Entertaining - General & Miscellaneous, Holiday Cooking - General & Miscellaneous, Cooking - General & Miscellaneous

Celebrations 101

Name: Celebrations 101
Author: Rick Rodgers
ISBN: 9780767914642

by Rick Rodgers

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Overview

Even veteran cooks get the jitters when it comes to playing host. Now Rick Rodgers applies his foolproof techniques to parties large and small, making get-togethers with family and friends simplicity itself. Celebrations 101 offers twenty menus and more than one hundred recipes for entertaining with pain-free panache. Rodgers makes it a breeze to throw parties throughout the year with ideas such as:

* Kick off the New Year with Baked Ham and Pineapple Chutney Glaze, plus Yam and Yukon Gold Potato Salad with Mint

* Spice up Mardi Gras with Warm Red Bean and Andouille Dip and a Bourbon King Cake

* Wow Mom on Mother's Day with Baked Marscapone-Stuffed French Toast and Mimosa Sunrises

* Feeding a smaller group at Thanksgiving? Make it special with Sherried Crab Bisque, Herbed Turkey Roast with Cranberry-Merlot Sauce, and Pumpkin Tart with Hazelnut

* Prepare a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner of Seafood Salad and Veal and Ricotta Lasagna, topped off with a mouthwatering Pear Zuppa Inglese

Celebrations 101 also features the 101 series signature timetables and shopping lists, for truly stress-free, no-fuss feasting. From a Passover Seder or Easter dinner to elegant cocktail parties and a Christmas Cookie Swap, Rodgers offers dozens of recipes for memorable events that cooks will enjoy as much as their guests.

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly

The most challenging aspect of entertaining is often the timing: will various elements of dinner for 12 be hot all at once? Is it all right to make and freeze some dishes ahead of time? And how long does garlic butter keep, anyway? Fans of Rodgers's 101 series know what to do: follow the timetables after each menu, and time-management will be a, well, piece of cake (probably Angel Food with Lemon Mousse Frosting). Rodgers's series (it includes Thanksgiving 101, Christmas 101 and Barbecues 101) boasts a unique layout with a soothing rhythm. This addition has four season-centric sections with several menus in each, ranging from Mardi Gras to Passover, Father's Day to Christmas. A shopping list, recipes, tips and an agenda provide strategies for each soiree, and Rodgers adds personal commentary and historical insight: "A Mardi Gras Celebration" notes the "holy quintet" of seasonings used in Cajun and Creole recipes, and "Halloween Party"-ers may want to remember guests will be in costume, "so don't make food that is too difficult to eat or serve." Clever tidbits ("all food looks good on white ceramic") and succulent close-up photos are enticing, and a list of essential kitchen tools will have readers on the fast track to achieving Rodgers's goal: a memorable celebration and a calm chef. Agent, Susan Ginsburg. (Oct. 12) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

The latest title in Rodgers's popular "101" series (Thanksgiving; Barbecues) provides menus for celebrations and other special occasions, from "A New Year's Day Open House" to "A Christmas Eve Supper." The recipes are appealing, and while some are fairly sophisticated, most of the menus are generally simple, since they are intended for multigenerational gatherings. Practical, timesaving tips and suggestions abound; each menu has both a shopping list and a game plan, with lots of make-ahead options. A prolific cookbook author, Rodgers is also a popular cooking teacher. Recommended for most collections. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.