Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook by Martha Stewart
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Book Reviews of Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook
Book Review: Well done
Summary: 5 Stars
I've owned this book for years and love it. I get it out every time I throw a party. I particularly enjoy hosting afternoon teas and so the tea sandwich recipes have become old standbys and guest favorites. I've tried several other recipes, though, such as "crispy asparagus straws," and "Roquefort grapes," which are to die for. By the way, I'm the type of person who gets a lot of satisfaction and pleasure from assembling armies of tiny, beautiful foods.
No, not ALL the recipes include expensive ingredients, only a few do. And, no, not ALL the recipes are fussy and time-consuming, but some are. It's not hard to figure out that as a host you plan a menu with mostly make-ahead things, and a very few last minute-prep things. It seems to me that those who gave this book a low rating had better stick with opening a jar of salsa and dumping a bag of chips in a bowl. Oh yeah, and maybe a Crockpot with cocktail sausages swimming in grape jelly. If these foods are right up your alley, this book is not.
And lastly, in flipping through it again for inspiration for this review, I'm impressed. This book was published in 1999?! I can't believe how fresh and modern the ideas still look! If it were published today, I would still be thrilled and impressed with it, and would buy it (especially at those used prices).
Book Review: Sublime photographs, tremendous variety: use these to inspire you for a fun movie night or an elegant soiree
Summary: 5 Stars
The phrase "hors d'oeuvres" has a very fancy tone, and certainly this book is a wonderful resource if you're considering hosting or contributing to a top-notch event. But I would like to emphasize the fact that Martha's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook can be used for any kind of little get together- some of the ideas are very simple, ones that I use regularly, such as her classic spiced nuts mix, which gets raves whenever I make it. Sure, I once made the grilled scallops atop homemade potato chips-brushed-with-minted-pea -puree for my father's birthday, and they were delicious, but this book is really a great one to use even for simpler occasions.
It is a really special collection of beautiful ideas- how to arrange a cheese platter by region (english cheeses, etc), how to serve individual dumplings that burst with broth and flavor in your mouth when you bite into them (preparing them with a frozen cube of broth in each one before heating is the secret!), and on and on. The photography is stunning. The section on "classics" or "favorites" is a great place to start- choose one or two and invite some friends over. You'll have so much fun.
Book Review: Must have cookbook
Summary: 5 Stars
I am now on my second copy of this book (the first one was falling apart from abuse) and honestly, everytime I have a party this is the first book off the shelf. I may not use a recipe from it for every party, but it almost always helps me determine the mood and the shape I want the party to have. It's wonderful just as a style manual and great at jump-starting your own creativity. The actual recipes are wonderful and honestly most of them work. I have tried more than my share of the recipes in this book and only had a few that I didn't like. I love the way it's orgainized; having all the pictures at the front doesn't really bother me. Maybe I'm just happy that there is a picture of EVERY SINGLE thing and the photography is great. Yes, some of it is somewhat impractical and expensive (making your own tortillas, devilled quail eggs, caviar by the spoonful, pounds of shellfish...) but that is something I love about Martha Stewart. There are plenty of cost-effective, easy-prep options to make the expensive things affordable and the impractical things possible. Love this book.Book Review: Martha Stewart's Hors D'oeuvres handbook
Summary: 5 Stars
I have used this book several times, made me want to have a party to try out these wonderful recipes. Full-color photos which show you what the food is supposed to look like; and well labeled -- telling you what page the recipe is on. Such creative ideas for snacks and treats, "why didn't I think of that?". Recipes are well detailed, easy to follow, good print (making it easy to read) with special notes on pages telling you where to get "hard to find items" and techniques explained. I think this book is not necessarily for beginners, but, those who love to cook and love to take time and pride in their cooking. Everytime I have made something from this cook book I get "waves of praise". The back of the book has "the Guide" which gives additional information from planning a party to taking Horsd'Oeuvre to a party. Equipment and ingredients are explained, as well as, a source list. I recommend this book to anyone, again, who loves to cook. It is right up there with the other Martha Stewart cookbooks, great!Book Review: "Eighth Wonder of Books" is perfect gift
Summary: 5 Stars
Not long after Martha Stewart's Hors d"oeuvres Handbook was released in 1999, her friend who had a connection to Kmart and her own daily talk show, Rosie O'Donnell, called this book "the eighth wonder of books." Rosie questioned how Martha could make money on this book as it looked not only gorgeous but very expensive to reproduce. Although I didn't know Martha Stewart from Betty Crocker and my idea of "entertaining" was chips and Lipton's onion soup dip, I trusted Rosie's recommendation and bought Martha's handbook as a house-warming present for my neice. This book lived up to Rosie's hype. It is both beautiful and expensive looking. Best of all, my neice and I put it to immediate use preparing good things for her house-warming party. While we cut up veggies, my neice told me about Martha Stewart's pioneering success in business. This Xmas, I gave my neice Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook which she used to bake some herb bread as a gift for my New Year's Eve party. Martha Stewart's handsome handbooks as gifts: Perfect!