I don’t usually buy cookbooks anymore because I just browse online recipe blogs and sites, or go to Pinterest. Well, I think this is one cookbook I will really appreciate having every holiday season.
First of all, the pictures of the dishes are clear, beautiful, and make your mouth water. When my husband and I first looked through it, we constantly found ourselves saying, “We need to make this!”
I am also so impressed by the design, fonts, colors, and layout of the cookbook. It is so aesthetically pleasing, and easy to follow.
Festive Feasts is a cookbook with recipe ideas specifically for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Those are the times I am the most deliberate and creative with my cooking and baking. Honestly, I have been looking for more ideas too, and this book has everything I need. Jeni Potter Scott even puts cute, and funny stories before her recipes, making them personal and special.
The Halloween recipes are so fun. I especially love the witch finger cookies and breadsticks. They look real!
The author has provided every recipe you need to make a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner. She even has a section on what to do with turkey leftovers – and those recipes look just as mouthwatering as the original turkey.
For Christmas, there is an abundance of meat ideas, which I admit, I always need ideas for. There is also an abundance of decadent desserts, such as Red Velvet Peppermint Cake. I know, I want some now too.
One thing I just love about this cookbook is that the recipes are not overly difficult. Almost all of them, I feel I could do well, and even adapt to my family’s preferences.
Another thing I love is the variety! There are multiple drinks, appetizers, entrees, soups, sides and salads, and desserts in each section.
My favorite thing about this cookbook, though, is that many of the recipes are super fun for kids! I can’t wait to make the Mummy Dogs, Magical Disappearing Drink, Super Easy Owl Cupcakes, Utah Scones (which I haven’t had since Girls’ Camp as a teenager, and have been wanting to know the recipe for years), and more!
Now, I can’t do a true cookbook review without trying some of the recipes, and I did.
Here are the recipes I tried with comments:
Bacon-Wrapped Crackers with Parmesan Cheese
This was the favorite. I made these last night as an appetizer for my extended family. Every cracker was gobbled up, and everyone wanted more. I even used turkey bacon, and this recipe is a keeper that will be used for years to come.
Lemon Blueberry Bread
This was a very moist, very lemony, very sweet bread. I liked it, and everyone else did too. It wasn’t the best bread I have ever had in my life, but it was really good. The recipe had a misprint on it, though. Under the icing ingredients, it had butter twice. I think the second butter was a misprint, because I used it, and there was way too much glaze.
French Toast Rollups
I filled these with peanut butter and honey. My kids devoured them. They aren’t that hard to make, and are definitely tasty and fun. I had extra egg mixture and cinnamon sugar, so I mixed that with the bread crust, and heated on my skillet. Honestly, that tasted just as good as the rollups themselves.
Ground Chicken Zucchini Meatballs
These meatballs taste very healthy, like there is a salad within each bite. My son, Casey, told me he wants me to make these again. I also really liked them. They weren’t that hard to make, but do require fresh ingredients. I served them with white sauce over whole wheat pasta. It was a nice variation from regular spaghetti and meatballs, for sure.
I will definitely try more of these recipes. So far, I have found the recipes to be delicious. I imagine all of them will be similarly good.
You can buy Festive Feasts here.
About the author:
Jeni Potter Scott is the owner, author, and creative mind behind Bakerette.com where she features daily recipes, gardening information, and DIY projects.
She is author of a cookbook Festive Feasts: Meals and Memories from Halloween to Christmas which is currently to press and will be distributed in September, 2015.
Jeni has been featured on KSL’s Studio 5, ABC’s Good Things Utah, and wowOwow.com created by Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin, Candice Bergen, Lesley Stahl and others.
Jeni has been a regularly featured contributor to CookingwithRuthie.com, The36thAvenue.com, and currently to MadeFromPinterest.net. She is a budding photographer and formerly was the photographer for AddyLou.com a subsidiary of Modern Display.
Jeni works full time as an Executive Assistant and currently volunteers her time for a local botanical garden where she serves as Vice President of Jordan Valley’s Home & Garden Club, the first of its kind in the Nation.