Happy Holidays from the Diva of Do-Ahead: A Year of Feasts to Celebrate with Family and Friends [Hardcover]

Diane Phillips (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2006

This book is the follow-up to the successful Perfect Party Food. Happy Holidays from the Diva-of Do-Ahead brings the same how-to and do-ahead approach to creating menus for 12 holidays-with special emphasis on Thanksgiving and Christmas-as well as tips on recipe variations, decorating, and serving. Featuring a beautiful 16-page color photo insert, this is the perfect book for anyone who wants to take the stress out of entertaining and enjoy the holidays with family and friends.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The self-proclaimed Diva of Do-Ahead says she is "the coach to help you get the dinner prepared ahead of time so you can enjoy your family and friends." Her point: what fun is a party when the harried host is stuck in the kitchen? The thorough and engaging Diva comes through, offering creative ideas for invitations, tips for deciding how much food to make and recommendations for equipment and tools. Her 12 party plans span the year, from New Year's Eve through Passover to Christmas. Do-ahead countdowns have specifics for planning ahead (from six months down to five minutes before an event). Classic recipes include Grilled Lemon Chicken Breast; innovative ones include Roasted Tomato and Pesto Cheesecake with Polenta Crust, and Creamy Corn Bisque with French Chives and Heart-Shaped Crostini. Highlights come from the Thanksgiving and Christmas classes she's taught for 15 years, including an impressive strategy for the perfect roast turkey. The book's clear language and devotion to detail make it appropriate for novices and accomplished cooks alike. (Oct.)
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About the Author

Diane Phillips has been teaching her easy, elegant, do-ahead approach to parties and holiday get-togethers at cooking schools around the country for more than 15 years. She is a spokesperson for Lipton Recipe Secrets and the author of several cookbooks, including Perfect Party Food, The Ultimate Rotisserie Cookbook, and The Soup Mix Gourmet. She is also the author of The Perfect Basket: How to Make a Fabulous Gift Basket for Any Occasion.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Common Press (September 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558323201
• ISBN-13: 978-1558323209
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,755,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Welcome to my Amazon.com profile page. I'm the author of 14 cookbooks including the James Beard Award nominated Perfect Party Food. I travel and teach do-ahead entertaining and cooking classes all over the country and in the Dordogne region of France. Teaching is my passion and I love being able to do something that I love that includes meeting my readers and students all over the country. Check out my website www.dianephillips.com for my fall class schedule featuring my next book: Slow Cooker; The Best Cookbook Ever, information about La Combe en Perigord, travel tips, and do-ahead entertaining tools. Follow me at my blog: www.cucinadivina.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Discerning Foodie, January 5, 2007

By 

Julie D. Kravetz (Andover, ma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Happy Holidays from the Diva of Do-Ahead: A Year of Feasts to Celebrate With Family And Friends (Paperback)

I hope Dianne is enjoying her yacht on the Riveria. This book was so fabulous that I bought it for at least twenty friends and family. The book is extremely reliable, easy and very inspiring. You feel as though you are getting one on one cooking coaching. It makes cooking non intimidating and fun. I used this as my holiday "bible" and sailed through with rave reviews. The book allowed me to pace myself so that I wasn't wiped at the end that being the goal and beauty of this book. I would highly recommend this for an experienced chef as well as a novice. Great job Dianne. Many Thanks!!!! This will be a party classic for years and years.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Cookbook, June 21, 2008

By 

Hinky (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Happy Holidays from the Diva of Do-Ahead: A Year of Feasts to Celebrate With Family And Friends (Paperback)

I made the entire Thanksgiving feast in this cookbook ahead. I decided to follow the directions in this book, and a month before Thanksgiving, I spent about 5 nights preparing dishes. It was fun, and let me tell you, it was the best Thanksgiving feast imaginable. No one knew it was all made ahead.

Now, mind you, I am noted for my cooking. I was just in a crunch for time this year, and decided to do it this way. Believe me when I say, this is the way it will be done every year from now on.

Since Thanksgiving, I have made many of the recipes in this book. I have not been disappointed with one single recipe. I have raved about this book so much to my friends, that I have since begun giving this cookbook as a gift.

If you are interested in enjoying your parties, too, then I suggest you get this book and try the tips and the recipes.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique, 'user friendly', and welcome addition, January 4, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Happy Holidays from the Diva of Do-Ahead: A Year of Feasts to Celebrate With Family And Friends (Paperback)

In "Happy Holidays From The Diva Of Do-Ahead: A Year Of Feasts To Celebrate With Family And Friends", author, chef, and caterer, Diane Phillips draws upon her more than twenty years of professional experience and expertise to compile a compendium of recipes and ideas for twelve full holiday menus for superbly prepared gourmet meals. Each individual meal menu is broken down into step-by-step preparations that can be easily accomplished in manageable stages days, weeks, and even a month or more ahead of time - all without sacrificing quality in appearance, nutrition or taste! For each menu "Happy Holidays From The Diva Of Do-Ahead" provides the kitchen cook with a helpful countdown, a list of items to have on hand, instructions on economically finding what is needed, as well as 'Diva Tips' on substitutions, decorating and presentation. From a New Year's Eve Party and a Morning-After Brunch, to Memorial Day Picnic, to a Halloween party for All Ages, "Happy Holidays From The Diva Of Do-Ahead" is a unique, 'user friendly', and welcome addition to any family or community library cookbook collection!