Pioneer Lady's Country Christmas

This lovely author is able to evoke the feelings that one longs to feel at Christmas. It's more than nostalgia. She draws the reader in with beautiful or whimsical poetry which, although old, is somehow not dated. We are treated to sweet photographs and prints chosen so well for the thoughts and feelings they stir in us. She opens up her home and those of her cherished relatives and friends, and gives the reader the experience of meeting and enjoying the quirks and wisdom of each of them. What a treasure to have stumbled upon! How many cookbooks are this rich?

My mother gave me this book for Christmas 8 years ago. I literally haven't put it down since! It not only contains recipes that were (and still are) cherished from a generation who knew what life was really all about, but the incidental tidbits of how life was lived long ago is absolutely priceless in this age when things are so inside out and everyone is looking for security and peace. The poems that were dear to the hearts of the depression era pull at the heartstrings, and the wonderful, descriptive details of families and friends that seemed to gather for any reason place the reader in that special time. The recipes are delicious and made with the easy-make-do-with-what-you-have confidence that our grandmothers prided themselves on. From Aunt Mabel's Cranberry Bread to Uncle Bud's Vinegar Pie, they're all recipes that would be welcome on any of today's contemporary tables. Granted, many of us wouldn't dream of making pie crust with lard....but one wouldn't hurt! If anyone has already read The Pioneer Lady's Country Kitchen, than The Pioneer Lady's Country Christmas is a must have for those collecting unusual and homey cookbooks. So stoke up the woodstove, grab a cup of hot chocolate and a cat for your lap, and read this book. You'll be transported to a wonderful memory!

This is a lovely book. Recipes and crochet projects are interspersed with old-fashioned Christmas memories. The recipes are practical and delicious. There are cakes, pies, puddings and candies. This book made me want to get right up and start baking. It will go a long way to making this 21st century Christmas as old-fashioned as possible.