The Frugal Gourmet Celebrates Christmas

by Jeff Smith

In his latest book, Jeff Smith provides dishes and tradition for every aspect of the holiday season. To celebrate the feast itself, he offers his family recipe for roast goose, then a pot roast and latkes for Hannukah, a roast lamb the shepherds might have eaten, mince pie, gingerbread men, mulled wine, and more. He also devotes a section to the traditions, from mistletoe to stockings to carols. Color photos throughout.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Christmas, Nonfiction, Food, Reference, Foodie

297 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1991

About the author

Jeffrey L. Smith was the author of a dozen best-selling cookbooks and the host of The Frugal Gourmet, a popular American cooking show.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See authors with similar names.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the approach he took in this cookbook. Yes, it is very different than his usual books, and yes there are stories about angels and all of that, but also about Saint Nick, and about Jeff's family life. For those who were bothered by the theology part, you have to realize that the man was a Methodist minister, and his theology was more symbolic than anything.

I really liked the idea of different recipes for different characters in the manger scene, and the straw and hay (for the donkey) has been a favorite pasta dish since the 90's when I bought this book. Yup, a Christmas present to myself. :)

Oh, and the fact that it has the poem "Journey of the Magi" in it is a real plus!

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite cookbooks. Love the mix of Jeff's family stories, bits of christmas history and recipes.
We try to do one recipe from this book every Christmas.

Candied lemon rind was a bitch to make, but man it felt good to be able to recreate something I remember having when I was a kid.

The Frugal Gourmet is one of my cooking heroes and this is one of his best books.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our favorite Candy Cane cookies are in here!

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an EXCELLENT cookbook. Each character in a Christmas creche is given a recipe. The angels, the donkey.... everyone. Each recipe is amazingly wonderful, and each character comes with a story told through the creche, and also through Jeff Smith's family.

HIGHLY recommended as a cookbook, and highly recommended as a wonderful addition to your Christmas traditions. We make the "straw and hay" recipe every year for Christmas eve.... what the donkey got to eat. Just a wonderful book.

[SFBlau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty pictures, interesting 'theme' concept & some very good recipes.

[Angie (Bussen) Siedell · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've enjoyed so many recipes from this one over the years. Many a staple in our Christmas season.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celebrate and explore the traditions of Christmas with this delightful book filled with woodcut designs, commentary, color illustrations, and recipes with the Frugal Gourmet as your guide. Here readers will find the traditions, the lore, the theology, and the myth of Christmas. Read the stories behind beloved Christmas traditions and share in family memories of the holiday. And then cook . . . .

Recipes include Lentils and Rice with Onions and Sesame Oil, A Flower Salad for Mary, Milk and Honey for Jesus, A Birthday Cake for Jesus, Unleavened Brown Bread for Joseph, Angel Hair Pasta with Whipped Cream and Porcini, Honey Cake with Rose Water for the Angels, Bread in Wine for the Shepherd Boy, Green Olive Soup for the Shepherd Boy, Baked Barley Casserole for the Cattle, Straw and Hay [for the Donkey], Barley Soup for the Innkeeper, Pan Roasted Lamb Chops for the Tax Collector, Onions Sautéed with Yogurt and Sesame Oil [for the Tax Collector], Grains with Vegetables for the Roman Troops, Gravy for Dipping and Sopping [for the Beggar], Rose Wine [for the Magi], Lamb Meatballs, Persian Style [for the Magi], and Currant Cake with Rose Water [for the Magi].

Christmas Traditions include Santa Claus, The Christmas Tree, Christmas Carols, Gift Giving, and Christmas Bells.

A section for Christmas Puddings and Cakes offers recipes for Figgy Pudding, Plum Pudding, Steamed Date Pudding with Whiskey Sauce, Christmas Fruitcake, Bourbon Fruitcake, and Gram’s Lighter Applesauce Fruitcake. Then it’s time for Christmas Cookies with recipes for Gingerbread Cookies, Babes Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes, Sesame Cookies, Lemon Cream Cookies, Oatmeal Crispies, Rosettes, Cookie Ornaments for the Tree, and Peppermint Candy Cookies. If pies are part of your tradition, here are recipes for Mincemeat Pie, Mincemeat, and Basic Easy Crust.

Focusing on The Festival of Lights and Chanukah, there are recipes for Chanukah Dinner, including Latkes and Tzimmes.

Next up is the author’s Family Christmas, complete with pictures and commentary.

Rounding out the cookbook are several menus [and complete recipes] for Christmas Dinner:
Roast Prime Rib of Beef with Yorkshire Pudding, Creamed Onions, Wine Sauce for the Beef, Horseradish Sauce, and Gravy for the Yorkshire Pudding.
Perhaps you’d prefer a Roast Goose Dinner with Roast Goose, Stuffing for the Goose, Gravy for the Goose, Red Cabbage, Baked Onions, and Oven-Roasted Potatoes.
Or maybe you would prefer a Crown Roast of Pork Dinner with Crown Roast of Pork, Stuffing for the Crown Roast of Pork, Gravy, Cold Asparagus, and Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar.
Or you may decide to try the Rack of Lamb Dinner with Rack of Lamb, Sautéed Red and Green Bell Peppers, Bulgur Pesto Timbales, Mushroom Shallot Sauce for the Lamb, and Nellie’s Lemon Tart.

A section devoted to Christmas in Other Cultures offers a Swedish Winter Feast with Swedish Corned Pork Roast, Swedish Sauerkraut, Swedish Green Split Peas with Bacon, Mashed Rutabaga, Turnip, and Potato, Sweet and Hot Mustard, and Rye Bread.
Perhaps you’d enjoy French Oysters for Christmas Eve with Shallot Sauce for the Oysters.
Or might you choose an Italian Christmas Eve meal of Pasta with Seafood, Salad, and Panettone?

Along with your Christmas Eve tree-trimming, try Christmas Eve Pasta. And, as you prepare for the holiday, perhaps you’ll make a few basic things like Candied Orange or Lemon Peel, Hot Buttered Rum Mix, Beef Stock, and Chicken Stock.

Celebrate Christmas in a new and meaningful way; perhaps you will even find a tradition or two that suits your family or a special recipe that can become part of your own holiday tradition.

Highly recommended.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming!! Jeff Smith presents his readers with a beautiful Christmas gift: a richly illustrated book containing recipes, traditions, poetry, and personal reflections on this most sacred holiday. Reading this really got me in a Christmas mood, and I enjoyed how easy it was to pick up and set down, since I am so busy this time of year. All the recipes look enticing and easy to do, so I am sure I'll be mixing a few of them into my own holiday routine from here on out. Picked my copy up for a song in the library discard bin, but would gladly shell out more money for such a worthwhile, thoughtfully written, and useful book.

[Maribeth Van loon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great background on advent and Christmas customs as well as recipes, interestingly organized by the character in the Christmas story. Good tool to bring the nativity into another realm of the senses.

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with this book and didn't keep it in my cookbook collection. The recipes are ok, but there are very few of them. The book was way too touchy feely for me, and the recipes were scattered throughout what seemed like way too many stories about angels. The food seemed kind of weird too, not normal holiday food. I don't know exactly what bothers me about this book, but I was really turned off by it. I like the Frugal Gourmet series, and this book just doesn't seem to fit.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this cookbook in one night. Oh, how I enjoyed learning about different traditions and their orgins. I loved the history in this book, and I am excited to incorporate some of these dishes for next Christmas. I especially like the recipes that would be similar to what the people in Jesus' time would have eaten.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted this beautiful book 26 years ago when I had no time to read it. Not a cook, even then, I did not think it would interest me, but every year I took it out and put it on the coffee table. What I enjoyed so much was that the author reflected on each "character" at the stable in Bethlehem, including the animals. What was so interesting about the animals to someone who cares not in the least about them? Well, for instance, I learned sheep are communal creatures; if one strays it will die. That added so much meaning to many of there parables, which use sheep as metaphors.