Everyday Celebrations: Savoring Food, Family, and Life at Home (Paperback)

~ (Author), France Ruffenach (Photographer) "Our five senses can bring us immeasurable pleasure..." (more)
Key Phrases: List of Ingredients, Tiny Turkey Meatballs, Pink Grapefruit Shortcake (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The closeness of family, the beauty of the seasons, laughter among friends, the festivity of a shared meal—why wait for the holidays to count our blessings and mark them by rejoicing? Donata Maggipinto, lifestyle contributor for NBC's Today show, reawakens our appreciation for all that has meaning in life in Everyday Celebrations and shares her sensational craft and food recipes to create heartwarming gatherings at home. Whether it's a spring garden celebration with asparagus and basil frittatas or creating bejeweled star ornaments in winter, each thoughtful/creative/clever touch and mmmm-inspiring recipe takes advantage of seasonal ingredients and materials to capture a distinct moment in time. Sparkling with style and great ideas, this entertaining book will make every day a special occasion, and every get-together a celebration.

About the Author

Donata Maggipinto has authored several books, including Christmas Family Gatherings and Halloween Treats. She lives in Marin County, California, with her husband, sons, and assorted animals. France Ruffenach's photographs have appeared in Real Simple, Bon Appétit, and Travel + Leisure magazines, as well as in such books as Inner Beauty (0-8118-4276-2) and Knitting Pretty (0-8118-3533-2).

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811844870
• ISBN-13: 978-0811844871
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,393,646 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars These Celebrations are not for everyday., March 24, 2008

By	kiwanissandy "Go Bucks!" (Heart of Ohio) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Having a book titled Everyday Celebrations would lead one to believe that it would be ideas that could be done easily, or in a day or simply. Most of these suggestions are neither.
For elegant eggs the suggestions were to fill galvanized pails with bird seed, and nestle blown-out eggs in them. Another idea was to rest one or two robins' eggs in a homemade nest of bright orange embroidery floss. There are no instructions for building this nest made out of orange embroidery floss, no idea how much floss to purchase, or what it should look like.
Another idea was to arrange cupcakes on a platter and decorate with letters cut from purchased refrigerator sugar cookie dough. I'm assuming you'd have to bake the letter cookies although the directions do not state to bake the cookies. Quite unclear.

One of the party ideas was red, white and blueberry breakfast. It calls for making nectarine ginger pancakes, blueberry turkey sausage, blueberry muffins and cherry-blueberry compote with brown sugar mascarpone. The pancakes use grated fresh ginger with juice, and nectarines pitted and diced, top with blueberries and syrup. The turkey sausage involves mixing white meat, dark meat, onions, allspice, blueberries, etc making your own patties and cooking. There were no decorating suggestions for this party.
Another suggestion for decorating was to use a gourd for a doorstop, splitting walnuts in half, removing the nut and then filling each half with salt and one with pepper and using on the table. I guess you'd serve with your fingers (?).

I did give it 2 stars because the photography is excellent, it's a beautiful cookbook just the ideas are not very practical.