Christmas is the favourite time of the year for many of us, with present exchanges, food & drink and socialising with friends & family at the top of the agenda. But what are the true origins and meaning of this seemingly inexhaustible celebration? Although most of our current customs only go back a few hundred years - Father Christmas as we know him dressed in red and white much less - there has been a festival at this time in the year for thousands of years. Although these days it is taken to mean the commemoration of the birth of Jesus, the date of December 25 was that of the winter solstice in Roman times, and other cultures have celebrated the darkest winter night for millennia. This book looks at all aspects of what the festive period means for people all over the world, beginning with a history of Christmas that looks at Yule, Nativity and Christmas as well as pagan celebrations. The embodiment of Christmas, Father Christmas, has a whole chapter, and this jolly character we know and love has a long history, not to mention a big bag of presents! But wait - there's myrrh(!): quotes, jokes, sayings and words of wisdom and fun from around the world, as well as fun facts about how, where, when and why we celebrate - and we look at curious customs from around the world. SAMPLE FACT: The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, has been tracking Santa's journey around the world since 1958.

The charming world of Miss Maggie’s Kitchen brings a mixture of refined classic French style with a modern twist, for perfect, effortless entertaining.

Heloïse Brion’s early life was rhythmed by mealtimes―from her childhood in Florida, where her mother proudly upheld the tradition of the French family dinner, to summers spent in the Pyrenees where her grandmother cooked over a wood-fire oven. Her passion for food―always respectful of the seasons and the origins of her products―followed her back to France where she pursed a career in fashion.

What initially began as a whimsical pastime turned into Miss Maggie’s Kitchen, her brand that blends cooking, travel, and lifestyle in a perfect alchemy. Her innate talent for style and entertaining stems from her informal American approach to life mixed with her inherent French flair. Here, Brion shares more than eighty laid-back recipes for every occasion, including her beautiful table settings that are festive and welcoming. Her simple, authentic, and tasty cuisine includes sweet potato crostini, summer tomato pizza, veal stew, pistachio and clementine cake, and lavender lemonade. Brion’s husband, photographer Christophe Roué, captures the charm of Miss Maggie’s Kitchen where retro and modern culminate in the ultimate comfortable elegance.

You're inspired by the cookie decorating trend on TV and social media, but how can you find your way through the maze of information out there? You turn to The Beginner's Guide to Cookie Decorating. In this comprehensive guide, Mary Valentino of Emma's Sweets, a winner of the Food Network's "Christmas Cookie Challenge," reveals her latest and greatest easy techniques and designs that are perfect for beginner hobbyists. Everything is included to help you advance your cookie-decorating skills, including information on basic supplies and upgrades, choosing and using color, tasty cookie and icing recipes, and an array of cookie designs: vivid flowers, adorable animals, cute clothing, seasonal motifs, and much more. She also shares the most up-to-date simple techniques for creating wow effects, including easy hand painting, embellishing, piping, color blocking, sparkly effects, and using molds. Watch your budding embellishment skills blossom with these ideas and inspiration: Professional-looking cookie designs for every season and occasion How to mix colors and create appealing palettes Techniques and troubleshooting tips for getting the perfect icing consistency every time No-fail, delicious cookie and icing recipes How to get the most out of cookie cutters How to achieve dimensional and texture effects that make cookies pop Let cookie decorating star Mary Valentino show you how simple it is to create amazing cookies that taste as good as they look!

Put a unique spin on your entertaining and arrange eye-catching platters that will keep friends and family coming back for more with Complete Charcuterie. This beautiful cookbook guides you on how to pair cheeses, meats, condiments, drinks, and an assortment of other ingredients that can be used on serving boards. These simple, inventive preparations will bring your serving boards to the next level. Be bold and take your entertaining from so-so to exceptional. Experiment with flavor profiles and find combinations that suit your unique palate. Use the boards in this book as a guide or build your own boards around your personal taste. Inside you'll find: - Expert advice and insights on composing elegant, inventive boards that balance flavor profiles and textures. - Board-friendly recipes for crackers, breads, preserves, pickles, flavored nuts, dips, spreads, and decadent desserts, plus suggested drink pairings. - Vibrant photography that shows you how to assemble memorable boards and provides visual inspiration. - Recipes from Murray's Cheese, Publican Quality Meats, The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, Lady & Larder, Mike's Hot Honey, Blake Hill Preserves, Esters Wine Shop & Bar, and Vermont Creamery. Take the mystery out of charcuterie. With more than 200 boards and recipes built around popular and festive themes with a special emphasis on seasonally focused recipes so you can always keep things fresh, let Complete Charcuterie be your inspiring source for memorable and delicious entertaining.

Ever wondered what to do in polite society if you find an insect in your food? Or how a gentleman should ask a lady to dance? And what on earth is the etiquette for smoking cigars? First published in 1860, Cecil B. Hartley's classic guide to gentlemanly behaviour is a veritable mine of information and indispensable advice for aspiring gentlemen. No matter if a man finds himself at a party, meeting someone new or travelling abroad, he has but to leaf through this book to learn how best to behave, and indeed how not to behave. And if he can find time between his numerous invitations to balls and hunting parties, he could benefit from a perusal of the sections on gentlemanly deportment and conversational technique. Not forgetting, of course, the all-important advice on how to treat ladies, surely an integral part of any true gentleman's training. Published here in a stunning edition alongside The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, this is the perfect gift for the would-be gentleman in your life. While it's an excellent volume for dipping into for hilarious nuggets of outdated advice, this guide also contains advice on all manner of topics, from beard-keeping to chivalry, that are just as relevant today as they were in Cecil B. Hartley's time. As he says himself: 'Once a gentleman always a gentleman' and be sure that you can so carry out the rule, that in your most careless, joyous moments, when freest from the restraints of etiquette, you can still be recognizable as a gentleman by every act, word, or look.

With coverage of the management of a catering business and 201 expert recipes from The Culinary Institute of America, the new edition of this well-established book is an ideal basic text for students of catering.

The Jenni Kayne design line embodies a natural, earthy and effortless aesthetic one that is intentional and where beauty and authenticity exist in every detail. A natural extension of this ethos, Jenni Kayne Entertaining illustrates Jenni s conscious way of living through personal anecdotes and tips, paired with beautiful on-location photography. Organised by season, with each section featuring a different landscape, this inspirational entertaining guide is full of ideas for enjoying special moments with family and friends. Every season includes home design inspirations, craft ideas, tips for what to stock in your kitchen and pantry, what to plant in your garden, as well as entertaining concepts and recipes. From an apple harvest dinner and herb-drying activities in the fall and cocktail parties and DIY gift ideas in winter, to flower arranging in the spring and beach picnics in the summer, Jenni shares her philosophy for living joyfully and mindfully. An inspiring hands-on approach for stylish and balanced living, Jenni Kayne Entertaining shows us how to make the most of the time we spend together, treating life s details with creativity and care.

SHOP SMART and COOK CLEVER to save time and money in the kitchen. Lorna Cooper of popular cookery blog Feed Your Family for GBP20 A Week is back with her most useful cookbook yet. As a busy mum of three, Lorna Cooper knows only too well the challenge of feeding a busy family on a budget. With this new book she'll teach you how to transform one key ingredient into four meals - saving you time, money and headspace, and also reducing waste with every dish. For every recipe cooked from scratch, Lorna will show you how to make three more fuss-free dishes to feed four people. From a delicious Roast Chicken dinner that also gives you Lemon Chicken and Pasta Soup, Taco Bell Chicken Quesadillas, and Chicken Bolognaise, to an all-in-one Pot Roast Pork that transforms into Mexican Pork Soup, Pulled Pork Nachos and Pork Jambalaya for the days that follow, never has delicious, affordable family food been easier. With chapters on chicken, lamb, pork, fish and vegetables, plus lots of savvy tips on batch cooking, loving your leftovers and getting the most out of all your ingredients, this book is packed full of ideas for simple, tasty food the whole family will love.

Eat your way through the most legendary foods from the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, and more, with over 70 recipes of the most delicious and nerdiest eats as realistically imagined by Cassandra Reeder aka The Geeky Chef. Whether you binge sci-fi TV shows, rewatch cult films, get addicted to MMORPGs, or read all the fantasy book series, The Geeky Chef Cookbook has your fictional food fantasies covered. For super fans of every variety, this leveled-upcookbook will soon have you unlocking achievements in the kitchen, no matter if you're cooking for yourself, a friend, or even a viewing party. So, if you loveGame of Thrones, Legend of Zelda, Doctor Who, World ofWarcraft, Final Fantasy, Star Wars, or any other inspiring work of nerd content, set your stomach to empty and dive in. Let your love for sci-fi or fantasy shine with The Geeky Chef series by creating food and drinks from your favorite shows, movies, and video games. Your cool, homemade, fiction-themed spread will make you the life of the party. Incredibly fun and creative, and colorfully designed, The Geeky Chef books make the perfect gift for the geek in your life who lives in a world of their own. Other titles in this series include: Geeky Bartender Drinks, Geeky Chef Cookbook, Geeky Chef Drinks, and Geeky Chef Strikes Back.

Thrown everywhere from lush gardens and gracious interior spaces to a Mississippi River sandbar, Julia Reed's parties capture the celebratory nature of entertaining in her native South. Here, her informative and down-to-earth guide to giving an unforgettable party includes secrets she has collected over a lifetime of entertaining. For this book, she offers up a feast of options for holiday cocktails, spring lunches, formal dinners, and even a hunt breakfast. Twelve seasonal events feature delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes, ranging from fried chicken to Charlotte Russe and signature cocktails or wine pairings-she introduces her talented friends (rum makers, potters, fabric designers, bakers) along the way. Each occasion includes gorgeous photographs showing her inspiring approach to everything from invitations and setting a table to arranging flowers and creating the mood. A handbook section provides practical considerations and sources. This irresistible book is the ultimate primer for every party-giver.

Create a little magic this season with the all-new Taste of Home Christmas!

More than 350 recipes, easy crafts, decorating ideas, yuletide hints and kitchen timesavers help you turn homemade holidays into lifelong memories.

Create a little magic this season with the all-new Taste of Home Christmas!

More than 350 recipes, easy crafts, decorating ideas, yuletide hints and kitchen timesavers help you turn homemade holidays into lifelong memories. Tempting appetizers, savory main courses, delicious sides, golden breads and impressive desserts offer everything you need to create a stunning holiday spread. Six complete Christmas dinner menus range from formal and elegant to cozy and intimate, and a chapter devoted to party planning is your guide to turning your home into a hub of holiday cheer. Buttery cookies made for sharing, sweet candies and confections, even delightful food gifts perfect for teachers, neighbors and anyone on your Christmas list--they're all here.

This year, promise to make your season merry and bright with the brand-new Taste of Home Christmas!

A horror movie inspired cocktail book with gross-looking but delicious party drinks, all wrapped up in an awesome '80s VHS package. There are 55 recipes spread across 5 chapters (shots, gelatin, punches, special fx, and non-alcoholic) inspired by classic pulp horror movies of the '80s and '90s, complete with viewing recommendations. The movies may be weird, the drinks may look gross, but the elevated drink making techniques and unusually tasty recipes keep readers and their guests interested and coming back for more. Great for theme parties, Halloween festivals, movie fans, and retro enthusiasts.

Party time is the ultimate party-planning book for parents! It contains 12 fun themes and is jam packed with inspirational ideas. Planning an exciting party has never been easier! A CD with printable templates for signage and decor is also included. Not only are there themes for boys and girls but unisex themes have also been included. The parties cater for all budgets. Those recipes that are included are easy to follow and can either serve as a starting point or can be adjusted to suit your specific theme by changing, for example, the colour of the cake icing.

We all know the state of panic. It's your turn to host the whole family for the holidays, which means dozens of people, so you're already stretched thin. And then you find out that so-and-so's new boyfriend is vegan! Luckily for you, this book is a foolproof guide to making plant-based meals for the holidays. You could start your guests with a round of blinis and faux caviar. Then, when they're getting snacky, bring out the arancini and dairy-free aioli. When you're laying out the big dinner spread, you can offer your vegan guests tempeh and mashed sweet potatoes, stuffed pumpkin, and many more devilishly starchy options. Then, for dessert, roll out the chocolate truffles, a black forest cake, fruit pies, and more! Plus, who even needs meat or animal products, when you're surrounded by your friends and family.

With its trademark snow, piney forests, sleigh rides and woodsmoke curling out of village chimneys, New England was practically invented for the Christmas postcard. It's got your Christmas goose and the maple syrup with which to glaze it. It's most of the reason author Ellen Stimson made Vermont her home. Here she shares recipes that have been in her family for generations, mixes up a cocktail or two, and invites readers to make their own traditions.

Catering for any large scale celebration can be daunting. Where will you hold the event? How much food will you need? When should you start the preparation? This book passes on the secrets of the trade to ensure that the preparation goes smoothly and that the food is just as good as the professionals can offer. It includes a master checklist for the preparations with general advice on choosing the food and drinks, buying in ready-made items, estimating quantities, hiring staff and equipment and other practical considerations. There are five complete menus and drinks suggestions for each type of event: a drinks party with canapes, a fork buffet, a finger buffet and a sit-down meal, with guests varying in number from twenty to sixty. Menus include full preparation plans and recipes. In total there are 120 plus recipes, some with variations.

Daughter of the late David Hicks and goddaughter to Prince Charles, India Hicks is known for her irreverent take on style. In her previous books, she invited readers into her homes on Harbour Island and in England. For her third book, India presents her own slightly madcap spin on entertaining. Organized by meal, the book begins marvelously with the most important meal of the day--cocktail hour--and ends with breakfast. In between, there are family suppers and big dinners, birthday cakes and Christmas crackers, great British breakfasts, quick teas and long lunches, mustard pots as vases, and bedcovers for tablecloths. Like India, these stories are full of personality, from the Panic Dinner (or what to do when you suddenly have a crowd descending) to the Naked Cake (cake decorating for the harried or untalented) to a White Christmas in the Bahamas. Each celebration includes clever advice and inspiration for place settings, homemade flower arrangements, table design, and more. These are parties that make use of what is on hand, whether it's beach towels thrown down a long table, children's candy piled in cups on a tray, or massing palm fronds collected from the lawn. Beautifully photographed and embellished here and there with a bit of Hicks family lore, the book is rounded out with a sprinkling of recipes from India's beloved cook, Claire Williams, fondly known as Top Banana, and other family members, from traditional English fare such as Victoria Sponge to tropical treats such as the Marquess's Banana Daiquiri.

Former Pub Chef of the Year Justin Brown has unveiled his first cook book, Dining Through The Seasons. Aimed at the aspirational home cook, the book is full of seasonal starters, mains and desserts to help you prepare fantastic food that's not only delicious and simple to make, but also uses ingredients which are in season. Justin is one of the country's most talented up and coming chefs. He's packed an enormous amount into his career already, including working for Jamie Oliver and Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood as well as cooking for Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Beckham and Madonna. He won Pub Chef of the Year in 2011 as well as many other accolades.

This is a unique guide to meal preparation that includes not only a complete menu for each feast but detailed suggestions on table settings, centrepieces and even flowers, turning the meal into a complete event honouring both the occasion and the friends and loved ones served. The selection of menu items varies from time-honoured classics to modern experimental cuisine, with a heavy emphasis on comfort foods. Items are selected for each menu based on how their flavours work with those of the other items chosen as well as their suitability for each particular celebration.