Emeril's Creole Christmas

I really enjoyed reading this book . You have a few pages about the past of Emeril Lagasse in the beginning and his childhood Christmas . Really good recipes that I will try for sure and before Christmas! For example the creole Christmas trifle or the crab soup with crab boulettes etc..

If you're only familiar with Emeril from his TV appearances, this book may surprise you. It lacks the flamboyance and loud flashiness, replacing them with a certain elegance and gourmet style. It includes a Christmas Eve dinner for ten, Emeril's Christmas Day brunch buffet, New Orleans New Year's Eve dinner, a New Year's Day supper family style, the Chef's holiday favorites, and Emeril's "stocking stuffers." The book is filled with gorgeous photographs of lavish decorations and settings. They artfully set the mood in this book--one of no expense spared in the interest of fabulous holiday memories. Each section of the book is done as a menu, so that you can make the menu whole or steal individual recipes. None of these menus are quick things, and this book isn't designed for the cook who doesn't like to spend more than a half-hour in the kitchen. Shopping lists are included, as well as wine pairings. This is not the cookbook for someone on a budget: it calls for such expensive ingredients as caviar, truffles, and huge amounts of fresh raspberries, some of which can be tough to find depending on where you live. The book also assumes at least a little experience with basic cooking techniques--novices shouldn't be starting with a gourmet cookbook using expensive ingredients. Not all of the recipes cost so much, however, and they aren't all complicated; for example, the spiced pecans are extremely inexpensive and easy, and they're so good that we've made them more than 15 times at least (and we don't often repeat recipes). They're so good, in fact, that people request them specially when they come to visit at holidays.So try the salad of new potatoes and roasted walnuts with warm bacon vinaigrette, or the truffle risotto with parmesan croutons. Make the andouille cheese bread or the white cheddar truffle eggs. Save this book for an occasion when you really want to pull out all the stops, whether it's Christmas or some other important time in your life. The photos alone will inspire you to do great things in the kitchen!

This book is definitely not for novices - if you can't figure out to make a banana cream pie without doing research, it's not for you. I don't think the recipes are difficult in the least and they are all very tasty. The recipes are great. I have made them most - and have had great success. Big Boy Cookies, Jiffy Pop Firecracker Shrimp, Pickled Jalepenos, Banana Cream Pie, Sweet Barbecue Sauce, Butter Cream Mints, Chocolate Macadamia Nut Brittle . . . mmm mmm mmm! If you like Creole food and are looking for something new and exciting to feed your family, this book is a must-have!

This book has a lot of great ideas and is well written. I enjoy trying new things and this book leads me to new heights.

A complete guide to holiday party planning from recipes ,shopping guides and personal stories.This book is a must for any cook from beginner to professional.you have to get it!!!!

This is a great cookbook. While the pictures are nice the food is wonderful. AND it's so refreshing when you have a chef who not only loves food, but doesn't talk down to you. It was one of the first things that I enjoyed about his first book. As a recreational chef, I own an entire library of cookbooks. Mr. Lagasse is an excellent chef, and good enough not no feel the need to be pompous about it! Well worth the money (as are his others as well!)