Al Roker's Hassle-Free Holiday Cookbook: More Than 125 Recipes for Family Celebrations All Year Long (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Mark Thomas (Photographer), (Contributor) "Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year..." (more)
Key Phrases: wire whisk until the cream, thaw before proceeding, cup chilled heavy cream, Super Bowl, Labor Day, Boxing Day (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

From Thanksgiving and Christmas to Super Bowl Sunday, the Fourth of July, and Halloween, holidays are a time to enjoy the company of family and friends, not to spend hours working alone in the kitchen. Al Roker is passionate about food and cooking, but he also knows that spending time with his family is more important than preparing a seven-course meal for Easter dinner. In Al Roker's Hassle-Free Holiday Cookbook, Al presents more than 125 simple and casual recipes that will make your holiday gatherings stress free and special.

Here are traditional American favorites for every occasion, from no-cook appetizers and simple side dishes to manageable main courses, and of course, plenty of grilling and outdoor food. And Al has the classics covered -- Thanksgiving turkey with gravy, stuffing, and all the trimmings; splendid Christmas fare, including Crown Pork Roast with Fruit Stuffing and scrumptious and quick gift breads and cookies; satisfying Super Bowl Sunday chili and snacks; a romantic Valentine's Day menu for two; and Halloween treats for adults and kids. Enjoy a Fourth of July picnic of Oven-Fried Chicken with Pecan-Cornmeal Crust accompanied by appetizing salads; honor the patron saint of barbecue on St. Lawrence Day with Texas Brisket and Al's fabulous Grilled Glazed Doughnuts with Vanilla Ice Cream; or try a St. Patrick's Day menu of Irish Stew, Soda Bread, and Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce.

Al provides his own holiday memories and tells how his family holiday celebrations have evolved over time. There are also a wealth of tips and hints on topics such as how to stock a holiday pantry, carve a turkey, handle leftovers creatively, and cook with kids. Think of Al Roker's Hassle-Free Holiday Cookbook as the one thing you'll need to make each holiday flavorful, easy, and fun -- even for the cook!

About the Author

Al Roker began working at NBC in 1983. He is the author of the bestsellers Al Roker's Big Bad Book of Barbecue and Don't Make Me Stop This Car! He lives in New York City with his wife, ABC news correspondent Deborah Roberts, and their three children.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (October 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743249526
• ISBN-13: 978-0743249522
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 8.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,363,203 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I REALLY LOVE ROKER!, November 12, 2004

By	Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Al is one of my favorite Food TV personalities. I particularly love ot watch his Colonial Christmas special every year, especially seeing the old fat Al trying on pilgrim clothes.

This book is filled with excellent recipes as well as Al's wit and wisdom for celebrations. It contains a collection of Al's best-loved, tried-and-true recipes for every holiday in the calendar year. So for those of you who don't know what to serve for the holidays, Al has some solutions to help you celebrate the season.

Recipes like a Rum Glazed baked ham, Bourbon Balls, Whiskey Bread Pudding, Chocolate Mousse and more. Al covers all the holidays from Christmas to Halloween, to a St. Patricks Day feast with all the recipe details, tips, and Al's enthusiastic humor.


As much fun to read as the recipes are to eat!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top of the line!, November 1, 2005

By	Mark Twain "Gillian" (New York) - See all my reviews

Wonderful cookbook, with an eclectic collection of tempting recipes! Warmly written, with descriptions of why the recipes are special -- and clearly written, precise recipes to virtually guarantee success. As a bonus, personal words from a respected TV personality interspersing a little about himself and his family. Everything I love in a cookbook; highest recommendation

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Book, November 17, 2003

By	chicoer2003 "chicoer2003" (Fresno, CA United States) - See all my reviews

The cookbook is full of recipes. They're an eccentric group of recipes. They're easy to follow and the photos are beautiful. Roker even gives little tips like using pretzels as toothpicks.