Christmas 101: Celebrate the Holiday Season - From Christmas to New Year's (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From the man who reinvented Thanksgiving comes--Christmas! This isn't to say that Buddhists, Jews, and Muslims should read no further. We're talking end-of-the-year feasting here. Gather up the family and clear the kitchen counters. Make room in the refrigerator. The old is about to give way to the new, and a great feast is the best gift of them all, be that a Christmas feast or whatever you may call it. Rick Rodgers shows the way with Christmas 101, identifying all possible pitfalls and minefields, encouraging mass preplanning so that you, the host or hostess, can also kick back at a certain point and become part of the festivities. There is more to life, after all, than polishing the silverware.

This slim volume is loaded with recipes and information in chapters such as "Making a List and Checking It Twice"; "Appetizers, Snacks, and Beverages" (where you'll find Old Fashioned Egg Nog); "Salads, Soups, and Other First Courses" (try Orange and Red Onion Salad with Cranberry-Orange Vinaigrette); "Roasts, Birds, and Other Main Courses" (if you're over turkey, try Crown Roast of Pork with Apple Stuffing and Hard Cider Sauce); "Side Dishes and Stuffings" (how about Giant Potato and Leek Rösti?); "Festive Breads" (bake up a crusty Moravian Sugar Cake); "Candies" (we liked Chocolate-Orange Truffles); "Cookies" (roll out some Linzer Cookies); "Desserts" (enjoy Deep Dark Stout Gingerbread); and a holiday menu planner. Does that sound all-inclusive or what? There's even more than the thousand-and-one things to do with turkey that Rodgers presented in his first volume in this series, Thanksgiving 101.

What's particularly nice about this book is that Rodgers focuses on the feast, not the setting for the feast. He knows his business and he sticks to it. "When it comes to holiday decorating," he writes,

if it can't be done simply and quickly, I don't do it.... My strengths lie in the kitchen. You won't find me hot-gluing Styrofoam reindeer. But if you can fit craft projects into your schedule, be my guest.

--Schuyler Ingle

Product Description

100 easy, fun recipes--with menus and timetables for stress-free entertaining--to put you in the holiday spirit!

Your tree is up and decorated, the carolers are singing, and there's just one thought on your mind: How am I going to get Christmas dinner on the table and still have enough energy to plan that New Year's bash?

Rick Rodgers, cooking teacher and author of the bestselling Thanksgiving 101, once again takes you by the hand to help you entertain (and still be entertaining) during this hectic season. Christmas 101 features 100 of Rick's never-fail recipes, from holiday classics such as egg nog, glazed ham, and gingerbread cookies, to contemporary ideas such as Shrimp Bisque with Confetti Vegetables, Prime Ribs, and Apple Shortcakes with Brandied Cream. And since the holiday season keeps going long after the last Christmas present is opened, there are plenty of New Year's ideas, from an intimate dinner for four to an open house buffet for the entire neighborhood.

Whether you're a novice preparing your first holiday dinner or an experienced cook seeking new ideas, Christmas 101 is all you'll need.

Learn everything you need to know about Christmas cookie making, with detailed instructions on baking, storing, and mailing
Create the flavors of the season, from spirited drinks like hot buttered rum and spiced punch to holiday goodies like special breads and homemade candies
Save time with soup-to-nuts menus and detailed timetables for holiday parties, from an all-dessert "Nutcracker Sweets" party to a tree trimming buffet

Christmas 101 has holiday entertaining all wrapped up, with enough festive recipes to keep you celebrating all year long.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; 1 edition (October 12, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767903994
• ISBN-13: 978-0767903998
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,233,601 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This item is part of The Rick Rodgers' 101 Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is holiday survival!, October 26, 1999

By A Customer

CHRISTMAS 101, a parallel volume to last year's THANSKGIVING 101, covers all aspects of the holidays, in addition to actual food preparation. There are many tips on how to get all of it--cleaning, decorating, card-writing, grocery shopping, cookie baking, pre-holiday entertaining, the Big Days themselves--all done, while remaining a sane inhabitant of this planet.

This is a book dedicated to good food and good times. Rogers recalls many nostalgic moments from his own lifetime of holidays which will likely evoke the same feelings in most readers. He provides authentic recipes from the past, and also addresses present-day concerns. Offerings include: classic egg nog, as well as a no-raw-egg version; traditional Jell-O salad, plus a more contemporary Roasted Beet & Apple Salad; some popular turkey and ham entrees, plus a fantastic tri-color lasagna. The baking recipes--particularly those involving cookies--are thorough, detailed, and guaranteed to produce spectacular results (and "Cinnamon Stars" is one of the very best I have come across in a long time). Above all, the recipes emphasize do-ahead steps, and rely on readily available ingredients, so that you won't find yourself in the grocery store at 11:30 p.m. on the biggest New Year's Eve of our lifetimes, in search of some exotic item for an hors d'oeuvre recipe.

Rogers is no Martha Stewart, with hot glue gun in hand. Although he provides many successful strategies for decorating, they are straight-forward and easily accomplished. Just as in his last book, he examines the history of certain customs (Christmas punch, holiday cookies, champagne & caviar), and gives some insight into some of today's most popular traditions. His recommendations for Christmas CDs and classic must-see holiday videos are right on target.

It's only October, so take a deep breath, do some reading now, and then sit back to thoroughly enjoy the final holiday season of the 1900s!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, November 20, 1999

By A Customer

This is a wonderful book! The Thanksgiving book was so great that I did not think it could get any better but it did. The recipes are simple yet elegant and fun to serve. There are ideas for all kinds of breads, cakes, and main dishes for all the holidays. Everyone should get this book. Also, if you have any questions about anything in the book, Rick Rogers has a superb web site. Check it out! You can e-mail and ask questions, and they will be answered!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate planning guide., December 12, 1999

By A Customer

Author Rick Rodgers, already the master of all things associated with Thanksgiving has now given us a terrific Christmas/New Year's guide. His practical suggestions include everything from setting up the perfect holiday cocktail party to getting the cards written (you don't really need to do them ALL at one sitting!), to planning for Christmas & New Year's--both Eve & Day celebrations. The recipes are uncomplicated, and generally use ingredients that are already on-hand. There's lots of nostalgia here & some great suggestions for music (the Ella Fitzgerald CD is the best!). Christmas set-up in our house has already been smoother & more relaxing because of this book.