Christmas with Paula Deen: Recipes and Stories from My Favorite Holiday [Hardcover]

Paula Deen (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 30, 2007

"I've gone through all my books and put together this collection of my most treasured recipes and memories for the holiday season to share with you...You'll find a few new dishes, a sprinkling of new holiday stories, and some family pictures you might not have seen before."

There's no holiday Paula Deen loves better than Christmas, when she opens her home to family and friends, and traditions old and new make the days merry and bright. Filled with Paula's trademark Southern charm and happy reminiscences of Yuletide seasons past, Christmas with Paula Deen is a collection of beloved holiday recipes and stories interspersed with cherished family photographs. Included are Paula's most requested homemade gifts of food; a collection of cookies sure to become your family's favorites; easy dishes for a Christmas breakfast or brunch that will let you enjoy the food and your guests; impressive fare for Christmas dinner and holiday entertaining and, of course, spectacular cakes, puddings, pies, and other sweet things.

"So Merry Christmas, y'all, and best dishes and best wishes from me and my family to yours."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Christmas, that time of good cheer and lapsed diets, is the perfect holiday to showcase the cooking of Food Network star Deen (Paula Deen Celebrates!), who specializes in the kind of butter-and cheese-laden fare that epitomizes family-style comfort food. Sweets and snacks account for most of the recipes, since Deen happily admits to never varying from her Christmas dinner menu, which centers on a Standing Rib Roast and features a trio of potato dishes, including some unbelievably decadent Crème Fraîche Mashed Potatoes. Cooks will find the cookies and desserts familiar but richer, like eyebrow-raising but delicious Chocolate Cheese Fudge and creamy Chocolate Sandwich Cookies. Snacks and breakfast dishes are crowd pleasers, like gooey Praline French Toast Casserole and Cheese-coated Bacon Wraps. Devoted viewers of Deen's show may miss the sound of her warm drawl narrating the process, but the smattering of glowing family photos and anecdotes about her grown kids and recent marriage, though she's told them before, are decent stand-ins. Several pages of baking hints are included, but most of the recipes are simple and straightforward enough, with readily available ingredients, that even novices should be able to put together a generous Christmas spread. (Nov.)
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About the Author

Paula Deen is the bestselling author of thirteen books and an Emmy Award–winning Food Network television star. She was born and raised in Albany, Georgia. She later moved to Savannah, where she started The Bag Lady catering company. The business took off and evolved into The Lady & Sons restaurant, which is located in Savannah’s historic district and specializes in Southern cooking. She also co-owns Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House with her brother. Paula publishes a bimonthly magazine, Cooking with Paula Deen, and is a regular guest on QVC, where she sells her books and food products.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Edition edition (October 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743292863
• ISBN-13: 978-0743292863
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Special Occasions > Holidays

More About the Author

Paula Deen was born and raised in Albany, Georgia. She later moved to Savannah, where she and her two sons, Bobby and Jamie, started the Bag Lady catering company. The business took off and evolved into The Lady & Sons Restaurant, which is located in Savannah's historic district and specializes in Southern cooking, as well as Uncle Bubba's Seafood, which co-owns with her brother. Paula is the author of Paula Deens Kitchen Wisdom and Recipe Journal, Christmas with Paula Deen, Paula Deen: It Ain't All About the Cookin', Paula Deen & Friends, The Lady & Sons Just Desserts, The Lady & Sons Too!;and The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook. She publishes a bimonthly magazine, Cooking with Paula Deen and is a regular guest on QVC, where she sells her books and food products.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 65 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars can't believe I spent money on this! November 7, 2007

By E. Anderson

Format:Hardcover

This book lists at $23.00. It is smaller in size than a paperback. The recipes are reruns from other books by the author, interspersed with family photos that could only be of interest to the people involved. (No illustrations of completed recipes). Most recipes rely heavily on ingredients such as refrigerated crescent rolls. This book is a complete rip off.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointed November 10, 2007

By Denise Riley

Format:Hardcover

I,like the other reviewers, was taken by surprise at how small this cookbook is.There are no illustrations of the recipes,just pictures of Paula and her family.While Paula Deen has become a huge star and immensely popular,I felt this book was written in haste.Just a few recipes jotted down and stick Paula's picture on the cover.Not alot of thought went into this one.Just one more item in a growing marketable Paula Deen empire.

53 of 58 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Get Out Your Binoculars, Folks November 10, 2007

By prisrob TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I purchased this cookbook for a friend who loves Paula Deen and collects cookbooks. This one might serve as a stocking stuffer- it is so small 4x6 at the most. I would be embarrassed to give this as a present without adding something to go with it.

There are several stories written by Paula Deen about her past Christmases. Stories about how she and her family celebrate. There are 203 small pages. The recipes look fine. The table of contents separates the food into Gifts of Food, Christmas Cookies, Christmas Morning, Christmas Dinner, Holiday Open House, and Desserts.

A caveat would be to get a good night's sleep and eat lots of carrots if you intend to use this book to cook, the print is quite small and I can see headaches a comin'. I am at a loss to understand the concept behind putting out such a small sized cookbook. Paula Deen seems to be a very nice woman who has a large following of fans. She needs to stick to the tried and true- regulation size cookbooks. Now I need to figure out what I will purchase to go with this pint-sized book to give to my friend.

Not Recommended. prisrob 11-10-07

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