Yuletide Entertaining 2009

Christmas is a time for full houses, lots of conversation, gifts and, most importantly, good food. Here are a few ideas for some quick and easy snacks you can make for your guests to enjoy before the big meal. Will Rayment -- who has a Web site, called Holiday Cook, and has published a cookbook, called "The Real Man's Cookbook" -- has several

he holiday season begins with Halloween, when ghouls and goblins roam neighborhood streets lined with homes guarded by menacing jack-o'-lanterns, with fearsome faces lit by flickering candles. The sack of candy collected that night dwindles, and the mood lightens as Thanksgiving approaches and we look forward to a four-day weekend of family, food and football. When November rolls into December, hideous

You slave long and hard over Christmas dinner for your family and friends, and when it's over, you have a ton of leftover food to use up. Here are a few ideas for how to turn those scraps into brand-new meals that will dazzle all over again. Pillsbury has a large list of leftover recipes, which can be found at

For both experienced and novice hosts, planning holiday meals and parties can be a challenge when some guests are on special diets or have food allergies. "Many people don't feel comfortable inquiring beforehand about the food being served," says Kathleen M. Zelman, who is the director of

Christmas is a time for warm family get-togethers, good times and good cheer. The aroma of holiday cooking permeates the house, sometimes even the neighborhood, and homes are festooned with bright lights, garlands and candy canes. Your holiday table is set with special holiday dishes and linens as family and guests sit to eat a scrumptious labor of love.

Let's face it. On Christmas morning, most of us are thinking of one thing; we can't wait to see what Santa put in our stockings and under the tree. But we're also usually famished and can't wait to see what Mama Claus has cooked up in the kitchen, either. However, Mrs. Santa usually has her mind on other things come Christmas morning. So here are some easy ways to satisfy those early risers and still have time to enjoy those

Christmas doesn't have to be expensive to be memorable. "My greatest Christmas memories are of things that were homemade for pennies -- both gifts and decorations," says Bruce Littlefield, lifestyle expert and author of "Merry Christmas, America!" And just because you may be a little low on cash this holiday season, it doesn't mean you can't make the holidays special. So before you turn

When the holidays roll around, most of us don't have time to stand in our closets for hours deciding what to wear to the boss's house for dinner or to brunch at Aunt Jane's. But if we do a little homework before the invitations arrive, then we'll be ready to rock 'n' roll no matter where the party's goin' on.

You just know it's going to happen. During the holidays, a few friends stop in; they're visiting relatives and want to check up on their old friends. Or your teenager's college chums will drop by. A few minutes later, dozens are congregating in your kitchen, and they are ravenous. What's a hostess with the mostess gonna do? Whip out a few fast food tricks -- that's what. Here are some quick ways to fake out that unexpected

Tired of humdrum ham and traditional turkey? Spice it up this season with international flavors that add a kick to Christmas dinner. "People have been leaning toward bigger and bolder flavors -- more spice, more aromatics, more nuances," says chef Joey Altman, host of the award-winning San Francisco cooking show "Bay CafŽ" and author of "Without Reservations: How to Make Bold, Creative, Flavorful Food at Home" ($35, Wiley).

These days, everyone's pinching pennies, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice on holiday entertaining. "Creativity, warmth and delicious fare are what count most when it comes to entertaining, not spending a lot of money," says Dina Cheney, author of "Tasting Club: Gathering Together To Share and Savor Your Favorite Tastes" ($22, DK).

Twelfth Night cake, a delectable treat with a hint of orange and decorated with candied fruit, was an essential part of every Twelfth Night celebration. The Twelfth Night is when the biblical three wise men arrived in Bethlehem. Sometimes made flat, sometimes formed into a circle, a Twelfth Night cake always contained a hidden almond, bean or king-shaped ornament baked

There are some things about Christmas that you will see no matter where you are in the United States. Twinkling lights adorn everything from private homes to public buildings; shopping malls are spruced up and ready for the crowds they hope show up with money to spend; and children are on their best behavior, hoping to avoid being on Santa's "naughty" list.

Like those of so many adults looking back over the years, most of my holiday memories are vague, happy ones revolving around close family members and food prepared with love. However, I do have one clear memory of the holiday when Dad decided that I would "at least taste" one of the few foods I'd been avoiding for all my 5 or 6 years. That particular dish was sweet potatoes. As it turns out, our wise father was right

The smell of freshly roasted turkey still wafts through the kitchen as you carefully pipe a line of mashed potatoes around the edge of the green bean and mushroom casserole. The glazed carrots shimmer in a buttery sauce, anticipating a dusting of fresh parsley, and a bowl of whole cranberries -- cooked and chilled to perfection -- awaits a wreath of wafer-thin orange slices.

We produce more waste during the holiday season than we do at any other time of the year. To have an environmentally clean Christmas, remember the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

With the tough economy, Americans are spending less during the holiday season.

We're all familiar with our version of good old St. Nick, but how about Santas in other countries? Below is a list of examples of how Santa is portrayed around the world.