Customer Reviews

The Frugal Gourmet Celebrates Christmas

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book takes you through the history and traditions of Christmas, with full meals illustrated. My favorites - The crown roast of pork, with sausage stuffing. Favorite side dishes include brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar and baked onions. A great read, and a must-have for the holidays.

With warmth, wit, wonderment, and joy, Jeff Smith gives as a wise and loving book of recipes for his favorite season of all. Part history, part spirituality, part religion, and part autobiography, this cookbook gives us warm and comforting recipes to bring light to the darkest nights of the year.
There are quotes from the Bible, a wonderful poem by T.S. Eliot, photos throughout of Jeff's handcarved Italian creche--and the recipes. He offers up recipes specifically for the Wise Men, the camel, the Roman soldiers, the donkey, and even the tax collector. From the simple sop (bread and gravy) to the crown roast of pork and the Dickensian puddings, Smith's recipes comfort us and put us in the holiday season even if we don't cook them. (But we should!!)
I start reading this book in September--as soon as the nights start getting crisp--and read it right through until Christmas every year. And THIS year I'm going to make the fruitcake!

This is the first recipe book I ever sat down and read from cover to cover. It has become one of my Christmas traditions, and one I share with friends and family by giving it as a gift.

Jeff Smith shares a lot of his personal feelings about the significance of Christmas, and his writing is obviously based on historical research. In a charming progression, he takes us through the events of the first Christmas and designates a feast including a special dish for each of the characters involved, from the Christ child Himself, to the angels, to even the beasts.

This Christmas book includes wonderful simple recipes for the holidays and wonderful stories about Christmas.
I lost my orginal copy and just got my replacement in post last week in time for Christmas this year! The Lemon peel 'candy' is the best!
Enjoy!

I know...I know, thinking of Christmas!??? at this time of year! well, maybe Christmas in July! lol! This book is filled with great recipes, history and tradition for any holiday! Jeff Smith spoke about interesting traditions and origins on his entertaining PBS show. Before 'The Food Network' we had the witty and talented 'Frugal Gourmet'. This book deals with some grand feasts and some very good classic family dishes. From fancy to "just great traditional family food"! This book has a lot to offer. This one has lots of illustrations and family stories. Something the world seems to be missing these days is time spent in the kitchen with the family preparing meals for "get together". Make time for this book, your family and friends! Even if your not a "religious" person these are words to live by.

This is yet another excellent cook book by Jeff Smith! It's full of great recipes and stories by a very talented cook and writer. This one focuses on old world cooking. I have used many of these recipes and found them to be very good. Being a home grown cook myself and having had many of my grandmother's classic recipes handed down to me, I found this book to be very helpful in expanding my culinary taste buds.

Jeff Smith entertained us for years on his PBS program 'The Frugal Gourmet'. Not only did he teach us many savory dishes, he also educated us. Not satisfied with just cooking delicious meals for his viewers, he would give detailed history lessons about the origins of the dish and made it all a lot of fun!

This may be Mr. Smiths best cook book and it is a worthy edition to everyone's cook book library. I own and have read many, if not all of his cook books, not only for the man's knowledge of cooking, but his incredible wit! This guy was funny and I would have loved to have hung out and throw a few beers down with him.

Unfortunately, this man had some very seriously bad press released about his personal life and well..... I am not one to spread rumors.....he seemed like a great guy and sadly he died before he was able to clear his name.

R.I.P. Frugs!

It was nice to be able to get this book so that I could pass this collection down to my children.

I recently received the book, have read it all - which is very educational; and prepared a few dishes. Growing up I always tried to see Jeff Smith's show, so being able to replicate successfully some of the Christmas dishes during this holiday season, has been exciting. Great recipes, easy to follow. Thanks.

This is the first recipe book I ever sat down and read from cover to cover. It has become one of my Christmas traditions, and one I share with friends and family by giving it as a gift.

Jeff Smith shares a lot of his personal feelings about the significance of Christmas, and his writing is obviously based on historical research. In a charming progression, he takes us through the events of the first Christmas and designates a feast including a special dish for each of the characters involved, from the Christ child Himself, to the angels, to even the beasts.