Review - Best of Bridge Holiday Classics

Courtesy of Bestof Bridge Holiday Classics by The Best of Bridge 2014 © www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher 

permission.

Best of Bridge Holiday Classics

by The Editors of Best of Bridge

Publisher: Robert Rose

Pub. Date: October 17, 2014

Price: $29.95

ISBN: 978-0778804871

Pages: 306

Buy Links: Amazon

Description: 

Now available for the first time, the definitive collection of holiday recipes from the ladies of Best of Bridge.

For two decades thousands of families have made Best of Bridge recipes part of their holiday celebrations. These fans and new ones will enjoy the tried and true tradition of Christmas Morning Wife Saver on Christmas morning, Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes accompanied by Beef Tenderloin with Peppercorn Sauce for a dinner with family or company, and Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Squares for their neighborhood cookie exchange.

These classic recipes come from Best of Bridge fan favorites as well as new recipes which are sure to become instant holiday classics. The best holiday-worthy roasts and other special entrees for celebrations are here, along with fabulous recipes for holiday brunches and lunches, buffets and pot lucks, as well as festive libations and holiday cookies and squares.

What makes this collection extra special are the two chapters devoted to Leftovers and Food Gifts. Fortunately those sumptuous holiday repasts usually have leftovers. This handy chapter includes incredible recipes for transforming those unused portions into another delicious meal. Nothing says "happy holidays" more than a gift of home-made-from-scratch food. From homemade toffee to seasoned nuts and preserves the Bridge ladies provide a huge cache of gift giving ideas.

Billy's Thoughts:

It is almost too hard to believe that Christmas Day is less than two weeks away, which means your gift shopping days is limited, so you better get to shopping right now. A great idea for a gift can be a simple cookbook, as there is at least one cook in every family. There are dozens of new cookbooks currently out in bookstores, so finding the best one may be a bit of a challenge for buyers and that is why I am featuring the Best of Bridge Holiday Classics by the editors of the Best of Bridge series.

After having a big meal at Thanksgiving, I'm not really in the mood for a similar meal at Christmas, so this where the Best of Bridge Holiday Classics comes in handy. The cookbook features 225 recipes for holiday brunches, cocktail parties, buffets & potlucks, sit-down dinners, leftovers, holiday cookies & squares, desserts & other sweet treats and food gifts.

Christmas Morning Wife-Saver, page 21 

A Canadian tradition — don’t wait for christmas! Make breakfast the night before and enjoy your morning.

16 slices white bread, crusts removed

16 slices of canadian back bacon or ham slices of sharp (old) cheddar cheese

6 eggs 6

1⁄2 tsp pepper 2 ml

1⁄2 to 1 tsp dry mustard 2 to5 ml

1⁄4 cup minced onion 60 ml

1⁄4 cup finely chopped green pepper 60 ml

1 to2 tsp worcestershire sauce 5 to10 ml

3 cups milk 750 ml

dash tabasco

1⁄2 cup butter 125 ml

crushed corn flakes cereal

Put 8 pieces of bread in a 13- by 9-inch (33 by 23 cm) buttered glass baking dish. Add pieces to cover dish entirely. Cover bread with thinly sliced bacon. Top with slices of cheddar cheese. Cover with slices of bread. In a bowl, beat eggs and pepper. Add mustard, onion, green pepper, worcestershire, milk and tabasco. Pour over bread, cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, melt butter and pour over top. Cover with cereal. Bake at 350°f (180°c), uncovered, 1 hour. Let sit 10 minutes before serving. Serve with fresh fruit.

Serves 8.

Courtesy of Best of Bridge Holiday Classics by The Best of Bridge 2014 © www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher permission. 

The Best of Bridge Ladies have been developing recipes since 1975, so they basically know what they are doing. This isn't your typical cookbook, as it doesn't feature traditional holiday meals, but instead it fits into our current times and focuses on recipes for social events, like Christmas parties, get-togethers and other holiday gatherings.

I have only had time to try out a few recipes, but I do have a few favorites - Christmas Morning Wife-Saver, Winter Punch, Jalapeno Corn Muffins and Hamburger Soup. Overall, the Best of Bridge Holiday Classics is a wonderful cookbook with many creative recipes for the holidays.

*Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. 

About the Authors:

The acclaimed Best of Bridge cookbooks are an international phenomenon, with 4 million books bought by those who want tried and true recipes with outstanding results. Each of their cookbooks offers tantalizing dishes as well as The Ladies' legendary humor, creating a culinary gem for any home cookbook collection.