Christmas 101: Celebrate the Holiday Season from Christmas to New Year's (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From the man who reinvented Thanksgiving comes--Christmas! This isn't to say that Buddhists, Jews, and Muslims should read no further. We're talking end-of-the-year feasting here. Gather up the family and clear the kitchen counters. Make room in the refrigerator. The old is about to give way to the new, and a great feast is the best gift of them all, be that a Christmas feast or whatever you may call it. Rick Rodgers shows the way with Christmas 101, identifying all possible pitfalls and minefields, encouraging mass preplanning so that you, the host or hostess, can also kick back at a certain point and become part of the festivities. There is more to life, after all, than polishing the silverware.

This slim volume is loaded with recipes and information in chapters such as "Making a List and Checking It Twice"; "Appetizers, Snacks, and Beverages" (where you'll find Old Fashioned Egg Nog); "Salads, Soups, and Other First Courses" (try Orange and Red Onion Salad with Cranberry-Orange Vinaigrette); "Roasts, Birds, and Other Main Courses" (if you're over turkey, try Crown Roast of Pork with Apple Stuffing and Hard Cider Sauce); "Side Dishes and Stuffings" (how about Giant Potato and Leek Rösti?); "Festive Breads" (bake up a crusty Moravian Sugar Cake); "Candies" (we liked Chocolate-Orange Truffles); "Cookies" (roll out some Linzer Cookies); "Desserts" (enjoy Deep Dark Stout Gingerbread); and a holiday menu planner. Does that sound all-inclusive or what? There's even more than the thousand-and-one things to do with turkey that Rodgers presented in his first volume in this series, Thanksgiving 101.

What's particularly nice about this book is that Rodgers focuses on the feast, not the setting for the feast. He knows his business and he sticks to it. "When it comes to holiday decorating," he writes,

if it can't be done simply and quickly, I don't do it.... My strengths lie in the kitchen. You won't find me hot-gluing Styrofoam reindeer. But if you can fit craft projects into your schedule, be my guest.

--Schuyler Ingle --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

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

You'll also learn how to make classic breads, candies, and desserts that are the tokens of this special time of year. With patience, kindness, and humor, Rodgers will help you to cook up the very best holiday season yet.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks; Reprint edition (October 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006122734X
• ISBN-13: 978-0061227349
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #461,784 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is holiday survival!, October 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Christmas 101: Celebrate the Holiday Season - From Christmas to New Year's (Paperback)

CHRISTMAS 101, a parallel volume to last year's THANSKGIVING 101, covers all aspects of the holidays, in addition to actual food preparation. There are many tips on how to get all of it--cleaning, decorating, card-writing, grocery shopping, cookie baking, pre-holiday entertaining, the Big Days themselves--all done, while remaining a sane inhabitant of this planet.

This is a book dedicated to good food and good times. Rogers recalls many nostalgic moments from his own lifetime of holidays which will likely evoke the same feelings in most readers. He provides authentic recipes from the past, and also addresses present-day concerns. Offerings include: classic egg nog, as well as a no-raw-egg version; traditional Jell-O salad, plus a more contemporary Roasted Beet & Apple Salad; some popular turkey and ham entrees, plus a fantastic tri-color lasagna. The baking recipes--particularly those involving cookies--are thorough, detailed, and guaranteed to produce spectacular results (and "Cinnamon Stars" is one of the very best I have come across in a long time). Above all, the recipes emphasize do-ahead steps, and rely on readily available ingredients, so that you won't find yourself in the grocery store at 11:30 p.m. on the biggest New Year's Eve of our lifetimes, in search of some exotic item for an hors d'oeuvre recipe.

Rogers is no Martha Stewart, with hot glue gun in hand. Although he provides many successful strategies for decorating, they are straight-forward and easily accomplished. Just as in his last book, he examines the history of certain customs (Christmas punch, holiday cookies, champagne & caviar), and gives some insight into some of today's most popular traditions. His recommendations for Christmas CDs and classic must-see holiday videos are right on target.

It's only October, so take a deep breath, do some reading now, and then sit back to thoroughly enjoy the final holiday season of the 1900s!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, November 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Christmas 101: Celebrate the Holiday Season - From Christmas to New Year's (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book! The Thanksgiving book was so great that I did not think it could get any better but it did. The recipes are simple yet elegant and fun to serve. There are ideas for all kinds of breads, cakes, and main dishes for all the holidays. Everyone should get this book. Also, if you have any questions about anything in the book, Rick Rogers has a superb web site. Check it out! You can e-mail and ask questions, and they will be answered!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate planning guide., December 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Christmas 101: Celebrate the Holiday Season - From Christmas to New Year's (Paperback)

Author Rick Rodgers, already the master of all things associated with Thanksgiving has now given us a terrific Christmas/New Year's guide. His practical suggestions include everything from setting up the perfect holiday cocktail party to getting the cards written (you don't really need to do them ALL at one sitting!), to planning for Christmas & New Year's--both Eve & Day celebrations. The recipes are uncomplicated, and generally use ingredients that are already on-hand. There's lots of nostalgia here & some great suggestions for music (the Ella Fitzgerald CD is the best!). Christmas set-up in our house has already been smoother & more relaxing because of this book.