Product Description

This book is the follow-up to the James Beard Award-nominated Perfect Party Food. In Happy Holidays from the Diva of Do-Ahead, Diane Phillips brings her trademark do-ahead approach to creating delicious menus for 12 holiday celebrations—from a backyard bash for Father’s Day to an elegant Passover Seder. With special emphasis on Thanksgiving and Christmas, each holiday features one or more make-ahead menus, plus recipe variations and tips on table settings, decorations, guest lists, estimating beverage amounts, and more. Featuring a beautiful 16-page color photo insert and 125 foolproof recipes, this is an invaluable book for both novice cooks and seasoned entertainers looking to take the stress out of entertaining and enjoy the holidays with family and friends.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #179199 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

From Publishers Weekly
The self-proclaimed Diva of Do-Ahead says she is "the coach to help you get the dinner prepared ahead of time so you can enjoy your family and friends." Her point: what fun is a party when the harried host is stuck in the kitchen? The thorough and engaging Diva comes through, offering creative ideas for invitations, tips for deciding how much food to make and recommendations for equipment and tools. Her 12 party plans span the year, from New Year's Eve through Passover to Christmas. Do-ahead countdowns have specifics for planning ahead (from six months down to five minutes before an event). Classic recipes include Grilled Lemon Chicken Breast; innovative ones include Roasted Tomato and Pesto Cheesecake with Polenta Crust, and Creamy Corn Bisque with French Chives and Heart-Shaped Crostini. Highlights come from the Thanksgiving and Christmas classes she's taught for 15 years, including an impressive strategy for the perfect roast turkey. The book's clear language and devotion to detail make it appropriate for novices and accomplished cooks alike. (Oct.)
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About the Author
Diane Phillips has been teaching her easy, elegant, do-ahead approach to parties and holiday get-togethers at cooking schools around the country for more than 15 years. She is a spokesperson for Lipton Recipe Secrets and the author of several cookbooks, including Perfect Party Food, The Ultimate Rotisserie Cookbook, and The Soup Mix Gourmet. She is also the author of The Perfect Basket: How to Make a Fabulous Gift Basket for Any Occasion.

Customer Reviews

Discerning Foodie
I hope Dianne is enjoying her yacht on the Riveria. This book was so fabulous that I bought it for at least twenty friends and family. The book is extremely reliable, easy and very inspiring. You feel as though you are getting one on one cooking coaching. It makes cooking non intimidating and fun. I used this as my holiday "bible" and sailed through with rave reviews. The book allowed me to pace myself so that I wasn't wiped at the end that being the goal and beauty of this book. I would highly recommend this for an experienced chef as well as a novice. Great job Dianne. Many Thanks!!!! This will be a party classic for years and years.

A unique, 'user friendly', and welcome addition
In "Happy Holidays From The Diva Of Do-Ahead: A Year Of Feasts To Celebrate With Family And Friends", author, chef, and caterer, Diane Phillips draws upon her more than twenty years of professional experience and expertise to compile a compendium of recipes and ideas for twelve full holiday menus for superbly prepared gourmet meals. Each individual meal menu is broken down into step-by-step preparations that can be easily accomplished in manageable stages days, weeks, and even a month or more ahead of time - all without sacrificing quality in appearance, nutrition or taste! For each menu "Happy Holidays From The Diva Of Do-Ahead" provides the kitchen cook with a helpful countdown, a list of items to have on hand, instructions on economically finding what is needed, as well as 'Diva Tips' on substitutions, decorating and presentation. From a New Year's Eve Party and a Morning-After Brunch, to Memorial Day Picnic, to a Halloween party for All Ages, "Happy Holidays From The Diva Of Do-Ahead" is a unique, 'user friendly', and welcome addition to any family or community library cookbook collection!

No kitchen should be without it!
Diane Phillips' Happy Holidays cookbook has become one of my favorites (and I have a collection of about 200 cookbooks). I love to cook for friends and family, but also like to be able to spend time visiting with them. I've tried three of Diane's complete meals (appetizers through desserts) and have not only found every recipe to be delicious and attractive, but was able to do the majority of preparation well ahead of time. Although I'm retired, it's great for working folks also because you can do a dish every couple of evenings, freeze or refrigerate them, depending on the dish, and just add the last minute touches on the day of your dinner. I've gotten rave reviews on each of her 'feasts' and look forward to cooking more of them.