. Cooking / Health   

Reviews (1)

Gleaned from research into hundreds of manuals
From Catharine Beecher To Martha Stewart: A Cultural History Of Domestic Advice by historian Sara A. Leavitt is a thoughtful and informative overview of the history of domestic advice, gleaned from research into hundreds of manuals written throughout the past 150 years. Cultural themes, the broad appeal of domestic advice across the decades in spite of radical changes in women's rights and roles in America, and the connection between women's homes, and the world outsides the home, mark From Catharine Beecher To Martha Stewart as a fascinating, accessible, insightful, scholarly treatise. Especially recommended for personal and Women's Studies supplemental reading lists and academic reference collections, From Catharine Beecher To Martha Stewart is also available in hardcover (0807827029). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. Home economics    4. Popular Culture - General    5. Reference    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. United States - 20th Century    9. Women's Studies - General    10. 20th century    11. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    12. American history: from c 1900 -    13. Social Science / Women's Studies    14. Social history    15. USA    16. Women's studies    17. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (14)

Serenity Now!
In this collection of ideas from Martha's "Living" magazine, nature and serenity is the order of the day.
designbookjunky
This is a wonderful book.It is very "Martha", in a nut shell and gives a good overview on how to design all sorts of living spaces. This should be in all book collections as a basic home design resource.

disappointing...
I really like martha stewart and think she has a great style and ideas so this was a very disappointing purchase as it really brings nothing new and only covers basic things... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Interior decoration    8. Interior design    9. United States    10. Architecture / Interior Design    11. Home furnishing & decoration   

Reviews (1)

Good recipes, beautiful photos, but NOT quick!
Just like her "Quick Cook" book, the "Menus" book has fabulous photos and recipes that do work, but each RECIPE takes at least a full hour; there is no way one person could do a whole menu in an hour unless he/she had six arms. Also, like the other book, many of the ingredients are hard to find, and almost all of the recipes call for fresh herbs (and you can tell that dried herbs just wouldn't work). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Menus    4. Methods - Quick & Easy    5. Quick and easy cookery    6. Cooking / Quick & Easy   

Editorial Review

With Martha's help, you've mastered Rosemary Shallot Popovers and Ina's Cornmeal Cheddar Scones. Your Thanksgiving dinners are legendary. You bake hundreds of cookies and decorate your home from top to bottom at Christmas. But do you know how to create a festive Labor Day, or a Fourth of July that goes off with a bang?Read more

Reviews (3)

One of her worst - a cut & paste job
This is old articles from her magazine and the advice was not very good.There are better books.

One of my favorite books for entertaining
Well done and illustrated, these are features from the early days of the magazine.I can personally vouch for the pear bread pudding and the torta di riso--a lot of work but like a lot of things, WELL worth the effort. I don't know if I could do all of those things at once for one activity, especially the wedding at home.But in addition to all the recipes and chapters, it's idea-inspiring.Which is what Martha is all about (that, and the stock market!)

A book for all occasions
The menus planned in the book are delicious.Each is catagorized under adifferent event or holiday, but I've used them for not so special eventstoo.There are also wonderful decorating and entertaining ideas for allseasons.The paella is wonderful! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Entertaining - General    4. Holiday - General    5. Holiday cookery    6. Holiday decorations    7. Holidays    8. Special days    9. Cooking / Entertaining    10. Etiquette & entertaining    11. General cookery    12. Home furnishing & decoration   

Reviews (6)

Did They Say Rose Bible?
It would take volumes to cover the multitudes of roses that are out there, but, with a name like "The Rose Bible" I expected more than this book delivered.
Beautiful book
I am an avid gardner and appreciate a book that tantalizes me with new ideas for my garden.Although I already have some 18 roses in my garden, this book has inspired me to create even more space for more roses, and collect some amazing bourbons and antiques that are out there.I originally purchased this book to research new climbers, and found that and more! The photos are captivating, and the author provides a great history on the various species.In addition, I feel like the author does an outstanding job of explaining the positives and negatives of roses he highlights.I have reread the chapter on "Fifty Immortal Roses" numerous times, and can't seem to put this book down.I can't wait to start digging in the dirt. Very inspirational!

Great for the beginner
Make no bones about it, this book is about roses the author enjoys. This is not a bad thing. He gives you a good concise history on roses, introducing you to the various types of roses grown through time. He gives great advise on planting, pruning and maintenance over the year. Then there are the pictures- lots of them, and beautifully photographed. Yes there is a whole chapter on his favorite roses (many of them tried and true) but hundreds more are referred to with photos and text. This is an ejoyable book, fun to flip through, but still has the information a beginner needs to know when choosing roses. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Flowers - Roses    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Ornamental Plants    6. Rose culture    7. Roses    8. Gardening / Flowers / Roses    9. Gardening: plants    10. Photographs: collections   

Reviews (3)

A Very Beautiful Book
The photographs in this book are absolutely stunning.You could set it on your coffee table for guests to look through, and even if they don't know a Meyer lemon from a tangelo, they'll take great pleasure in looking through this book (they'll learn something, too).Everything is lovingly laid out, photographed and eloquently described.Buy the hardcover edition, because you'll want to keep it for a long time.

A great Holiday Treasure - and gift
Martha's Holiday book this really touched my heart. My mom has always grown Amaryllis and Christmas Cactus, chapters 4 & 5 really were a delightful surprise. I now know the Christmas Cactus the I have is called "White Christmas". When I told my mom about the charts, she was so interested in the book (she lives in Ohio and we live in Fl.) that I am immediately sending her one for Christmas. My son is a personal chef - so we all love to cook and I love to decorate. The pictures are great as usual, but I think I like the charts about the topic in each chapter. They are beautiful and informative. It was great to see the different types of pine cones and citrus. The best part is that even if you don't use these ideas during the holidays - the things you have learned will be useful all year and will be great to share with friends and family. Lotsof reprints from the magazine
You know this going in, but there arent' as many really neat "new" things as the last books. More biscotti, and a lot of good uses for the endless bags of cranberries in the back of my freezer.I'll start on those for Christmas about November 1, I think.If you like Martha, this is the fifth in the series, but there wasn't anything besides the cranberry stuff that really "grabbed" me.Still, it's great to continue your collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas cookery    2. Christmas cooking    3. Christmas decorations    4. Crafts & Hobbies    5. Crafts / Hobbies    6. Decorating    7. General    8. Handicraft    9. Hobbies/Crafts    10. Holiday - Christmas/Hanukkah    11. Seasonal    12. Christmas books    13. Crafts & Hobbies / Seasonal    14. Handicrafts   

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Courses & Dishes - General    4. Regional & Ethnic - American - General   

Subjects:  1. Home & Garden / General   

Reviews (3)

tinsel forever
This is a very beautiful book.I've never seen one like it. I read it from cover to cover the first night. Rosemary Warren and Marcia Ceppos have made a new fan. The photographs themselves make it worthwhile. Every designer should pick it up.

Very Inspirational !
I found this Tinsel Trading book to be beautiful, creative and easy to learn from. The pictures, the styling, the trims, all amazing. I need to visit the store.
Sadly Disappointing
As a former resident of New York City who "haunted" the numerous trimmings, flower and ribbon shops adjacent to New York's garment center, this was one shop that I would particulary enjoy getting lost in.It was a fabulous melange of "stuff" for trimming everything, much of it found by happenstance in the original cramped, dimly lit shop.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. House furnishings    6. Interior decoration    7. Remodeling & Renovation - General    8. Residential Interior Design    9. Textile Arts    10. Textile crafts    11. House & Home / Decorating    12. SELF IMPROVEMENT - SEXUALITY TRD HC