Thursday, November 13, 2008

Katie Brown Celebrates - Review and Giveaway!


(Thank you to Hatchette Book Group for providing this book for my review.)
Rating: 5/5
Grade: A - All ages

From the publisher:

"In KATIE BROWN CELEBRATES, Katie gives readers a reason to host a party every month of the year. From a festive New Year's Eve dinner to a lavish Christmas brunch, from the perfect child's birthday party to a down-home family reunion, readers will delight in Katie's signature approach to making any celebration simply wonderful. With delicious recipes, straightforward craft projects, and tips for casual entertaining, Katie shows how any host can make a delicious meal and create gorgeous ambiance without the hassle. KATIE BROWN CELEBRATES is a must-have for anyone who ever gives--or has ever thought of giving--a party"

My Review:
This book really is every thing it claims to be -from the glossy full page pictures, to the simple yet elegant recipes. Katie Brown gives us a dinner party to host for every month. Each month has a specific theme which she carries through the recipes and table decorations and setting. Three projects are given for the table layout for each month, and these are all so simple and inexpensive that even I could do them - and that is saying a lot. I do not craft.

The book is very beautiful, I will make sure to keep it out of the kitchen when I am using the recipes though, mine tend to get encrusted in all sorts of unidentifiable substances.

One of the really great things about this book is that the dinners were actually prepared and eaten by Katie and her guests. The pictures of them enjoying the food are fun and natural. (I especially love that Katie is not made-up to within an inch of her life, but is photographed in her natural state - freckles and all.)

I could not, of course, do a review of a cookbook without trying one of the recipes. So, today I made the Honey-spiced almonds to eat on our salad for dinner. The instructions were clear and simple. The ingredients I had on hand. The finished product absolutely delicious.

I am not a professional food photographer, the pictures in the book looked much more appetizing, but here it is anyhow.



Honey-Spiced Almonds:


And now for the giveaway!

Hatchette Book Group is making available five copies of this beautiful book to my readers! If you would like the chance to be one of the lucky five please folow the rules below for entry:

1. Sorry, as the book ships from the publisher it is only availabe to U.S and Canada address'.

2. For 1 entry simply leave a comment on this post, or e-mail me at: lisalouhoo at msn dot com.

3. If you would like to have 2 entries, and double your chance of winning, become a follower of my blog. I just would love to see all of your faces smiling at me.And then you will be notified of my upcoming giveaways: three more books to come in the near future.(Hint: click on follow this blog on the sidebar.)

4. Contest ends Saturday, November 22, 2008. Entries must be in by midnight MST.

Good luck!



If you can't wait for the contest to end, or don't win a copy, you can buy the book at Powell's.

Or Amazon:

31 comments:

kalea_kane November 13, 2008 at 6:34 PM  

With the holidays a coming, how can I pass up the chance to win a perfect how to. And believe me...I need it. :)

Thanks!

Kelly

kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

Neverwithoutabook November 13, 2008 at 11:05 PM  

I'd love to be able to add this book to my collection, and of course I'm sure there will be tons of good recipes and celebration ideas! Please enter me. Thanks.

Tara November 13, 2008 at 11:32 PM  

Please enter me - would love to win!

Unknown November 14, 2008 at 8:11 AM  

ok Lisa, I may be a little slow, but I just discovered your book blog! Awsome! I love books and am always in need of a good read. I live with a woman who reads a ton, however it is just mindless roamance drabble or retarded LDS fiction. I am sorry to anyone else who reads those books, I cant stand them! Give me a good classic be it romance or not, a great historical or political book and I am glued! That said, I love to cook and could us a good cook book that also tells me how to decorate! So enter me in please!

Unknown November 14, 2008 at 8:12 AM  

ps, I think you should continue your rambling blog. I love stimulating and thoughtful insights.

Melissa November 14, 2008 at 9:00 AM  

This is a great blog site and how wonderful that you get to give away such great books. Count me in for this giveaway....You know I love to cook and with the holidays fast approaching us, this book would sure come in handy. Thanks so much.

Melissa November 14, 2008 at 9:04 AM  

PS. The Honey Spiced Almonds look very yummy. I bet that was one good salad!

Colleen November 14, 2008 at 2:32 PM  

sounds like the perfect book for the holiday season- please sign me up!
Colleen
Foreign Circus Library

Unknown November 14, 2008 at 4:20 PM  

Katie Brown is great, I've been watching her TV shows for years. Please enter me!

jgbeads AT gmail DOT com

Unknown November 14, 2008 at 4:21 PM  

I'm a new Follower too!

jgbeads AT gmail DOT com

Ladytink_534 November 14, 2008 at 7:56 PM  

Ooh! I love books like this! I might have to use that Almond recipe in my baking this year.

darbyscloset November 14, 2008 at 9:04 PM  

Hi Lisa,
Books on how to host parties can only help me they surely can't hurt!
Thanks so much
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

Me... November 14, 2008 at 9:05 PM  

I've just recently started entertaining in my home, so this would be a great book for me!

daq_17 at hotmail dot com

darbyscloset November 14, 2008 at 9:06 PM  

Lisa,
I subscribed to follow your blog..yet w/o picture (sorry perhaps smiling happy face will be seen soon!)
Again, please enter me,
Thank you
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

Henry November 15, 2008 at 12:13 AM  

I saw this book reviewed elsewhere and wanted it. After your review, I want it even more!

quitecontrary1977@hotmail.com

Shooting Stars Mag November 15, 2008 at 3:16 PM  

oh, this sounds like a fun book. please enter me!

and i just became a follower of your blog too.

-lauren
lauren51990 at aol dot com

Kaye November 16, 2008 at 9:02 AM  

Don't you just love books with nice pictures. Then you can see how the recipe SHOULD look. Enter me in the contest please. Thanks!

florida982002@yahoo dot com

bevsclark November 16, 2008 at 3:24 PM  

If I don't win the book, will you send me some of those almonds as a consolation prize? They look so good.

Lindsey November 16, 2008 at 3:55 PM  

This sounds like a beautiful book, and I definitely need some help in the cooking area. :-) Thanks for the great giveaway!

Lindsey
ladyufshalott at yahoo.com

Lindsey November 16, 2008 at 3:55 PM  

I'm a follower!

ladyufshalott at yahoo.com

Gwendolyn B. November 19, 2008 at 7:10 AM  

This book looks wonderful! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Gwendolyn B. November 19, 2008 at 7:11 AM  

I follow your blog!

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Sherry November 19, 2008 at 10:24 AM  

This is exactly the kind of self help book I need!

bedfordbookclub@yahoo.com

I am now a follower of your blog.

thanks!

Belladonna1975 November 19, 2008 at 6:07 PM  

This book looks beautiful! I love cookbooks. Thanks for entering me in your giveaway!

caseykelp November 19, 2008 at 6:24 PM  

would love to win this..please count me in.
Thank you

Wrighty November 20, 2008 at 1:44 AM  

I saw this book recently and it looks so nice. Please enter my name too and thanks so much for this contest!

5wrights1@verizon.net

Anna November 20, 2008 at 6:01 AM  

I love cookbooks, and those almonds sound and look delicious. Thanks for the great giveaway!

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
diaryofaneccentric[at]hotmail[dot]com

Holly November 20, 2008 at 10:24 AM  

I would love to win a copy of this with the holidays coming up! Please enter me.

hollybooknotes[at]gmail[dot]com

E November 22, 2008 at 9:32 AM  

Curious to see Katie's recipes...please enter me in your contest.

And I just became one of your blog followers. :-)

aoife96 AT yahoo DAWT com

Bingo November 22, 2008 at 10:08 AM  

Would love to win this book! But even better is discovering your blog as I am trying to develop my own and I like your clever ideas! It gives me something to think about. I am a reading teacher and SO happy to hear you are raising little readers ! Good for you! Have a fun Turkey day!

Jaclyn November 22, 2008 at 10:33 AM  

I would love to win this book. And I added myself as a follower.

Jaclyn
jcl626@mail.usask.ca

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