Customer Reviews

Christmas with Southern Living 2010: Great Recipes * Easy Entertaining * Festive Decorations * Gift Ideas

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While this edition contains many new recipes, which I intend to try, the decorating section is uninspiring. I found nothing special. Many of the photos featured are reprints from past issues of the now-defunct Southern Accents or from last December's Southern Living Magazine. Dana Wolters is evidently Southern Living's new darling decorator, and her featured work is unimpressive. The "spa crafts" are reprints from Christmas with Southern Living 1995 through 1997. I've been collecting these books since 1986, and all I can say is: "DISAPPOINTING!"

I'm pleased with the 2010 issue - Southern Living appears to have listened to its readers and Christmas with Southern Living 2010 includes more recipes than I remember in past years (I found these interesting: roasted meyer lemon-peppercorn game hens, stuffed pork loin chops, a section on Mexican-inspired items and one on Cajun-inspired items, bananas foster cake, chocolate brown sugar cake with caramel filling, eggs benedict casserole, cinnamon apple-stuffed french toast with caramel syrup, double cheese tartlets (blue & gouda cheeses are used), baked mostaccioli, loaded potato soup & chocolate peanut butter pretzel bites). There is still a large decorating section and, in SL tradition, it leans toward larger-scale homes but offers some items which could be modified & incorporated into typical readers' homes (there's a cute retro mantel, which uses small metallic Christmas trees & glass ornament/figurine Santas; a "Williamsburg-ish" mantle of simple decoration with fruit; creating a small tree using a bare deciduous tree branch with "ornaments" attached (I don't like SL's choice of ornaments, but this could be modified); hanging small wreaths from a stairway bannister with the 12 days of Christmas icons hanging inside the wreath (this would also be cute using old Christmas cards) and a few ideas on how to tuck a little Christmas into small corners with vases, stockings, simple table decorations, etc.). I was pleased to see that several non-food gift ideas were presented, which will allow readers to give lovely Christmas presents without overspending (gardener's hand scrub, lavender eye pillow and various bath oils & bath salts - SL put the bath salts in a clear plastic ball-shaped ornament, which was cute). It's not SL's best year (the decorating is not geared toward your average home &, while gorgeous, isn't always practical) but it's much better than what I've seen in recent years and, as with the 2009 issue, not a repeat of ideas in prior issues (a common SL trick if you follow it over time). If possible, I would recommend previewing a copy before ordering but if, like me, you order this every year I believe you will be pleased (especially if your primary goal is obtaining recipes & looking at pretty pictures).

I must agree this year's book was quite disappointing. I have purchased these books since the early 90's and wait each fall with excitement to receive the newest edition. My youngest daughter has always been a strong fan also. She thumb through this year's edition to only finish with "what happen to their style". From this year forward I will wait until the book appears in stores so that I may look through that year's edition prior to purchase.

I have a small collection of Southern Living Cookbooks and Christmas books. Last night I took out two of the Xmas books, 1999 and 2005 issues. After looking at them both I realized that I was seeing the same recipes! Then today I purchased 2 of the 2010 Xmas books at Dillard's Department Store. Guess what? The same recipes are in the 2010 books too! I am returning these two books, after all I have the recipes, only the cover was new. And of course I did not look to see how many recipes are the same but it is fair to say that many are the same in 1999, 2005, and 2010. These are my last purchases of SOuthern Living books of any kind. It really is too bad this used to be a good company.

This is the second year I purchased a SL Christmas book. I have been a subscriber to SL for a year or two before that time. I was really pleased with this years book. There is a section on homemade non-edible gifts that would be easy to make. Many of the gift ideas are spa items, which are great to give when you aren't sure what to give.
The decorating ideas are pretty and some of the ideas are pretty original. A sort of chandelier is made from an overturned gift basket and naturally found items. To copy some of the decorating directly may be hard in some homes or areas where the exact items cannot be located. Instead, I view these as inspiration where I can look for similar items or try to think outside the box for my decorating.
Southern Living often does recycle popular recipes. There are some reprints in this book. I like having some of the reprinted recipes in books since some of my old magazine issues become worn. Another reviewer posted here that some of the recipes are reprints from specific times when they are not.
Southern Living has earned itself a good reputation. The recipes are well tested and turn out good. The decorating tips must fit for a range of budgets and lifestyles, while being classy. I am really enjoying this years Christmas book, seeing it as a continuation in a long series of Christmas books.

I have purchased these books for years and years and gotten really good decorating ideas, crafts and recipes from them. This one was complete fluff. I am sorry but where I live edememe is not one of the basic food groups and what happened to creating real, natural decorations instead of lime green non-recyclable items?? For my part this book was not worth the money.

These books never disappoint. Always a joy to look through and get all the wonderful holiday tips. I look forward to them every year.

I've been collecting this series now for about 7 years and use them throughout the year. They normally are just packed with fabulous recipes, decorating ideas, and overall menus for parties. And, my husband groans with great disdain as he glances over at his treadmill whenever this book arrives each year! However, this edition is the first one I purchased that I am completely dissatisfied with the quality. It's almost as if they were in a hurry to get it done and on the shelves, paying little heed to the content therein. Thus, most of the recipes are uneventful, just not that great. There's only about 2 in here that are worth using and the rest, well, can't say I'd recommend them at all. I hope next year's is better and that there's more thought than just an quick afterthought to the planning and editing of this generally most sought after Christmas cooking and decorating tradition.

My wife loved this book as a gift. She collects these each year to come up with ideas for future holiday events and parties, and it gets her in the spirit. Good idea for all you husband's who don't know what to get your loving wife.

My wife always, in the past, has received this book from southern living, without asking,. the book on amazon was much cheaper..

We also noticed that the amazon book came with a dust jacket and the ones you get direct do not