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Santa's North Pole Cookbook: Classic Christmas Recipes from Saint Nicholas Himself
In this one-of-a-kind Christmas cookbook, Saint Nicholas himself invites readers to pull up their chairs to his dining table at the North Pole and enjoy a bounty of his most cherished holiday recipes. Featuring classic American holiday dishes as well as mouthwatering Christmas fare from all over the world-Santa's favorite finds from his extensive travels- Santa's North Pole Cookbook offers an abundance of holiday meals that are as delicious as they are rich in Christmas tradition.
With more than seventy classic Christmas recipes from German Christmas Goose with Cabbage and Potato Dumplings and Santa's Favorite Rosemary Turkey to Christopsomo (the traditional Greek holiday bread that children decorate with dough designs before baking) and English Christmas Plum Pudding, Santa's North Pole Cookbook is a must-have for anyone who delights in preparing delectable, yet easy-to-make holiday food for their family. Santa also tells the fascinating lore of the celebration of the winter solstice and the festivities of Christmas, sharing with readers the wonderful stories about how and where he personally encountered these toothsome delicacies in his yuletide travels.
Full of appetizers, side dishes, main courses, beverages-and, of course, desserts!- Santa's North Pole Cookbook guides readers in creating special holiday meals for their loved ones at Christmastime.
With more than seventy classic Christmas recipes from German Christmas Goose with Cabbage and Potato Dumplings and Santa's Favorite Rosemary Turkey to Christopsomo (the traditional Greek holiday bread that children decorate with dough designs before baking) and English Christmas Plum Pudding, Santa's North Pole Cookbook is a must-have for anyone who delights in preparing delectable, yet easy-to-make holiday food for their family. Santa also tells the fascinating lore of the celebration of the winter solstice and the festivities of Christmas, sharing with readers the wonderful stories about how and where he personally encountered these toothsome delicacies in his yuletide travels.
Full of appetizers, side dishes, main courses, beverages-and, of course, desserts!- Santa's North Pole Cookbook guides readers in creating special holiday meals for their loved ones at Christmastime.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Guinn
30 books734 followersJeff Guinn is a former journalist who has won national, regional and state awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, and literary criticism.
Guinn is also the bestselling author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction including, but not limited to: Go Down Together: The True Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde (which was a finalist for an Edgar Award in 2010); The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral - and How It Changed the West; Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson; and The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple.
Jeff Guinn is a member of the Texas Institute of Letters, and the Texas Literary Hall of Fame. He appears as an expert guest in documentaries and on television programs on a variety of topics.
Guinn lives in Fort Worth, Texas.
Guinn is also the bestselling author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction including, but not limited to: Go Down Together: The True Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde (which was a finalist for an Edgar Award in 2010); The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral - and How It Changed the West; Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson; and The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple.
Jeff Guinn is a member of the Texas Institute of Letters, and the Texas Literary Hall of Fame. He appears as an expert guest in documentaries and on television programs on a variety of topics.
Guinn lives in Fort Worth, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 28, 2012
Interesting concept. I have to say that once you get up to like 5 specialty ingredients, I'd rather just go to Ethiopia or where ever and eat it there since no matter how good the instructions are you're never going to make it authentically at home.
Something that bugged me was the Jesus Jesus Jesus throughout the book. Like, every third recipe has something about "Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas" and it's like, Christ on a cracker, dude, give it a rest. I understand if it pertains to the dish being described, like the symbolism in it. But sometimes it has nothing to do with the food. Like, wouldn't a comment on this in the introduction be enough since the introductions to the recipes are about, you know, the recipes?
But to understand what really bugged me you have to bear in mind 1) that this book is all up with Jesus and 2) there are TWO recipes from where the Clauses were "born" (and several from the north pole and two from Attila the Hun for some reason) but NO Middle Eastern dishes! Like, you'd think if food Santa is nostalgic for is worth a mention, food that Jesus grew up with would merit including too.
Something that bugged me was the Jesus Jesus Jesus throughout the book. Like, every third recipe has something about "Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas" and it's like, Christ on a cracker, dude, give it a rest. I understand if it pertains to the dish being described, like the symbolism in it. But sometimes it has nothing to do with the food. Like, wouldn't a comment on this in the introduction be enough since the introductions to the recipes are about, you know, the recipes?
But to understand what really bugged me you have to bear in mind 1) that this book is all up with Jesus and 2) there are TWO recipes from where the Clauses were "born" (and several from the north pole and two from Attila the Hun for some reason) but NO Middle Eastern dishes! Like, you'd think if food Santa is nostalgic for is worth a mention, food that Jesus grew up with would merit including too.
January 30, 2020
Ugh. This is billed as an international cookbook by Santa that is supposed to tell you about Christmas traditions in other countries. No photos or illustrations of the food or countries at all. "Santa" narrates, telling us to worship Jesus, pray for people in certain countries who cannot celebrate Christmas freely, and chatting trivia about how certain dishes might have come about. His running gag is repeating how he'd eat the whole thing if Mrs. Claus would let him. "Chef Lars" keeps butting in, telling us really complicated recipes aren't actually complicated, you just have to follow the steps properly, and how he never makes mistakes in the North Pole kitchen. The recipes themselves contain a lot of exotic ingredients that most of us cannot obtain, or simply aren't appealing sounding with the ingredients "Lars" has substituted. Skip it.
December 26, 2022
Not secular.
This cookbook is written as if Santa penned it himself, with 'memories' or explanations added to each recipe.
Recipes have names like 'Lars's Fluffy Scrambled Eggs With Rosemary' (with little connections such as the mary in rosemary prompts 'Santa' to remember Mary, mother of Jesus).
There are recipes from different places around the world (ie. pancakes from Hungary) with their traditional names.
No images or illustrations inside but has some small holiday clip art as headers for the recipes.
Ingredients lists and instructions are well-written / easy to understand.
This cookbook is written as if Santa penned it himself, with 'memories' or explanations added to each recipe.
Recipes have names like 'Lars's Fluffy Scrambled Eggs With Rosemary' (with little connections such as the mary in rosemary prompts 'Santa' to remember Mary, mother of Jesus).
There are recipes from different places around the world (ie. pancakes from Hungary) with their traditional names.
No images or illustrations inside but has some small holiday clip art as headers for the recipes.
Ingredients lists and instructions are well-written / easy to understand.
December 11, 2018
I'm a sucker for food, especially Christmas food. This cookbook (charmingly but somewhat bizarrely written in character as Santa Claus and his army of now-immortal friends such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Attila the Hun) rounds up traditional Christmas and wintertime foods not only from typical American and British Christmas feasts, but from celebrations and traditions all around the world. It left me craving Greek chicken-lemon soup and sweetbread for Christmas morning breakfast.
October 11, 2021
Some really good recipes, but there are more that I wish were included.
December 10, 2012
Author Jeff Guinn's charming "Christmas Chronicles" series continues with "Santa's North Pole Cookbook: Classic Christmas Recipes from Saint Nicholas Himself". Truly a "man of the world", Santa offers recipes from every corner of the earth, and he also illuminates his readers on holiday customs from cultures that span the globe. Santa shares his personal philosophy that there are four essential elements required to create the timeless magic of the holiday season: worship, family, friends, and food. While some of the recipes are fairly simple, and use easily-obtained ingredients, others are more complex and regionally specific. Here are some of the recipes Santa has collected in his travels: "Pecan Waffles from Sweden"; "Atilla's Stuffed Mushrooms from Germany"; "Flaming Gingered Prawns from Australia"; "Leonardo's Pasta Fra Diavolo from Italy"; "Theodore Roosevelt's Pan-Fried Christmas Potatoes from the USA"; "Christmas Mulled Wine from Finland"; "Holiday Black Walnut Cake from Germany"; and "Cinnamon-Sugar Sticks from Mexico". The official chef of the North Pole, Lars, created these recipes for Santa & Co: "Santa's Breakfast Souffle"; "North Pole Bread Dressing"; "Lars' Savory Poached Salmon"; "Holiday Plum Pie Cookies"; and "Candy Cane Creme Brulee". No wonder Santa is a "right jolly old elf"! Other books in Jeff Guinn's "Christmas Chronicles" series include: "The Autobiography of Santa Claus"; "How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas"; and "The Great Santa Search".
Review Copy Gratis Tarcher Books
Review Copy Gratis Tarcher Books
December 21, 2018
I love reading cookbooks anyway. I love collecting recipes, but the stories that go along with these recipes read like stories in themselves, bringing the history of each recipe to life.
I have a fascination for how different holidays are celebrated in different countries. Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I love reading about different customs. It was not only fascinating to read about common holiday fare in different parts of the world, but also customs and celebrations where those foods are often served.
I have a fascination for how different holidays are celebrated in different countries. Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I love reading about different customs. It was not only fascinating to read about common holiday fare in different parts of the world, but also customs and celebrations where those foods are often served.
June 5, 2011
I thought this one was interesting. I liked the stories behind the recipes and the mix of recipes included. It was a nice mix of holiday fun with good food. I can't wait to cook up a holiday fun feast.
December 23, 2013
This cookbook was a fun read but realistically there were not many recipes in it that I would try. A few like pecan pancakes and skewed ka bobs I had already tried and like a lot. 3 stars only for this book
October 28, 2009
A lot of fun, and the recipes look good.
Read
July 30, 2011Lots of weird sounding stuff w/ odd ingredients that seem like they'd be hard to find. Did find one yummy breakfast recipe.
December 18, 2011
Interesting facts about food from each country and their Christmas traditions. Some recipes were more appealing than others.
December 20, 2012
Love the cookbook! I've made several recipes in it and all have been delicious!
May 1, 2015
great christmas cookbook!
Read
February 4, 2016Tried the rosemary garlic turkey and ensalada Navideña. Not the most exceptional recipes I've ever made.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews