An introductory chapter highlights the Christmas countdown with timetables for preparation, shopping tips, advice on make-ahead dishes, quantities for a crowd, turkey hints & tips, table settings and a helpful stain guide.
Festive Beginnings jump starts the recipes with a few Appetizers ~ dips (warm crab, layered white bean & tomato or Tex Mex bean), cocktail meatballs with cranberry sauce, stuffed eggs (dried tomatoes & capers, lemon basil or bacon horseradish), Swiss fondue, cheddar crab puffs, lacy Parmesan crisps, salmon pate and octopus Rockefeller, followed by Paula Deen's Irresistible Holiday appetizers which consist of triple cheese stuffed mushrooms, bacon wrapped dates, cranberry juleps and an apple wassail. There are also a few libations included in Cocktails & Punch Bowls ~ pink lady punch, syllabub and a champagne fruit bowl.
The last section covers Salads & Soups which encompass a cucumber pomegranate salad, orange endive ambrosia, mesculan with peas & pumpkin seeds, a gingered honey fruit salad, squash soup with cumin, chestnut parsnip soup, turkey escarole soup, lobster bisque and green with radish soup. There is a short interlude section with crafting ideas for wreaths and a few lighting tips.
Up next is The Main Event - chock full of dishes & treats galore - beginning with Beef, Pork & Lamb which doles out pepper crusted prime rib, Italian stuffed veal roast, glazed ham with apricots and a pork crown roast with apple pear stuffing, superseded by a Holiday Archives section of feasting on game with recipes for braised pheasant with cabbage, civet of venison and rabbit supreme. Of course there is also a section on Turkey & Other Poultry which dishes out turkey breast with spinach herb dressing, prosciutto wrapped turkey roulade, sage-orange turkey and roast duck with cranberry port sauce.
Ina Garten contributes a cranberry fruit conserve and a herb.apple stuffing bread pudding, before the recipes turn to Fish & Shellfish, featuring chilled salmon with green olive sauce, seafood Newburg and an Italian spiced shrimp casserole. The last section of the chapter delves into Brunches & Buffets with overnight savory French toast, cheddar grits souffle, sausage calzones, enchiladas, chili, a salmon noodle bake and a few crafts ~ centerpieces and decorating with candles.
Sideshows is all about the accompaniments, beginning with Potatoes & Pilafs, which include roasted sweet & white potatoes with rosemary, accordion potatoes, maple cranberry sweet potatoes and an herbed rice pilaf with cranberries & thyme, followed by a few Stuffing & Breads ~ for stuffing the choices include wild rice & mushrooms, sausage, chestnut & mushrooms, cornbread, butternut squash and herbed oyster, with cranberry & pumpkin scones and cranberry cornmeal biscuits rounding out the breads.
Bobby Flays offers a few Christmas grill suggestions ~ grilled potato salad with blue cheese vinaigrette or honey rum baked black beans, before we move onto Vegetable Sides which are comprised of tarragon peas with pearl onions, broccoli Fanchette saute, Brussels sprouts with brown butter & chestnuts and red cabbage and apples. From the Archives we are shown corn fritters and celery au gratin, then given a few Relishes & Cranberry Sauces ~ caramelized onion & fennel relish, pineapple & cranberry chutney and marmalade. We close with All Through the House - crafting activities for homemade stockings, Christmas tree decorating tips and homemade ornaments.
Up next are the desserts aka Sweet Finales, and cakes are up first with a chocolate raspberry roll, amaretto apricot cake, lemon ricotta cheesecake, a sticky toffee Bundt cake, followed by Pies & Tarts which treats us to a cherry hazelnut Lizer tart, pumpkin pie with pecan brittle, a pear frangipani tart, and a ganache tart with a salted almond crust. A few selections from the Archive of Nostalgic Christmas desserts are an old-fashioned fruitcake, mincemeat tarts and coffee souffle, while Puddings & Fruity Desserts doles out vanilla creme brulee, panna cotta with berry sauce, cranberry trifle. tiramisu and wine poached pears.
For Cookies, Brownies & Bars, a few options include stained glass cookies, fruitcake drops, walnut cookie balls, macaroons, spritz, pinwheels and peppermint meringue twists. Martha Stewart chimes in a few of her favorite holiday cookies as well ~ Noel nut balls, Vienna tarts, mint brownie bites, cranberry chocolate chunk cookies, butter almond thins, lime triangles and cranberry shortbread.
The last chapter, Holiday Wrap Up, begins with Preserves, Pickles & Other Gifts in Jars, which dishes out apple butter, freezer strawberry jam, fig chutney, a fig & walnut cheese ball, curried soup fixings, citrus marinated olives and cranberry & orange relish. Up next are Quick Breads & Granolas ~ Chai spiced tea loaves, a Cape Cod cranberry loaf, Irish soda bread, hazelnut honey granola and a zucchini cheese loaf - then Candies & Confections which encompass salted caramel bark, truffles, fudge, sweet & sassy nuts, butternut toffee crunch and chocolate dipped pretzels.
One last look at the Archives of Old-Fashioned Christmas candy gives us 5 minute fudge, pralines, divinity drops, maple kisses and sugar plum puffs.
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