Katie Brown Celebrates, by Katie Brown (Book Review by Melissa A. Bartell)
Katie Brown Celebrates
Katie Brown
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While I’m not one to watch endless hours of the food network, and I have an admittedly low tolerance for Martha Stewart and her ilk, I’ve been a fan of Katie Brown ever since I first started watching her on Lifetime TV several years ago. Now, to go with her new show, the Katie Brown Workshop, which airs on PBS, she’s also got this great new book, Katie Brown Celebrates, and when I was given a copy for review the shrieks of joy were audible in a several-county radius.
Katie Brown Celebrates is divided into sections based on the month of the year, and provides seasonal recipes for each month, as well as suggestions for coordinated table decorations, party favors, and such. Most of the projects are relatively easy - you might be asked to purchase special glue, but you won’t have to learn the finer points of dremel operations - and most of the recipes, while tasty, are simple enough that any decent cook should be able to pull them off with aplomb.
It’s true that this book is designed for party planning, not every day dining, but most of the recipes are pretty basic, so you could pare them down and use them for an intimate dinner with little trouble. I’m already planning to try the Turkey Bacon Eggs when our friends are here for Thanksgiving, and there’s a squash and pasta dish I plan to make for Fuzzy and myself later this week.
Two things that really impress me about Katie Brown Celebrates are that any time a special ingredient or craft material is needed, she provides a source for purchasing it, and at the back of the book, there’s a mix-n-match section, to help you combine elements from different months into complete meals, without getting flavor crash.
My verdict? Katie Brown Celebrates is cause for celebration.
Melissa A. Bartell earns her living by writing articles for an SEO marketing firm, and dabbles in essays and fiction on the side. She lives near Dallas, TX with her husband, two dogs, and more computers than anyone really needs. She is the Senior Editor here at All Things Girl. Find out more about her on our About Page. You can also find her at her website and various other places around the ‘net.
