Christmas Delights is not your average modern cookbook, a baker's dozen recipes alongside full page photographs–pretty, but with little substance. No, this is your mother or grandmother's cookbook, a weighty and serious volume with more than 200 scrumptious recipes divided into comprehensive sections that make it quick and easy to find exactly what you are looking for. The recipes are laid out in a clear and consistent manner, easy to follow and understand for even a kitchen novice. At the same time, more experienced cooks will not find themselves bored by the recipes, which offer many unique ideas and flavor combinations that are sure to tantalize the tastebuds.

Christmas Delights is packed with extras including the history of Christmas traditions around the world, the meaning of familiar Christmas symbols, even tips on how to care for your poinsettia. There are also several Christmas-themed poems by Karen Hood, and these have her usual simple yet elegant style, ensuring that this section of the book will be read and enjoyed time and time again. Further facts about Christmas are sprinkled throughout the cookbook, livening up the recipes with fun tidbits of trivia. There is also a US and Metric Measurement Chart in the back, an invaluable assistance for conversions and measuring ingredients; a glossary of cooking terms that will help even an inexperienced cook feel comfortable in the kitchen; and an alphabetized index of recipes.

Karen Jean Matsko Hood has a great deal of experience in the kitchen, and it definitely shows. I tried out several of the recipes: Ham Casserole Supreme, Artichoke Green Chile Dip, and Butternut Ball Cookies. The ham casserole made a wonderful dinner that my entire family loved, a very flavorful and unique twist on the old favorite macaroni and cheese. The dip was very quick and easy to make, and again provided an unexpected and delightful twist on the usual artichoke dip that I am familiar with. The cookies also made a big hit, and were alot of fun to make. I have looked through many of the other recipes in the book and am very excited about trying them out. There are many fun ideas that any parent or grandparent will love to make with their little ones. The Cookie Casserole in particular looks like it will be a blast for children, and every recipe I turn to sounds delicious. This is definitely a cookbook my family will enjoy not just at the holidays, but all year long.

Make your holiday one to remember forever! Purchase Christmas Delights today!

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All Hallow’s Eve is less two weeks away, and if you haven’t started planning for the holiday, you may be in a panic right now wondering what costume you will wear, how you will decorate your house, and what to do for the party you promised all your friends. Not to fear! First, take a deep breath and take a look at some of the excellent articles preceding this one. From costumes to harvest festivals, they’ll give you some great ideas to get started on your Halloween celebration no matter how much you’ve procrastinated.

Another quick and easy tip to jumpstart your Halloween planning is to peruse a copy of Karen Jean Matsko Hood’s Halloween Delights. Far more than just a cookbook, Halloween Delights is a treasure trove of ideas that will help you create the most memorable Halloween possible. Packed with innovative recipes that will both delight the tastebuds and send shivers up and down your spine, this book gives you everything you need to quickly develop a theme around which to plan your entire holiday. You will find yourself inspired by just a brief glance at the recipes–there are over 200 to choose from, and they can help create an atmosphere that is spectacularly ghoulish, fun and playful, or anything in between.

For example, you may be inspired to use a monster theme by such treats as Goblin Dip with Bone Crackers and Eerie Eyeballs , or perhaps the Graveyard Cake and Disappearing Ghost Cookies will prompt you to decorate your house as a cemetery and dress up as a haunting spirit. Doubling as both a decorative centerpiece and a tasty treat is the Bleeding Human Heart, a delicious red gelatin that bleeds when you slice it. You could design an entire party around that one item: imagine the lair of a mad scientist, perhaps even Dr. Frankenstein himself, and all the grisly things you might encounter there. Witches, vampire bats, even less frightful symbols of Halloween like the black cat and jack-o-lantern, and so much more can be found in Halloween Delights. You will be thrilled with the abundance of creative ideas, and your party guests will be impressed and delightfully spooked.

Click here to purchase Halloween Delights today!

The owner of Mountain Valley View Farm and the Farmer’s Parlor from Mountain Valley View Farm, author Karen Jean Matsko Hood, has written Huckleberry Delights Cookbook for your cooking enjoyment. Packed with history about huckleberries, directions for canning, and delicious huckleberry recipes for every course, this book is great for all skill levels.

Banana Huckleberry Bread

Ingredients:

1¾ c. sifted flour

2 tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

⅓ c. butter or margarine

⅔ c. sugar

2 eggs

1 c. bananas, mashed

1 c. huckleberries

Directions:

1. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. Cream butter and gradually beat in sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add flour mixture and banana alternately in three parts. Gently stir in huckleberries.
4. Pour into oiled 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.
6. Take out of pan and set aside to cool.

Deluxe Huckleberry Mousse

Ingredients:

¼ c. cold water

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

3 c. huckleberries, thawed with juice

1½ c. sugar

1 c. plain yogurt

½ c. heavy cream, whipped

2 egg whites, beaten to stiff peaks

2 Tbs. Amaretto liqueur

mint for garnish

Directions:

1. Sprinkle gelatin over cold water and let stand.
2. Mix huckleberries and sugar.
3. In a saucepan, cook mixture over moderate heat, about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Add softened gelatin and stir to dissolve.
5. Cool to room temperature and puree in a blender.
6. Fold in yogurt and whipped cream, then the beaten egg whites and Amaretto.
7. Spoon into 8 wine glasses and chill one hour.
8. Just before serving garnish with a mint leaf.

Buy Huckleberry Delights Cookbook now to enjoy the flavor of the season!