Customer Reviews

Country Living The Farm Chicks Christmas: Merry Ideas for the Holidays

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Christmas "Farm Chicks" style is just what I was hoping for this season. I am a big fan of Serena Thompson (previous book, site, products, blog, etc) so, of course I had her new publication, The Farm Chicks Christmas on pre-order the minute it was available. I was not disappointed in the least. The beautiful photography alone is worth the price of admission - but, never fear Ms. Thompson has given us many more "treats" to freshen our holiday plans. A few favs - the Pom Pom Ornaments (especially if you have super little ones and need non-breakable on your tree), and wrapping & shipping ideas (including Gift Card Holders & Wrapping Paper Village).

A few recipe highlights for me include - Marble Bread and the Mini Orange Bundt Cakes. No way to choose, so I'll be making both.

And, if all that doesn't seal the deal for you --- included is adorable color recipe cards (perfect to make copies and expand your collection or for gifts) and sticker gift tags. Love a free gift with purchase! This is a beautiful holiday book - full of lovely stories and collections. As a fan of the brand, The Farm Chicks know how to throw one heck of a holiday extravaganza!

Cheers!

"The Farm Chicks Christmas" by Serena Thompson is the follow-up to 2009's The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen: Live Well, Laugh Often, Cook Much. The first Farm Chicks book was a countrified cookbook peppered liberally with stories and reminiscences by Serena and Teri, antiques-inspired craft ideas (a reusable stencil was included in the front), and comfort food: easy recipes for breakfast treats, appetizers, soups and salads, and decadent desserts, over fifty in all.

"Farm Chicks Christmas," on the other hand, is written only by Serena, a contributing editor for Country Living magazine and antiques show hostess (her best friend Teri has retired from their business). The book still includes numerous country-inspired craft ideas; you'll find decorative, retro-inspired self-adhesive gift tags and notecards at the back, along with various decorating ideas for "the most wonderful time of the year." However, the ratio of crafts to recipes is reversed from the first book; there are only 17 recipes included at the back with gift-giving suggestions on how to package them.

"Farm Chicks Christmas" captures the magic of childhood Christmases, from family visits to the tree farm (complete with recipe ideas for hot drinks to tote along), holiday decorating ideas (holiday scalloped bunting, vintage-inspired snowball pompom ornaments, cone trees and vintage funnel trees, banners and more), and photos of Serena's friends' and family's homes decorated for Christmas.

Much of the book is more like a scrapbooked photo essay, with crafts sprinkled in every few pages. Also, the decorating tips (and included photos) are vintage country in the Farm Chicks fashion: displaying old farm toys standing in coconut snow, for example, or stacking metal funnels to make "trees." If you're not a fan of all things country, this probably isn't the holiday book for you.

The included holiday recipes are few, and aimed mostly at gift-giving, like the sweet and salty nuts, mini orange bundt cakes, and various types of cookies (butter cutouts, chocolate-covered peanut butter balls, snowballs, Spritz cookies). As with the previous book, a handy list of metric equivalent charts is provided at the back. I tried the sweet and salty nuts recipe first, and though tasty, I didn't think that the "sweet" flavor predominated; it was more of a subtle afterthought (there's only 1.5 tablespoons of brown sugar and 2 teaspoons of honey for 3 cups of nuts).

Overall, "Farm Chicks Christmas" is a nostalgic walk down a snowy memory lane, but it has narrower mass appeal than "Farm Chicks in the Kitchen" due to the reversal of the recipe-to-crafts ratio and the genre-specific decorating style (I enjoyed the many beautiful photographs, but won't find myself making yarn-ball wreaths or filling jars with spare Christmas lightbulbs anytime soon).

(Review copy courtesy of Sterling Publishing)

I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of this new Farm Chicks book. Although it is a nice book, it does not compare to the first Farm Chicks book. It is more like what you might see on a blog. So although I'm not sad that I purchased it, had I seen it first I may not have done so. The first Farm Chicks book was far better.

This book is a great way to get ready for the holidays and well worth the price charged by Amazon. Theirs was the cheapest I found and got here in a timely fashion. Great buy!

In true Farm Chicks style, this book inspires new ideas, wonderful cooking and merriment of the best kind! I have been a Farm Chicks fan for as long as they have been around and ordered this volume a soon as it was available. It is a delight to thumb through and look at the gorgeous photographs and you will be truly in the mood for the holiday after you read it cover to cover as I did!!

It is filled with memories of Ms Thompson's past Christmases; yummy recipes for warming drinks and munchies, cookies,
mini bundt cakes and soooo much more! There are crafts to help decorate your cottage...Wrapping Paper Village; ways to use your collectibles to add to the holiday spirit:get out those vintage ice skates; tuck a small-size pair of red cowboy boots stuffed with winter greens into the corner of a book shelf; display your colorful baking supplies in glass jars on a kitchen shelf or counter....the reds, greens, and multi-color cookie decorations are pretty as well as functional!!

Just when you think you have seen it all, you turn the page and there are color recipe cards (make copies or use the originals to attach to those homemade goodies) plus 2 pages of sticker gift tags! Fun little extras!!

This is a wonderfully written book chock full of entertaining stories, and all the recipes and decorating ideas you need to make yours a merry holiday!!

I bought this book for a gift. Of course I had to read it first- and was delighted! A real return to making Christmas simple and fun!

I love Christmas' books but I can be picky. This one was recommended by Dawn @ Webster Pages. Since I love pretty much everything she loves I went to check it out. As soon as I saw the cover I knew it was for me. When it was delivered I sat down with some coffee and a blanket. The book was just as cozy and my rocking chair! It shows some awesome ideas I would have never thought of and it's all something I can do (without an interior design degree). It also gives some ideas on stuff you would never expect to make into decorations. Stuff that's still very affordable at your local Goodwill or flea market. It's just filled with inspiration, the love of the season and cozy/warm goodness!

LOVE THIS BOOK! My mom gave it to me as a Christmas gift and read it cover to cover and then cover to cover again! I will definitely buy the Farm Chicks in the kitchen. I highly recommend this book! It makes a wonderful gift (make sure to buy one for yourself too though!!!)

This book is nice to settle down with your favorite beverage and enjoy the beautiful retro pictures. There are many wonderful ideas and crafts to make with items you have around the house. There are also several recipes but mostly full of pictures and decorating ideas. The book also comes with recipe cards, gift tags and stickers farm chick style ready for giving. Overall, this book has a beautiful presentation. If you follow the farm chicks this is a must have for the Christmas season.

This book was perfect for me.I got it at Christmas and started using the ideas right away-even though Christmas was just about over.I have the other Farm Chick book and I just love them!I hope they come out with more books.The ideas are very simple and you can do so many with stuff you probably already have around the house.I can't recommend this high enough!You will be so happy you bought it!!