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Holiday Central

By Linda Larsen, About.com

Christmas Tree Close Up

Christmas Tree Close Up

Linda Larsen

This list includes information and recipes about holidays!

  • Freeze Ahead Holiday Desserts
    Make these delicious and simple recipes for cakes, cookies, pies, and desserts ahead of time and freeze them for holiday celebrations.
  • Freeze Ahead Holiday Foods
    Scenario: your phone rings at 4 PM on a Saturday before Christmas. Friends from out of town are driving through and want to see you. Instead of panicking, you stroll over to your freezer and choose from several appetizers made weeks ahead. A few minutes of reheating in the microwave, and your friends come into your cozy warm house and are treated to a choice of delicious appetizers.
  • How NOT To Cook a Turkey
    Every year hundreds of thousands of people are sickened by food poisoning. In the U.S., 5000 people die. Improper food handling is the number one cause of these illnesses and fatalities. And the holiday season is prime time for food poisoning. And every year methods circulate about unconventional ways to cook a turkey. These are the unsafe methods that you should not use.
  • Thanksgiving, Step by Step
    Sign up for my email class and learn about each course of Thanksgiving dinner, one day at a time. Take a course about Thanksgiving in your inbox!
  • Let's Talk Turkey!
    This huge complex of ten articles addresses every step of the Thanksgiving meal. From appetizers to desserts, you'll find traditional, easy, and easier recipes and ideas for your harvest celebration.
  • My Family's Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner
    This is the menu we eat every year at Thanksgiving. It includes cherished family recipes and is, I think, the perfect meal.
  • Thanksgiving Crockpot Recipes
    Most of use our crockpot to cook one or two dishes for Thanksgiving. But did you know that you can cook almost an entire Thanksgiving dinner in the crockpot? And it doesn't have to be an alternative Thanksgiving menu!
  • The Easiest Traditional Thanksgiving Menu Ever!
    This super simple, mostly make-ahead menu is one to serve when you want the traditional foods for your Thanksgiving feast, but are a beginning cook or just don't have the time or energy.
  • Alternate Thanksgiving Ideas
    Find recipes for Chandler's Thanksgiving meal (you know who I mean), Calvin Trillin's preferred meal, and scaled down treats that are simple and delicious.
  • Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes
    And, the next few days, your refrigerator is stuffed full of leftovers! Find creative, easy, and delicious ways to use that food to feed your family and guests during this busy shopping weekend.
  • More Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes
    Thanksgiving is probably the biggest 'leftover' holiday of the year. And what leftovers! Tender turkey, lots of mashed potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, stuffing, gravy ... the possibilities are almost endless. These recipes will see you through the weekend!
  • Make Your Own Mixes
    Homemade mixes make a wonderful holiday gift; personal, personalized, and very inexpensive!
  • Holiday Cookie Exchange
    Host a holiday cookie exchange this year and you will spend a lovely, cozy time with friends. And as a bonus you'll have lots of different cookies on hand for the holidays.
  • Alternative Christmas Menus
    Smaller families, people who have to work on Christmas Eve or Christmas day, and those who just don't want to cook can all serve these menus with pride. They are a bit special, yet easy enough to make in much less time.
  • Tree Trimming Appetizer Party
    A tree trimming party is a great idea for completing one chore, celebrating the season, and easily entertaining a crowd of friends.
  • Christmas Dinner Menu
    This traditional dinner is elegant, delicious, and fun to make. It will become part of your family's holiday tradition.
  • My Grandmother Clara's Recipes
    My Grandmother Clara was a spectacular cook; these are a few of my favorite recipes. Make sure to try the recipe for Perfect Truffles, and Chocolate Drop Cookies will be the perfect addition to your Christmas cookie tray.
  • My Grandmother Matha's Recipes
    My Grandmother Matha was the best cook ever, and these are her recipes that I treasure. From Parker House Rolls to Peanut Cakes and Chocolate Sundae Pie, you'll find old fashioned, heirloom recipes that are worth every single calorie.
  • Favorite Holiday Recipes
    These very special recipes are the ones I make every holiday season. Enjoy.
  • Holiday Help Lines
    Did you know that there are many home economists waiting to help you with any food question, just a phone call away? This list of help lines deal with questions about turkeys, baking in general, and any food question you can think of!

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