Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Review: Katie Brown Celebrates & Giveaway

Summary: 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. -- Little, Brown and Company

Hello, my name is Julie and I'm a cookbook addict. I absolutely adore cookbooks; and you might even say that I collect them. It's not that I'm a big-time cook or anything, but I love looking at recipes and pictures of food. I think it's genetic because my 86 year old grandmother still enjoys looking through cookbooks too! We will even sit together and go through separate cookbooks talking about what looks good (and easy!)

Needless to say, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to look through KATIE BROWN CELEBRATES: SIMPLE AND SPECTACULAR PARTIES ALL YEAR ROUND. I will admit that I haven't tried any of the recipes (yet), but this cookbook is beautiful. I just keep looking through it, and I notice something new every single time. Trust me when I say that this book will make a wonderful gift for your favorite entertainer this holiday season.

I'm not sure where to start in describing this cookbook! The photography and colors are just beautiful. It really looks like a book you could display on your coffee table. The cookbook is divided into sections for each month with instructions and recipes for a specific party theme. For example, January is "A New Year's Evening," April is a "Kids' Day," and December is a "Holiday Brunch." There a a type of party for every occasion you can think of!

Not only are there yummy recipes for you to make for each festivity, but there are also loads of decoration ideas. What I love most about this book is that everything seems pretty simple, yet it will look like you spent a ton of time (and a ton of money) on your event. We've all thrown parties where we are so tired and busy that we can't even enjoy the party -- I think KATIE BROWN CELEBRATES will help eliminate that problem. The decorations are so unique and do-able and the recipes are super easy and made with normal (translatation: easy-to-find) ingredients.

Now for the fun part: I am going to be giving away up to five copies of KATIE BROWN CELEBRATES courtesy of Hachette Book Group USA! For every ten entries I receive, I will give away one cookbook. For example, 10 entries = 1 cookbook, 20 entries = 2 cookbooks, etc. up to 5 cookbooks. All you have to do is leave a comment (with your e-mail) telling me why you want this cookbook -- it shouldn't be very hard! To double your chances, blog about this contest with a link back to this post. The contest will be open until Friday, December 5th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will announce the winners on the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. or Canada mailing addresses only (and no P.O. boxes.) Good Luck!

62 comments:

Linda said...

I would love to have this book. I don't give parties, but I do host family dinners and it would be fun to see some ways to "jazz" up a family get-together.
lcbrower40 at gmail dot com

Melanie said...

I don't do much entertaining, other than holidays, so I would love to have this cookbook for inspiration.

Anonymous said...

WOW, I would love to have this book. I don't entertain much but I talk about wanting to. This would give me the push to actually start. :)

justme said...

i do not have a good holiday cookbook and i will finally be starting to host holidays now that my house is set up !!!

Gwendolyn B. said...

This book would be so helpful. I've got a BIG family. I'd love to have a copy. Thanks for the chance!
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this book. I'm looking forward to entertaining more, now that I actually have living room furniture.

Mom of 5 Boys said...

With five sons (ages 5-15), every meal is a get-together... I'd love to have this cookbook!

S. Krishna said...

I'd love this cookbook because I want to start entertaining more!

Ti said...

I love to entertain but I usually make the event overly complicated so that it is wonderful for the guests, but not so wonderful for me. I never get the time to sit down and enjoy the party myself. I'm hoping that this book will help me do that.

thereedfamily[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Michele said...

I would love to have this cookbook because it might motivate me to actually "entertain" in our home. Plus I'm all about trying out new recipes.

mcapri30@hotmail.com

Bookfool said...

I mostly read cookbooks, but lately I'm actually interested in using them (my husband has been laughing at me, "Really, I'm going to bake, this year," I say . . . apparently, this is hilarious) -- mostly to divert myself, as this is going to be a holiday with some empty spaces at the table. :)

bookfoolery at yahoo dot com

LisaMM said...

I love cookbooks with great photography, and it looks like this one has that!! I need pictures to make sure I'm doing it right! I frequently host my book club here at my house and love to have seasonal food ideas. Thanks!

Sherry said...

I'd like to win this cookbook because this is exactly the kind of information and inspiration I need to amp up the entertaining at home.

bedfordbookclub@yahoo.com

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me; I'm just dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

I love cookbooks and cooking (which is why I have a cooking blog in addition to my book one!). I don't have an entertaining type cookbook so this one looks terrific.

I blogged the giveaway too: http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/2008/11/giveaways_19.html

Stacie said...

I have been hearing and seeing a lot about Katie Brown lately. She seems to be in a lot of print ads for easy but delicious desserts and such. I would love to see more of the ideas she has. Plus, I collect cookbooks too!

bison61 said...

I love recipe books-I have a drawer full of them and the decoration ideas would be nice, maybe I'd get some ideas for the holidays

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Shelley said...

This would be great for our family get-togethers!

saz AT chainreader DOT com

ChristyJan said...

I'm hosting both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner this year ~ I'd love some help at this book would be great!

hawkes(at)citlink.net

traveler said...

It would be wonderful to have this amazing book. This book would provide me with ideas, inspiration and a fresh outlook. Thanks for this wonderful giveaway.

ruth said...

What a delightful book. If I had this book it would be so useful and I know helpful as well. I do entertain but need assistance. Thanks for this special feature.

pearl said...

I enjoy hosting special occasions through the year and this book is so appealing. I have a couple of old cookbooks but could use a new approach.

ellie said...

Being able to entertain properly is something I have always wanted to be good at. This book would be a godsend.
saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I love cookbooks!I don't entertain too much but I am a big Katie Brown fan so maybe she'll inspire me to entertain more.

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Oh, please enter me!! I'd love to win this b/c my family is really bad when it comes to cooking our own food and we like to try new things (well, my mom especially) so this would be awesome!!!!

-Lauren

lauren51990 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

I love to entertain, as a matter of fact I had 12 people over last night for a big pre-Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixins! Please enter me into your contest.

Thanks!
Kimberly

diane said...

Being newly married I would appreciate having this book. I need all the help I can get.

Unknown said...

I'd love this book because I think Katie Brown is fantastic, her show on PBS is one of my favorites! And I love cooking and entertaining! Thanks for entering me.
unforgetable_dreamer_always (at) hotmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I would love to have this for the recipes themselves. I don't do much entertaining, but do a lot of cooking and I'm always looking for something new and/or different.

shelcows AT gmail DOT com

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Back again to say that I blogged about this:

http://shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/2008/11/win-it-wednesday.html

-Lauren
lauren51990 at aol dot com

Karlie said...

You know I also have a cookbook addiction and Katie Brown's cookbooks are gorgoeous!

Anonymous said...

This looks fab.. I'm always looking for something new to try for the family.. Thanks!
lpmccann(at)gmail(dot)com

Toni said...

I need some new recipes and Ideas. I feel like I've been cooking the same dinners for 23 years!! Time to liven up my kitchen. That is one of the big reasons I need the book...I want to add a spark to my family dinners and get-togethers.

tonigomez (at) surewest (dot) net

principessa said...

This book is so special and attractive. What a delectable gift. I like to entertain but could use help in this area.

darbyscloset said...

I enjoy parties with a theme and I am so anal that I can't do a party w/o a theme. I bet this book is full of themes with the food and decor matching/aligning.
Please count me in, for I need it!
Thanks
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

katayoun said...

i would love this for my mom, she loves cook books and she gives lovely parties!

Anonymous said...

I've been collecting crystal and silver ever since I was little. I've been toysing around with the idea to have monthly dinners with friends, and since cooking is not my talent, I need pictures and cookbooks to help me feed edible things to my friends. :-)
Nikki

zoomies.aim.high (at) gmail.com

Lindsey said...

I would love this book! I'm sure it would be an inspiration during the holidays as I get rather overwhelmed at the thought of having to entertain... :-)

Thanks for the giveaway!

ladyufshalott at yahoo.com

GFS3 said...

This cookbook would make a wonderful gift to my wife -- who loves recipes and entertaining friends and family.

darkpartyreviewATgmail(DOT)com

Carla Jean said...

I love to cook and entertain, but I must admit that I'm a Southern gal who doesn't always "get" the details that others so creatively address at their events! (Just last night I attended a Kitchen and Recipes bridal shower. The silverware was wrapped in gingham napkins with a measuring spoon tied to the bundle as decoration! And when we left, we had our choice of wooden spoons and spatulas as party favors.) I think this book would help me polish up the details I am prone to overlooking.

carla.jean.whitley AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I would love to have this book because I have no imagination whatever when it comes to parties so I never give them. Even though I want to. cjewel AT gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I want to win this book because I too am a cookbook junkie! Thanks!

rainstorm said...

I love to cook but I've taken classes. So, this will help a lot!

I love when there are lots of people in the house and we're stuffed in the kitchen. It's so fun!

principessa said...

Having this book would be so great. New ideas which would be wonderful. Thanks.

Unknown said...

I have watched Katie's TV shows for years. She always has such great ideas. Please enter me!

jgbeads AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I also blogged about this in my right sidebar at:

http://janelsjumble.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Book Sp(l)ot said...

I would love to win one of these. I love, love cooking but haven't had the money to buy cookbooks besides just literally a few-& I'd love trying some new recipes!

Carolyn Sharkas said...

I need this book because I need lots of help in the kitchen, lol. I want to entertain more, but honestly, I'm not very good at it.

thanks for sharing

ceashark at aol dot com

MaMa said...

I love entertaining & cooking & this looks like a fantastic book. Please enter me...thanks!
Lisa
mistyfuji [at] yahoo [dot] com

a real librarian said...

I'd love a chance to win!! Thanks for the giveaway!!

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

Holly said...

I would love a chance to win this! I host a couple get togethers every year and it would be really nice to have some fresh ideas! Thanks so much for hosting!

hollybooknotes[at]gmail[dot]com

Serena said...

this would make the perfect gift! I would love to be entered.

savvyverseandwit AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I'm a Katie Brown fan from her tv show. I would like to start entertaining more and this book would be a big help!
rocket_kay@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

please enter me in the contest!

datwater88 @ hotmail.com

Carol M said...

This looks like a great book! Thanks for the chance to win it!
Carol M
mittens0831 At aol.com

cheryl c said...

I would love to give this as a gift to my sister-in-law!

Michelle Olsen Sasak said...

This book looks great. I like how the ingredients called for are easy to find. There's nothing quite like going to multiple stores in search of an ingredient (like I've done in the past). Thanks for the chance to win.

Ilissa said...

I collect cookbooks so I'd love to win this so I could add it to my collection. I am always looking for new and interesting recipes. This looks like a wonderful book. I hope I win. Thank you so much for the chance. Happy Holidays! :)

Amanda said...

I have seen this book around the blog-o-sphere and have been wanting it. I am a newbie at entertaining and need ideas!

Asylumgirl said...

I would like to win a cookbook, why, to learn new recipes of course and some entertaining ideas. LOL

Deidre

Aunt J-ha said...

This sounds like a great one! I love cookbooks too, especially ones with big glossy photos! Happy Holidays and Thank you for hosting this give-away. I'll be blogging about it @ www.wisecake.com
Jennifer

Luck Happens said...

I would love to win this book, because I have no cookbook like it and I love a one-stop shop place for party planning. What a great giveaway!

kellifrobinson2 AT gmail DOT com