BY THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF A SHORT HISTORY OF DRUNKENNESS Discover the unpredictable origins and etymologies of our Christmas customs this festive season. For something that happens every year of our lives, we really don't know much about Christmas. We don't know that the date we celebrate was chosen by a madman, or that Christmas, etymologically speaking, means "Go away, Christ". We're oblivious to the fact that the advent calendar was actually invented by a Munich housewife to stop her children pestering her for a Christmas countdown. And we would never have guessed that the invention of crackers was merely a way of popularising sweet wrappers. Luckily, like a gift from Santa himself, Mark Forsyth is here to unwrap this fundamentally funny gallimaufry of traditions and oddities, making it all finally make sense - in his wonderfully entertaining wordy way. 'Witty and revelatory. Blooming brilliant' Raymond Briggs 'Everything we ever thought about Christmas is wrong! Great stuff' Matthew Parris

"In this novel, a doctor is faced with an ethical dilemma when her friend's child lands in the emergency room"--

Close-up photos of plump apricots, juicy mangoes, crisp lettuce ... these are familiar to us all through cookery books and garden guides. But seeing fruit and vegetables as detailed art, viewed through eighteenth-century eyes, is something very different - and more interesting.Thanks to intrepid explorers and plant-hunters, Britain and the rest of Europe have long enjoyed a wide and wonderful array of fruit and vegetables. Some wealthy households even created orangeries and glasshouses for tender exotics and special pits in which to raise pineapples, while tomatoes, sweetcorn and runner beans from the New World expanded the culinary repertoire. This wealth of choice attracted interest beyond the kitchen and garden. In the 1730s, a prosperous Bavarian apothecary produced the first volume of a comprehensive A to Z of all available plants, meticulously documented, and lavishly illustrated by botanical artists. 'A Cornucopia of Fruit & Vegetables' is a glimpse into his world. It features exquisite illustrations of the edible plants in his historic treasury, allowing us to enjoy the sight of swan-necked gourds and horned lemons, smile at silkworms hovering over mulberries and delight at the quirkiness of 'strawberry spinach' ... a delicious medley of garden produce and much else.

Discover design inspiration as a photographer and blogger details the story of her renovation of a 1940s cottage in the California countryside. A little, abandoned vacation house that could, set in the center of rolling fields and trees becomes the cottage home of her dreams. A French country–style cottage filled with original elements and an exquisite mix of rustic and refined. The years of renovation allowed Courtney to create a lifestyle that is fueled by inspiration and beauty, a touch of whimsy, and an abundance of everyday elegance. The journey has been shared on her popular blog French Country Cottage, and now, through the publication of her first book, her readers will experience a reveal of more of her home and property and the inspirations behind her beloved style. Courtney's inspiring photography reveals every nuance of her style and home including a muted color palette, old brassy door knobs, chippy paint, antiques, her greenhouse and garden, and an abundance of entertaining and holiday decorating style. Blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor and embracing well-worn as well loved, French Country Cottage is a style that celebrates simplicity, indulges in romance, cherishes pieces with history and believes a chandelier and fresh flowers belong in every room.

"I am enjoying it immensely, and it is one of those books that makes one want to try things out--like the puff pastry on page 233...I love the way the book is set up...that the recipes have been left as written...my congratulations for a job well done."--Julia Child FROM REVIEWS OF THE ORIGINAL EDITION: "With a truly handsome format featuring many engravings, this is a fine staple for culinary historians and practitioners--and an exemplary gift."--"Kirkus Reviews " "This is an exploration, curious and fascinated, by a couple of nosers-around in the vast, uncollected library of five centuries of the English printed word on food, from 1390 to 1899. In the finished product the Hermans preserve not only the recipes but their original language, and a great deal of the lore they dug up in the course of their seeking."--"Village Voice " "This handsome book is a delight to the culinary historian and the adventurous cook."--"Library Journal " "The Cornucopia. . .is pure entertainment. . . such general easy jolliness is hard to find and much to be savored. . .. I can find nothing but plain enjoyment in the book."--M. F. K. Fisher, "The New Yorker " "Recipes, lore and anecdotes from the old world and the new, dating from 1390 to 1899, make up the subject matter, and the handsome layout and [reproductions of ] attractive old engravings of foods and utensils make it inviting to dip into."--"New York Magazine" "This fine smorgasbord will whet the appetite for the original books from which it was assembled."--"New York Times"

In Scandinavia the whole period of Christmas, from the first Sunday in Advent to New Year's Day, is marked by festivals and celebrated in traditional but beautifully contemporary style. Hygge, the Danish word for cosiness, is about being inside with candles, great comfort food and lots of cakes and sweets. The first week of December is baking week - enough has to be made to last the whole Christmas period. Jars of decorated cookies, gingerbread houses and clogs filled with little presents rub shoulders with simple wreaths, trees and tables decorated with white candles and fresh greenery - the perfect mix of ancient and modern. Brunches, cocktail and tea parties, lunches and dinners are celebrated with a mixture of traditional goodies and delicious modern recipes. Duck and pork rule on Christmas Eve, fish, ham and seasonal vegetables on Christmas Day. Sweets, biscuits, puddings and other treats abound - all washed down with gluwein and fruity cocktails. In this glorious book, illustrated with Lars Ranek's evocative photographs, Trine Hahnemann provides a cornucopia of 70 Christmas recipes - all featuring ingredients which are common to all northern climes - showing us how we, too, can decorate our homes and make delicious dishes to celebrate Christmas the Scandinavian way.

Discover the fascinating (and sometimes downright odd!) ways that people and nations celebrate the holiday season and share this festive compendium's unique traditions together with family and friends. Do you know that in Guatemala there's a "Burn the Devil" tradition to kick off the Christmas season, where revelers gather to set fire to devil-piñatas? In Sweden, a popular figure in Christmas traditions is the Yule Goat, a rowdy, menacing character who demands gifts. And in Japan, a big bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken has become the classic Christmas Day feast. These and many other global Christmas traditions are featured here in this delightful book. From decorations and activities to feasts and special treats, there's a wide range of both lovely and unusual traditions from around the globe.

Contains a selection of recipes from the Cornucopia Vegetarian Wholefood Restaurant in Dublin. This book is divided into six sections which are soups, salads, main courses, desserts, breads and seasonal menus. It features recipes with consideration for the following dietary requirements: Vegan; gluten-free; yeast-free, dairy-free; and, egg-free.

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Christmas decorators to the stars Bob Pranga and Debi Staron share unique holiday ideas and secret tips for decorating any home in the most creative way. Features the celebrity homes of Leeza Gibbons, Candace Bergen, and the Hiltons and includes special sections on Christmas lights, ornaments, and trimmings as shown through more than 1000 full-color photographs. 0-7566-0556-3$29.95 / DK Publishing, Inc.