Selena Illyria and the Perfect Gift is a Book

The Perfect Gift is a Book For the Entertainer.

Nigella Christmas: Food Family Friends Festivities by Nigella Lawson

Christmas is a time for family and friends, for tradition and treats. But, let's face it, when the pressure to feed and entertain builds up, the festive season can start to lose its sparkle . . .

That's where Nigella comes in. With her no-nonsense approach, her inspirational ideas, and her empathy for the practical realities of the season-combined here with reliable, easy-to-follow recipes and reassuring advice about planning and cooking ahead-Nigella Christmas is guaranteed to bring comfort and joy and make sure the season of good will stays that way.

Here is everything you could wish for to make your life and your Christmas easy and enjoyable: from party canapés, cocktails, and manageable mass catering, to scrumptious Christmas cakes and puddings; from no-fuss brunches to quick-and-easy homemade presents (chutneys, preserves, and other delectable standbys) and edible tree decorations. There are mouth-watering recipes with a seasonal twist, and simple menus for feeding friends and family over the extended holiday season with minimum stress and maximum enjoyment.

And, of course, exciting and inspiring variations for the Main Event itself-from her traditional super-juicy turkey with all the trimmings, to festive ginger-glazed ham and the Ultimate Christmas Pudding; from goose, rib of beef, and stuffed rolled pork, all the way to a special vegetarian Christmas feast, a chocolate pudding, a French Yule Log, an Australian Christmas Pudding, and The Boozy British Trifle.

Nigella's cakes, as always, gladden the heart-and, like many of the recipes here, are at home all year round-but her At-a-Glance Christmas Lunch Countdown, together with make-aheadand freeze-ahead tips throughout, can help take the stress and strain out of the season. With its glorious illustrations, Nigella Christmas will surely be a perennial favorite-the book we will all reach for, for inspiration and reassurance, when Christmas comes around each year.

Buy Links for BN and Amazon

A Second Suggestion: For the Dessert Lover

Dessert FourPlay: Sweet Quartets from a Four-Star Pastry Chef by Johnny Iuzzini

Consider the strawberry: its familiar flavor and texture; its fresh, sweet smell. Now imagine the same fruit distilled and carbonated for a refreshing soda, slow-roasted for a reinvented strawberry shortcake, made into a creamy strawberry ice cream and a chewy strawberry leather, and combined with coconut cream and crisp chocolate pastry. Alone, each dessert is a taste of paradise, but together this “fourplay,” or tasting, created by Johnny Iuzzini, superstar pastry chef of the celebrated four-star restaurant Jean Georges in New York, is a sophisticated explosion of a familiar flavor that begins with the taste of strawberry rich on your tongue and ends with an effervescent tingle in your nose.

Far from the conventional slice of cake at the end of a meal, Johnny’s seasonal creations—four mini desserts in a quartet of complementary flavors and textures—are a culinary adventure. In Dessert FourPlay, he shares his secrets and inspirations, delivering standout recipes for incredible desserts that can be served alone or combined into his signature fourplay groupings, creating the perfect sweet finale for any meal.

With the home cook in mind, Johnny offers tips on simplifying professional recipes and provides basic recipes for transcendent cakes, cookies, tuiles, ice creams, sorbets, granités, and more. These building blocks can be used to create magnificent multifaceted desserts, or they can be perfect desserts by themselves. Some recipes have surprising versatility: the shiny smooth chocolate glaze Johnny uses to ice cakes doubles as the ultimate hot fudge sauce; a lemony madeleine batter becomes a layer in a cake.

Iuzzini pairs cool with hot, crispy with creamy, sweet with spicy, and the expected—chocolate, strawberries, and cinnamon—with the unexpected—chiles, beets, and chocolatey puffs. The result: desserts that refresh, inspire, and satisfy beyond expectations. Dessert FourPlay invigorates all the senses and inspires home cooks to create innovative desserts of their own.

Buy Link for BN and Amazon
Ebook Version for Nook and Kindle

Hellhound Detective Agency: Demon’s Captive By Selena Illyria


Hellhound/werewolf Casey Mae can track anything put in front of her. The bounty is everything. She doesn't have time for distractions, especially if they come in the form of a dark-haired, green-eyed sex demon. Just because he says he wants her doesn't mean she has to want him. Does it?

Blaise has wanted Casey Mae since he first laid eyes on her. He's not taking no for an answer even if he has to tie her up. Come morning, she won't be able to deny what she feels for him. He'll make sure of it.

Buy Link from Changeling Press

http://www.selenaillyria.com/

REMEMBER
Commenting and/or asking questions on an author or blogger’s blog for the day will enter you into The Perfect Gift is a Book contest for a one of a kind prize. Unfortunately, this contest is open to US residents only.