Sunday, October 9, 2022

Christmas with Southern Living 2022, Reviewed

Ask anybody and they will tell you that I refuse to discuss Christmas until November. This business of putting Christmas items on display in August is wrong in so many ways.  That said, I have nothing against planning for Christmas in the month prior to November and, thanks to Southern Living’s new release in their Annual Christmas volume, Christmas with Southern Living 2022, I am doing that very thing.
Southern Living is known for quality, and it shines through in this festive volume. As usual, there are loads of ideas to inspire holiday cooking and decorating. If you’ve seen previous years volumes, then you are pretty much familiar with the format. Basically, that doesn’t change. But, I find there is comfort in familiarity. Southern Living is someone whom I know I can trust. I never hesitate to put my holiday parties in their hands, and my guests have yet to be disappointed.
 The first of the book is filled with inspiring ideas for holiday decorating. No matter what you celebrate, there are decorating ideas for you; no matter what your style, you will find something of interest here from colonial and early American to modern, outdoor dining, and bohemian. This section also includes tips on how to wrap gifts like a pro.The second half of the book is on dining that, equally, has something for everyone. I love that they included a section on “board dining.” They have gone way beyond simple charcuterie boards to include an Appalachian Breakfast Board, Creole Brunch Board, “Floribbean” Sunset Board, and Delta Dessert Board. All of the recipes to create these beautiful and delicious looking boards are included.If you like to celebrate the holidays with game night, they’ve got you covered. If Christmas dinner or brunch is more your style, they’ve got you covered too, with recipes that are simple, or more complex, depending upon your skill level and amount of time that you are willing to delegate.Now for the recipes. My favorite part of Christmas is the cookies. I don’t bake them, mind you, I leave that for my aunt, but in this book, I have found quite a few recipes to send to her including my very favorite Iced Sugar Cookies, Pecan Cookies, and Peppermint Pinwheels. Honestly, I could swoon…or slip into a sugar coma. A fun chapter in this book is called “Snacktastic.” It features a variety of fun homemade goodies like Rosemary Bacon Nut Mix, Smoked Gouda Shortbread, Zesty Parmesan Popcorn, Crispy Potato Chips with Caviar, and more.
One of my favorite things about this book is the holiday planner at the back. It is extensive, well thought out, and begins with a planning calendar for November. There is a decorating planner, grocery store list, party planners, gift lists, a place for memories, simple things that you can buy at the grocery store to yield beautiful and fragrant holiday decorations, and a space to plan for next year. I am also a fan of the indexes. You would be surprised at the number of new cookbooks that don’t have one, much less two. This book has a general index, and a recipe index. They’ve won me over with this aspect.
  I get this book every year, and I think this one is my favorite. Pick one up for yourself and see if you don’t agree.

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Southern Living Christmas 2022 from Abrams Books as a participant in their Abrams Dinner Party Program for 2022-2023.


3 comments:

Marie Smith said...

It is a Christmas delight by the look of it!

The Tote Trove said...

I couldn't agree more about the ridiculousness of the peddling Christmas in August thing. I don't like to start decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving -- and even then I'm a little reluctant! But I agree that the 2022 volume of Christmas with Southern Living is a gem of a book. It makes me want to go to a Christmas party now, if only for the treats, and it's not even Halloween! Yet as always, it's your beautiful writing that really sets the scene. Your posts are a pleasure to read.

Linda said...

I used to buy these every single year. They are so fun to look through over and over. Nice review Pattie!