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Paula Deen Friends: Paula Deen Friends
A comprehensive and delicious collection of crowd-pleasing recipes that will bring family and friends together for all kinds of occasions.
Sharing a delicious meal is everyone's favorite way of bringing together friends and loved ones. In her new cookbook, Paula Deen & Friends: Living It Up, Southern Style, Paula Deen—author, restaurateur, and Food Network star—turns to her friends to share their stories, ideas for entertaining Southern style, and, most important, more than 150 of the prized recipes they serve to their family and friends.
With the trademark Southern charm that has made her beloved by fans everywhere, Paula's new book features delicious, down-home entertaining menus, with recipes that are guaranteed to be instant crowd-pleasers. Whether you're planning an intimate family dinner, hosting an elegant cocktail party, or feeding a hungry crowd for lunch, these mouthwatering meals are the perfect way to share any occasion with good friends—and have fun doing it! From a tailgate picnic to a bridge supper, a christening to a camping trip, and a family dinner to an ice cream social, there are recipes to delight any gathering.
Throw a down-home Birthday Bash with Beer-in-the-Rear Chicken, Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Corn on the Cob, and Buttermilk Pound Cake with Strawberries and Whipped Cream. Or host a casual Cookie Swap with friends and watch those Peanut Butter Brownie Cupcakes and Rolled Oatmeal Cookies disappear! An outdoor lunch wouldn't be complete without real Southern Fried Chicken and Buttermilk Corn Bread. And comfort foods like Quick Crab Stew, Shrimp and Wild Rice Casserole, and Black Bottom Pie are soul-satisfying dishes that warm the heart and soothe the spirit. There are also recipes for refreshing cocktails and beverages, from the Southern traditional favorites, like Plantation Iced Tea and Mint Juleps, to Lemonade and Hot Cranberry Cider.
Entertaining Southern style is about much more than the food; it's about spending time with the people you care about. Paula and her friends are the experts when it comes to creating delightful meals that are easy to prepare, so you, too, can relax and enjoy the fun with your guests. Each chapter is filled with helpful tips and time-saving techniques, as well as the memorable cooking stories that inspired Paula and her friends to create these recipes. You'll be inspired to share memorable meals and occasions with family and friends, as Paula Deen & Friends invites you to live it up, Southern style.
Sharing a delicious meal is everyone's favorite way of bringing together friends and loved ones. In her new cookbook, Paula Deen & Friends: Living It Up, Southern Style, Paula Deen—author, restaurateur, and Food Network star—turns to her friends to share their stories, ideas for entertaining Southern style, and, most important, more than 150 of the prized recipes they serve to their family and friends.
With the trademark Southern charm that has made her beloved by fans everywhere, Paula's new book features delicious, down-home entertaining menus, with recipes that are guaranteed to be instant crowd-pleasers. Whether you're planning an intimate family dinner, hosting an elegant cocktail party, or feeding a hungry crowd for lunch, these mouthwatering meals are the perfect way to share any occasion with good friends—and have fun doing it! From a tailgate picnic to a bridge supper, a christening to a camping trip, and a family dinner to an ice cream social, there are recipes to delight any gathering.
Throw a down-home Birthday Bash with Beer-in-the-Rear Chicken, Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Corn on the Cob, and Buttermilk Pound Cake with Strawberries and Whipped Cream. Or host a casual Cookie Swap with friends and watch those Peanut Butter Brownie Cupcakes and Rolled Oatmeal Cookies disappear! An outdoor lunch wouldn't be complete without real Southern Fried Chicken and Buttermilk Corn Bread. And comfort foods like Quick Crab Stew, Shrimp and Wild Rice Casserole, and Black Bottom Pie are soul-satisfying dishes that warm the heart and soothe the spirit. There are also recipes for refreshing cocktails and beverages, from the Southern traditional favorites, like Plantation Iced Tea and Mint Juleps, to Lemonade and Hot Cranberry Cider.
Entertaining Southern style is about much more than the food; it's about spending time with the people you care about. Paula and her friends are the experts when it comes to creating delightful meals that are easy to prepare, so you, too, can relax and enjoy the fun with your guests. Each chapter is filled with helpful tips and time-saving techniques, as well as the memorable cooking stories that inspired Paula and her friends to create these recipes. You'll be inspired to share memorable meals and occasions with family and friends, as Paula Deen & Friends invites you to live it up, Southern style.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 22, 2005
45 people are currently reading
5040 people want to read
About the author
Paula H. Deen
33 books119 followersPaula Deen (born Paula Ann Hiers) is an American cook, restaurateur, author, actress and Emmy Award-winning television personality.
Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates The Lady & Sons restaurant with her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen. She has also published five cookbooks. Though married in 2004 to Michael Anthony Groover, she continues to use the surname Deen from her first marriage professionally.
Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates The Lady & Sons restaurant with her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen. She has also published five cookbooks. Though married in 2004 to Michael Anthony Groover, she continues to use the surname Deen from her first marriage professionally.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 3, 2013
I've always had success with Paula Deen's recipes, particularly her desserts, and was excited to read this cookbook. This is a nifty little cookbook with a wide variety of recipes and helpful, and often charming, little blurbs with each recipe. Many of the recipes remind me of refined versions of beloved recipes from church and community cookbooks (who doesn't like sausage balls?). The writing style reads just like Paula sounds on her TV shows.
Pros:
- I love the format. Recipes are presented as a series of menus, making it ideal for entertaining. I also found it fun to read and easy to locate recipes. Sample menus include: cookie swap, casserole luncheon, tailgate party, campout, Kentucky Derby themed meal, and many others. The Comfort Food menu was especially helpful, as it includes instructions for freezing meals that the recipient can easily reheat.
- Wide variety of recipes. I'd think every reader should have no trouble locating at least several new favorite recipes, or finding a twist on a traditional recipes. The Almond Swirls are a good example - a popular Bake-Off recipe winner is modified slightly for individual servings.
- Recipes suited for every level of cooking. The recipe for Buttermilk Biscuits is the easiest (and funniest) - buy Pillsbury frozen biscuits. Symphony Brownies calls for a brownie mix and candy bars. Bacon Crisps have 3 ingredients. The more complex or time consuming recipes tend to be the desserts or baked goods, but do yourself a favor and make Paula's Apple Strudel.
- Easy to find ingredients. There's nothing exotic here, and many of the simpler recipes call for items like canned soups, vegetables, or other individually packaged items. This is helpful because it saves time when cooking, but also saves you the hassle of figuring out what to do with leftover ingredients (I hate recipes that call for 2 tablespoons of evaporated milk or 1/2 a package of cream cheese, or other ingredients that are difficult to store or reuse quickly).
Cons:
- I find recipes for sandwiches, burritos, pizzas, and other no-brainer items to be a waste of paper, and there are quite a number of these. I don't need a cookbook to tell me how to put prepared cream cheese spread onto a tortilla and roll it up, thanks. Or taco salad.
- Okay, this is just me, but I abhor mayonnaise. Many of the one-dish and appetizer/snack recipes call for a large amount of mayonnaise. Sometimes I can leave it out or substitute sour cream (or a similar product, depending on the recipe), but I'm not so sure about these.
- Not many pictures. I've gotten spoiled with so many newer cookbooks having a photo of each recipe. I don't expect all cookbooks to do this, but wish they used more common sense with photos they do include. While the photos are very nice, I really don't need a picture of cornbread or green beans. I'd rather have photos of the less intuitive recipes, like the Pumpkin Roll.
Overall, this would make a lovely gift for your favorite host or hostess, or a novice cook who is interested in expanding their repertoire.
*I received a copy via a Goodreads giveaway, and this in no way influenced my review. As always, thank you to the publisher/author for the copy.*
Pros:
- I love the format. Recipes are presented as a series of menus, making it ideal for entertaining. I also found it fun to read and easy to locate recipes. Sample menus include: cookie swap, casserole luncheon, tailgate party, campout, Kentucky Derby themed meal, and many others. The Comfort Food menu was especially helpful, as it includes instructions for freezing meals that the recipient can easily reheat.
- Wide variety of recipes. I'd think every reader should have no trouble locating at least several new favorite recipes, or finding a twist on a traditional recipes. The Almond Swirls are a good example - a popular Bake-Off recipe winner is modified slightly for individual servings.
- Recipes suited for every level of cooking. The recipe for Buttermilk Biscuits is the easiest (and funniest) - buy Pillsbury frozen biscuits. Symphony Brownies calls for a brownie mix and candy bars. Bacon Crisps have 3 ingredients. The more complex or time consuming recipes tend to be the desserts or baked goods, but do yourself a favor and make Paula's Apple Strudel.
- Easy to find ingredients. There's nothing exotic here, and many of the simpler recipes call for items like canned soups, vegetables, or other individually packaged items. This is helpful because it saves time when cooking, but also saves you the hassle of figuring out what to do with leftover ingredients (I hate recipes that call for 2 tablespoons of evaporated milk or 1/2 a package of cream cheese, or other ingredients that are difficult to store or reuse quickly).
Cons:
- I find recipes for sandwiches, burritos, pizzas, and other no-brainer items to be a waste of paper, and there are quite a number of these. I don't need a cookbook to tell me how to put prepared cream cheese spread onto a tortilla and roll it up, thanks. Or taco salad.
- Okay, this is just me, but I abhor mayonnaise. Many of the one-dish and appetizer/snack recipes call for a large amount of mayonnaise. Sometimes I can leave it out or substitute sour cream (or a similar product, depending on the recipe), but I'm not so sure about these.
- Not many pictures. I've gotten spoiled with so many newer cookbooks having a photo of each recipe. I don't expect all cookbooks to do this, but wish they used more common sense with photos they do include. While the photos are very nice, I really don't need a picture of cornbread or green beans. I'd rather have photos of the less intuitive recipes, like the Pumpkin Roll.
Overall, this would make a lovely gift for your favorite host or hostess, or a novice cook who is interested in expanding their repertoire.
*I received a copy via a Goodreads giveaway, and this in no way influenced my review. As always, thank you to the publisher/author for the copy.*
December 1, 2013
PAULA DEEN & FRIENDS: LIVING IT UP, SOUTHERN STYLE, is, first and foremost, a cook book. I love to cook. I love great recipes. This book is full of them. Therefor, I love this book.
Ms. Deen has organized this cookbook not by the type of food to be cooked (beef, chicken, potato, etc.), or a stand alone collection of cakes, cookies or pasta recipes. What she has done is oganized this collection into event menus. There are sections on food choices and prep for Tailgating, slumber parties, hunting picnic baskets, birthday parties or for when the boss is coming to dinner, as well as a dozen or so more. There are collections of photos showing how things should look when done properly (somehow not all of my attempts turned out to be so picture perfect) as well as detailed descriptions for each recipe and lots of Southern style comments thrown in that make it feel as if Ms. Deen is there beside you in the kitchen.
This was a great Goodreads win and just in time for Thanksgiving. And so, Thank you.
Ms. Deen has organized this cookbook not by the type of food to be cooked (beef, chicken, potato, etc.), or a stand alone collection of cakes, cookies or pasta recipes. What she has done is oganized this collection into event menus. There are sections on food choices and prep for Tailgating, slumber parties, hunting picnic baskets, birthday parties or for when the boss is coming to dinner, as well as a dozen or so more. There are collections of photos showing how things should look when done properly (somehow not all of my attempts turned out to be so picture perfect) as well as detailed descriptions for each recipe and lots of Southern style comments thrown in that make it feel as if Ms. Deen is there beside you in the kitchen.
This was a great Goodreads win and just in time for Thanksgiving. And so, Thank you.
May 22, 2011
This time out, Paula Deen incorporates recipes from her friends and family. Again, the dishes sound delicious and easy to make. I enjoy reading the stories behind the food and how things seem to go together. This book is arranged by menu, but you could easily mix and match if you want to. (And her biscuit recipe had me laughing because she tells you to buy the frozen ones.)
February 5, 2009
I would have preferred more pictures...and that is why I get some books at the library and not buy them outright. I like Paula Deen; I think she's a hoot and her Praline French Toast is wonderful. I liked the "menu" arrangement of the book as well.
May 14, 2020
The book is compilation of menus for different occasions, much like her Paula Deen Celebrates! book. My favorite recipe in this book is her gumbo because it is out of this world! It has delicious flavor and can feed a crowd. I also liked her wild rice salad, but many of the recipes fall short.
November 20, 2019
What is there to say if you like Paula Deen you will love these recipes.
March 29, 2021
It is not one of my favorite Paula Deen cookbooks but there are some delicious recipes nonetheless. The book is compilation of menus for different occasions, much like her Paula Deen Celebrates! book. My favorite recipe in this book is her gumbo because it is out of this world! It has delicious flavor and can feed a crowd. I also liked her wild rice salad but many of the recipes fall short.
I love Paula Deen and I hate to give her three stars but she definitely has better books out there. In her defense, they are not all her recipes! The other downside is this book was 25 dollars and I think it was a bit overpriced. I suggest The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook if you want great country recipes by Paula.
I love Paula Deen and I hate to give her three stars but she definitely has better books out there. In her defense, they are not all her recipes! The other downside is this book was 25 dollars and I think it was a bit overpriced. I suggest The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook if you want great country recipes by Paula.
July 14, 2009
"Paula Deen & Friends: Living It Up, Southern Style" is such a delightful book! The recipes are beyond mouth-watering! The menus are titled by the type of event such as: "The Boss Comes to Dinner", "Comfort Food", "A Weekend Campout", and many others. Great variety of recipes, interesting tidbits about the origins of the recipes, and a wonderful feeling of shared good times with family and friends. One of the best parts of the book is the Foreword, written in Paula's distinctive, descriptive Southern Style. Paula says hey!
March 6, 2014
I was surprised that a few of the recipes in here are good. The tomato tarts are a great starter to make when people come over, and the grilled pork tenderloin is really good, too. The breakfast casserole is a tasty brunch dish. This is a hit-or-miss cookbook for me, though; when I made the cream of broccoli and cauliflower soup, it was so bad that I had to throw it away.
August 2, 2007
Use this all the time. Love that it is arranged by "menus". Praline French Toast is my husband's favorite -- first served it at a brunch baby shower. Huge hit, as is everything that I've ever made from this book.
June 10, 2008
This book has the best brownie recipe ever!!! Of course you have to ignore the fact that it has way too much sugar and butter, but if you can do that (which I have no problem doing!) they are the best!
October 6, 2008
This is a great cookbook with some southern lowfat (yeah right) recipes. The desserts were the best. I didn't actually read it word for word, but there were great pictures and plans for complete dinners.
November 26, 2008
ok, so this book has recipes that were basically taken from her tv show when it was on in the beginning. what sucks, is that like soooooo many food tv cookbooks, it doesn't have pictures. i mean, it's not like they don't have money at that network.
November 11, 2012
I may be mad at Paula for all her shenanigans of late, but I have to say I return to this book over and over again. It was a gift from my Mom several years ago and has helped me host a number of lovely parties! Thanks Mom!
May 14, 2016
I love Paula's books and shows. She is very down to earth and sometimes uses shortcut ingredients, which I love. There's nothing better than Southern cooking and her choices of recipes is varied and creative.
September 17, 2007
while not the healthiest of recipes, it's Southern cooking at its best! I like how she gives her menus by events/ themes and how she puts in all her little stories and recollections.
January 16, 2008
Sugar and butter make everything better, y'all... but it does help to use low fat ingredient to avoid a heart attack.
February 27, 2008
Good recipes for Brunch.
August 25, 2008
This is full of yummy recipes that I can't wait to try out.
September 4, 2013
This cookbook has a delicious Bloody Mary recipe!
May 28, 2009
Use it all the time.
October 31, 2009
Everything is better with Butter...
November 30, 2009
Didn't like this one AS MUCH as her others, but still found some good recipes inside.
March 24, 2010
Anything with that much sourcream and or butter has to be good Ya All!
October 7, 2011
2.5 stars
Could really use more photos to accompany the recipes as that is usually how I choose a new recipe. But most are good, solid classics and new variations.
Could really use more photos to accompany the recipes as that is usually how I choose a new recipe. But most are good, solid classics and new variations.
December 12, 2012
I love her food and this cookbook is full of her best recipes...as in things I would actually make.
August 13, 2012
Paula is one of my favorite chefs. I have tried many of her dishes and they have all turned out superb!
January 27, 2013
I love cooking with Paula. She has some awesome recipes. Her books are my go to books for something new and Southern.
March 21, 2013
great Southern cookin' ..... not for a diet but you change a few things and lighten up these recipes.
June 29, 2013
I haven't read it but I don't like Paula Deen so I thought I'd get on here and give her 1 star just because. I'm throwing a stone at you Paula Deen!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews