I have her 10 dollar dinner book which I also love. In fact
351637
This is my go to cookbook. I can't say enough about Melissa. I have her 10 dollar dinner book which I also love. In fact, these are the only two cookbooks I ever use any more - and I have a TON on cookbooks.
2499570
Love Love Love her books!  I buy all of them.  I love her recipes, I have made so many in this book, I can't begin to count.  The meals are large enough for my family of 4, and are all things that my whole family eats.
694107
I have almost all her cook books and love them. She is probably one of the best cook book authors in my opion.
3481354
i own many book regarding cooking and this is in MY top ten! I would reccomend it to any and many of friends...
4675544
I was looking for my Alexandra Stoddard book collection and realized it is in storage but I realized if I owe anyone a good review it's her. She introduced me to a whole new way of looking at the world and lovingly enjoy it. She taught me how to make the most of the little things when I was a young single mother. Things I never would have thought of that actually saved me money. I'll explain later.

Now some people have made said some surprisingly strange things about the book. Things like she's out of touch with reality and everything is too expensive.  But I was a young single mom at the time, and bold, in my 20's when I read it but I managed to find ways to adjust my lifestyle for me and my children so that we could have a truly beautiful life. No we couldn't have a single hyacinth flower delivered when one of us was sick, so I made sure to find a flower that was free. You don't have to have a private delivery service, but if you do even better!  Her books taught me to strive for those things in life, and I have had times prior to the recession where things like that were common place after awhile because I believed in having a quality life by bringing beauty into it.  I believed that the beauty in life was in the details sometimes and could sustain us when we were feeling down.  it saved me money many times because I was happy with the little  things, instead of stuffing myself full of costly junk food and creating addictions, I took a bath and made sure to light a candle and place a flower nearby. Sure the bath salts were $11 for a pound, but think about it, that's not a lot if you use two scoops add your free flower and decide to sit home with your kids and make a salad. Sometimes I would splurge and buy flowers for our salads.  I don't eat meat so it was actually cheaper to buy the flowers and my daughter ate her veggies plus got a beautiful experience and learned a little bit about science.

I learned to appreciate beauty that nature provides and bring it into our lives which in turn kept me happy and sober and a non smoker. I smoked for 15 yrs and have now quit for about 15. Knowing what I know now I could not ever be a smoker again because I made the decision to live a beautiful life. I'm telling you it saves me so much money. When you add elegance, order, beauty and joy what more could you want?  Money. Ok money, but that comes with being a beautiful person. The more beautiful you are the more abundance you create in your life. You don't have to be the prettiest or skinniest or richest to be a beautiful person. Being tuned in to the beautiful will attract people to you that trust you.

Being healthy and beautiful and attuned to these things, people saw that I had good taste and I received work from people who trusted my opinion without any prior experience. This would not have happened if I had not read these books I think,  and tuned into this facet of life. Maybe it awoke something inside of me. I also started an art business recently and I have no experience, but what I do have is this knowledge and insight that Alexandra provided for me. She took the home and motherhood to a whole new level and if I die with nothing else at least I always have those gifts of elegance, order, beauty and joy  to pass on to my children.

This is much deeper than it looks, we sometimes underestimate the value in our society. Having a home that is pleasing to the eye will save you so much and give you so much more than going out and wasting a bunch of money. I really wish I had my copies so I could read them again. I'm in need of some inspiration now.
2879920
Matches all of my Rachel Ray and Red Vanilla dinner service.
3084956
The book has wonderful pictures and I just love the personal notes by Rachel.  The book is well worth the cost!  It is my favorite Shabby Chic book!
3407683
I purchased this book after reading reviews of it on amazon.com and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK.  It is everything previously said and more.  First, her dinnerware is beautiful - from the simple to the extravagant.  All of her table arrangements are fresh and new ideas - not the same old stuff seen in other tabletop books I own.  And, even though she may use expensive things (not all are), her ideas and design can easily be duplicated with what you may own.  I am a dish fanatic not a cook.  But, I was even interested in checking out the recipes and the beautifully displayed food.  Then, near the end of the book, she has added beautiful and quaint drawings of the different types of dinnerware, explaining what each piece/shape is used for, e.g. cream soup cup and saucer...bouillon cup and saucer...luncheon plate...fruit saucer, etc.  The next bonus is a section on artful flowers - again, designs that can easily be imitated/duplicated.  Everything in the book has that "welcoming" feeling - even the formal table settings.  If you are a dinnerware aficionado, you must have this book.  I love it and know I will reference it frequently.
896733
My 10 year-old loves it! Can't get enough of it
644548
I am really emjoying reding her book. Just would like to have a few more receipes added .
1533681
I've been wanting this particular cookbook since I was a young woman, and now that I am retired I leisurely browse through and recall many many favorite foods....and then I gloat because I now have the cultural recepie in my hands - I feel as though I, alone, have stumbled upon a hidden treasure.  Every person of color should have this cookbook in their home....but then they would be chosen to host every major holiday meal by their family and friends....still - it's worth the labor of love
2666818
I am literally obsessed with this book. As a 26 year old who lives in NYC, entertaining in my tiny apartment has never been something I was particularly excited about (until now, thanks to Graze).This book is perfect because all the recipes are unique and exciting enough to impress people but also simple enough to not seem daunting. No matter how good of a cook you are, no one wants to spend the entire day/night prepping and cooking, and this book makes it possible to easily throw together a few delicious and cohesive plates that would even impress my foodie parents. The photos are beautiful and each recipe comes with an anecdote (she has a really fun and casual writing style that makes you feel like you know her). It has been my go-to parents/housewarming gift and everyone has loved it.
1285296
I love this book almost as much as I love her blog.

No wait-I love this book equally as much. Her warm sense of humor and grace comes across at every example. She writes from her experiences and doesn't spare the headache that having a //really// tight budget can create. I love her honesty and her ingenuity. Now, on to the review of the book itself:

I love the book! I actually took it with me to my mother's house yesterday and she looked over it to pick out what she wanted to try. I purchased the book for myself as an early birthday present in December, and it's become one of my favorite DIY resources. (And I have quite a few.)

The recipes work smashingly well, and I'm looking forward to slightly warmer weather (and a few more hours to create things here and there) in order to fully actualize the potential that this book has.

I'm hopeful she will publish another in due time-I'll be one of the first in line. Brava madame!
3443301
I had planned on buying this book after overhearing someone at our pool talking about it a couple of weeks before our vacation this summer. Then, as small as this world really is, my kids made friends with Mrs. Price's grandchildren during our vacation, and our families were brought together. During our brief time with them, I also had the great pleasure of sharing one of the most amazing and delicious meals I have ever eaten. The amount of love and laughter that Mrs. Price and her family gave to mine in a few short days is almost unthought-of in today's world. Most will hardly speak with you, let alone open up their homes and hearts to strangers. For that I am eternally grateful to this wonderful lady and her big gang of family that has learned cooking (and love) from the best.

I now have the book (and also a couple other recipes) that have all been fantastic. I tell everyone that I can about this cookbook and all the stories of our vacation. I love Mrs. Price and her family; and this cookbook is well worth the price. Take my word on it.
2974478
I can literally think of ten thousand things that I've spent at least 99 cents on that pale in comparison to the value of this book!
267524
Am not sure which I love more... the recipes or her commentary ...I lost it in one of my moves, I'm so happy to have it again
1338240
If you have run out of things to talk about at dinner then take this book with you. She will thank you.