Holiday Home & Gifts 2025 by mcnaughtonmedia

Holiday Home & Gifts

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Gift Guide

7 Mastering Black Friday shopping

7 Maximize Cyber Monday

8 Budgetfriendly holiday shopping tips

8 Special, a ordable homemade gifts

10 Thinking outsidethe-box for kids’ gifts

11 Top video games for holiday gifting this year

12 Let charitable gifts spread joy, beneﬁt more than just recipients

12 Experiential gifts for everyone on your list

14 Tips for gifting coworkers

15 4 ideas for homeade food gifts

16 Thoughtful gifts for seniors

16 Gifts for every music lover

18 Ideal gifts for those who love the outdoors

HOLIDAY HOME & GIFTS PROJECT TEAM

Publishers: Foy S. McNaughton, T. Burt McNaughton

Editor: Todd R. Hansen

Project Manager: Nancy Meadows

Mastering Black Friday shopping

Black Friday is one of the busiest and most proﬁtable shopping days of the entire year. According to DemandSage and National Public Radio, American consumers spent a record $10.8 billion on online Black Friday shopping in 2024. Around $61 billion in total sales (both online and in-person) were made over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend.

Consumers can land great deals on the day after Thanksgiving, which means individuals who hone their Black Friday shopping skills can reap considerable rewards. The following tips can help shoppers master Black Friday.

• Set a budget. Even though Black Friday may feature some hard-to-beat deals, it’s wise to determine how much you can a ord to spend before you begin shopping. Shopping beyond your means, even if the prices are low, can exact a ﬁnancial toll.

• Make a list of recipients. Make a list of the people for whom you will be shopping and some ideas of what to give each individual. This will enable you to look out for particular deals on these items.

• Compare prices ahead of time. It’s important to know how much items cost across di erent retailers before Black Friday arrives to understand their true value. This will enable you to determine if a Black Friday sale really is a bargain or if it’s possible to get a better price at a di erent time. Smartphone apps like BuyVia, Shopkick and Shopular let you scan barcodes to compare prices and more.

• Shop online early. NPR says there has been a shift from traditional in-store shopping to online platforms for Black Friday. Many deals now begin on Thanksgiving or even earlier and fall under the Black Friday promotion. Start shopping at home to avoid large crowds and secure limited time deals. In recent years, many retailers have o ered more of the same promotions online as they do in stores.

• Be wary of sneaky sales tactics. Some stores will o er “doorbuster” exclusions that highlight slashed prices and utilize marketing tactics like countdown timers to encourage shoppers to purchase items without doing their research. This is when knowing the true value of items can help you spot a deal or inﬂated prices that were then marked down.

• Limit your stores. If you choose to shop in person on Black Friday, start early in the day and don’t run yourself ragged. If you’re tired, you may not make the best decisions and could end up spending more than your budget allows.

Shopping smart on Black Friday comes down to employing some savvy ﬁnancial strategies.

Maximize Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday is the ﬁnal bookend to a series of shopping-centric days preceding Christmas. Along with Black Friday, Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday presents an additional opportunity to realize great deals on items shoppers may need for gifting or entertaining.

Adobe Newsroom reported Cyber Monday hit a record $13.3 billion in online spending in 2024, marking an increase of more than 7 percent from 2023. Consumers also spent heavily on mobile devices, which accounted for 54.8 percent of online sales. Each Cyber Monday o ers a chance to save big and streamline shopping. Utilizing these tips for making the most of the day can enhance success.

• Make a list of intended purchases. Draft a list of items that you need or want and research their typical prices in advance of Cyber Monday. This enables you to quickly identify if a Cyber Monday discount is a good deal.

• Safely shop online. Scammers are in the business of taking your hard-earned money or personal data. They mimic the look of popular stores and promote deals that often are too good to be true. Before entering payment information, double-check web addressess, spelling and contact information, warns the Better Business Bureau. Check the website URL to ensure that the site is secure before purchase.

• Look for coupon codes. Check for available promo codes in advance, which can help you get deeper discounts. Utilizing browser extensions that automatically search for and apply coupon codes can streamline this process.

• Be mindful of shipping costs. Shop at online retailers that o er free shipping whenever possible. Double-check the costs of shipping when it isn’t free to ensure that the discount is enough to o set shipping costs.

• Ship directly to recipients. In some instances, you can enter a recipients’s address at checkout and have the items arrive directly to friends or family members who live far away. This can be a great way to avoid potentially costly shipping charges.

• Shop during o -peak times. The convenience of online shopping enables shopping for gifts when it ﬁts into your schedule. Online retailers are open all hours and seven days a week. Save Cyber Monday bulk shopping for the early morning or late evening when you can think through gifts more readily. Although improvements to internet speeds have been made in recent years, online tra ic may slow down transactions made during peak hours, so this is another reason to shop during o -peak times. Great deals can be had on Cyber Monday, and customers can maximize opportunities to save.

etfriendly holiday shopping tips

Holiday shopping and entertaining involve a whirlwind of activity to round out the end of the year. The holiday season also tends to be an expensive time of year. According to Capital One Shopping, the average spending for holiday travel, gifts and entertainment expenses is $1,638. The National Retail Federation says American consumers spend an average of $997.73 on gifts and other holiday items each Christmas.

For some people, adding an additional $1,000 to their November or December budgets can be challenging, and many individuals seek budget-friendly solutions for their holiday celebrations. The following guidelines can help corral spending this year.

Set a budget

It’s impossible to keep a budget if one is never established in the ﬁrst place. Determine how much you can comfortably spend on gifts, travel and entertaining, as well as any other holiday expenses. Once the number is calculated, divvy up spending accordingly.

Plan your list

Make a list of everyone you need to purchase gifts for, along with gift ideas and estimated costs. Set a dollar amount for each individual, particularly if you will not be spending the same amount on each person. Having numbers in black and white, and comparing them to what you have allocated for gifts, will enable you to see whether you are overspending or on budget.

Shop early

Begin holiday shopping as early as possible, even months before the holidays arrive. Such an

approach enables you to take advantage of sales as they come up. Also, you will not fall victim to impulse buys or last-minute purchases because you are under a time crunch.

Track spending

Utilize whatever method works for you to keep apprised of spending. It may be jotting down numbers on a piece of paper or using a budgeting app on a smartphone. Having a clear idea of what you have spent and any dollars remaining will help you keep your overall spending in line with your budgeted amount.

Get coupons

Signing up for stores’ loyalty programs can enable you to receive members-only coupons or digital codes to your phone or email. Compare the discounted ﬁnal price with other stores’ o ers to make sure that you are getting the best deals. Browser extensions also can search automatically for coupons and apply them to the checkout when online shopping.

Use credit cards wisely

Credit cards come with various perks, many of which are points or cash back accumulated with each purchase. Utilize a card that works best for your needs, whether it’s to get airline miles or score extra spending money for a particular retailer. Only charge what you can pay in full when the bill arrives; otherwise, the benefits may be negated by high interest rates. Holiday spending can derail financial plans for those who do not establish a firm budget and commit to spending wisely towards the end of the year.

Special, affordable homemade i s

The holiday season is a joyous time of year, but it also can be expensive. According to the National Retail Federation, American consumers spend an average of $998 on gifts and additional holiday items each Christmas. In 2024, the anticipated spend for holiday travel, entertainment and gifts was expected to top $1,600 per shopper.

While some people have no qualms about spending so much come the holiday season, others may be tightening their budgetary belts this year and could be interested in some cost-e ective gift options. Homemade gifts are very thoughtful, and they tend to be more budget-friendly than some commercially sourced items. Check out these inexpensive homemade gifts.

Bath bombs

Bath bombs are ﬁzzing, scented balls that dissolve in bathwater. Popular retailers sell bath bombs, but such products can be expensive. However, bath bombs are easily made at home with some basic ingredients like baking soda and citric acid. Simply search online for popular bath bomb recipes and then wrap the ﬁnished product in cellophane treat bags with ribbon.

Photo ornaments

There are various ways to create photo ornaments, which

provide an excellent reason to make prints of some of your favorite images. Insert a print inside of a clear ball ornament, purchase a small photo frame and add a hook for hanging, or use a photo transfer product to transfer photo ink to another object, like a cardboard or wood cutout. Recipients will love hanging these thoughtful photo ornaments on the tree or around the house.

Sugar scrubs

Just like bath bombs, it’s relatively

easy to recreate a spa experience by gifting homemade sugar scrubs. These scrubs are made from mixing sugar with coconut oil and a few drops of essential oil for a scented boost. If desired, add vitamin E oil or jojoba oil to soothe the skin even more.

Potted plant

Utilize an interesting container in lieu of a traditional ﬂower pot to put a creative and personalized spin on this gift. A co ee mug with a witty saying can house a plant or even a small ramekin picked up at the dollar store. Choose a plant that matches the care style of the recipient. Someone whose green thumb isn’t perfect may appreciate a cactus or another succulent, which tend to be low-maintenance.

Personalized stickers

Many people now have printing and

cutting craft machines that enable them to expand their crafting options at home, or even start home businesses. Kids may appreciate a stack of homemade, personalized stickers

they can use to adorn water tumblers, phone cases or notebooks. Homemade gifts are thoughtful and often inexpensive options for creative types shopping on a budget.

Thinking outside-thebox for kids’ gifts

Children may look forward to the holiday season more than most people. The holiday season is an opportunity for kids to tear open wrapping paper and see the amazing gifts they’ve received this year.

Although toys and games are typical gifts for children, there are many other items that go beyond these staples to make for unique and creative gifts that can spark imagination or boost physical activity. Shoppers can consider these outside-the-box gift ideas when shopping for youngsters this holiday season.

• 3D pen or printer: Kids can design and build amazing ob jects that encourage them to employ their creative side.

• Soap-making kit: These skits spur creative endeavors and ultimately produce useful ﬁnished results. Soap or perfume kits are great for hands-on sensory learning. Such gifts also teach some components of science and math by requiring users to follow the recipe.

tive play and crazy combinations of clothing.

• Geocaching app: Let kids ﬁnd objects hidden all over their neighborhoods in realworld outdoor treasure hunts. Geocaching utilizes GPS coordinates to ﬁnd hidden containers, called geocaches, placed there by other players.

• Robot-building kits: Take building kits one step further with items that can move. Robot kits combine play with engineering basics.

• Interactive books: Children can solve puzzles or make choices to move the story along. These types of books may even appeal to the most hesitant readers.

• Bug collection kits: Budding entomologists can observe insects close up, and then release them back into the wild.

• Greenhouse, terrarium or bonsai tree kit: Put together the materials needed for kids to grow something special. They can nurture the plant along the way.

• Dress up trunk: Fill a box or a trunk with various dress-up costumes and accessories and let children’s imaginations run wild. This will spur hours of imagina-

• Various craft supplies: Let kids create any and all of their fun ideas by compiling a kit full of various craft supplies. From beads to wooden letters to paints to paper, there are plenty of items to be made.

• Hiking attire: Get kids out into nature by supplying the gear needed to take to the trails.

• Adopt a star or planet: Children can adopt and name a star or planet and get a certiﬁcate honoring the event.

• Time capsule: Let children store favorite items tucked away for safe keeping, where they’ll remain until unveiled in the future.

Parents and other holiday shoppers can think creatively when it comes time to choose gifts for children.

Let charitable gifts spread joy, benefit more than just recipients

Charitable giving increases signiﬁcantly in the months surrounding the holidays. Approximately one-third of annual giving happens in December, and 10 percent of all giving occurs in the last three days of the year, according to Charities Aid Foundation America. The surge in dona tions typically occurs with people’s desire to spread holiday cheer, enjoy tax advantages and help people in the community, says Non proﬁt Source.

Some people are compelled to donate in the name of another person. Here are some ideas for charitable holiday gifts that beneﬁt many.

Donate in someone’s name

To honor a loved one who may be living or deceased, or who fought an illness and won, you can donate to a nonproﬁt in the name of that loved one. Many charities o er printable or physical cards to let the recipient know a donation has been made in his or her name.

Giving back through gifts

Certain products purchased feature proceeds that go toward a charitable cause. For example, every purchase of TOMS® shoes helps fund mental health access and community development, while the body care products from Thistle Farms are made by women survivors of tra icking, prostitution and addiction. Other products may help feed the hungry or support cancer patients.

Supporting animals

A symbolic animal adoption can support conservation e orts around the world. Making a donation to the World Wildlife Fund in someone’s name, for example, enables you to get a plushie, certiﬁcate and information on the animal the contribution will be helping.

Fair trade gifts

Making a purchase of fair trade items means you’re often buying handmade and ethically sourced goods. These gifts support artisans in developing countries and help fund community projects. Gift recipients can feel pride in ownership of an item that was designed and purchased with the greater good in mind.

Charity gift cards

Charitable gift cards, like those available from TisBest Charity and CharityChoice, let the gift recipient choose which nonproﬁt will receive the funds.

Support special businesses

O er gift cards or take people to dine or shop at businesses that support those with special needs. For example, No Limits Cafe in New Jersey is a full-service restaurant that trains and employs adults with intellectual disabilities. Dining there will help to continue to support these important e orts to give every employee a sense of pride and purpose.

Charitable gifts make a recipient feel special and can make many additional people feel good as well.

Experiential gifts for everyone on your list

ift exchanges are a hallmark of the holiday season. Individuals spend weeks making lists and shopping for items they believe recipients will appreciate. However, this holiday season shoppers may want to change up their gift-buying strategy to focus less on material o erings and more on experiences.

A recent survey from Get Your Guide found 92 percent of Americans prefer to receive an experience over a physical gift during the holiday season. In addition, Deloitte’s 2024 survey of more than 4,000 consumers in the United States found that spending on experiences during the holidays is expected to rise by 16 percent year-over-year, reaching an average of $735.

Experiential gifts place value on memories and emotional connections rather than objects. As people increasingly are drawn to these special moments, here’s a look at experiential gifts for everyone on a holiday shopping list.

Parents and grandparents

Experiential gifts for older adults are beneﬁcial because they won’t add to the clutter or belongings such individuals have already accumulated throughout the years. Useful ideas include memberships to museums, entry to botanical gardens, culinary tastings, travel vouchers, and subscriptions to wellness classes.

Teens and young adults

Teens are big on experiences over

material gifts. According to TD Bank’s 2024 survey, Gen Z leads the trend in experience-ﬁrst gifting, with 68 percent preferring experiences. Examples of good experiential gifts for this demographic include escape room experiences, concert tickets, adventure sports like indoor rock climbing, subscription services to streaming music, or movie passes.

Children and families

Families already may be out and about, and parents of young children may appreciate experiences more than additional toys and games that are already ﬁlling the house. Annual passes to zoos, museums or aquariums can keep families occupied year-round. Children might like a science or art workshop, while movie night gift cards and tickets to family shows also are viable gift options.

Special partners

Experiences can strengthen relationships and intimacy. Possible gift ideas include spa days, cooking classes for two, a weekend travel getaway, or tickets to a theater performance or concert. The Amex Trendex 2024 survey found that 38 percent of people plan to give an experience to a signiﬁcant other.

Experiential gifts focus on fun, creating memories and reducing waste. Such gifts also tend to be more economical in the long run. The holidays are often ﬁlled with excess, and experiential gifts can put the focus back on joy and spending time together.

The holiday season ﬁnds people making shopping lists that include gifts for all of the special people in their lives. Such lists also feature the people with whom individuals may spend the majority of their time each day: coworkers.

Gifting coworkers can strengthen professional relationships, build camaraderie and show appreciation while on the job. A well-chosen gift can leave a lasting impression, whether it’s given for a birthday, promotion or the holiday season. According to a 2019 survey from O ice Depot, 70 percent of employees said their workplace had a holiday gift-giving tradition like Secret Santa or White Elephant. It is important to balance thoughtfulness with professional decorum when selecting gifts. These guidelines can help anyone navigate workplace giving.

• Consider company culture. One of the ﬁrst aspects of gift giving among coworkers is understanding the culture of the company. In some businesses, gift exchanges are commonplace and encouraged during team celebrations or the holiday season. In others, they may be rare

or even frowned upon. It is always a good idea to check with human resources before choosing a gift, particularly for those who are new to the company.

• Avoid personal gifts. When selecting gifts, consider thoughtful items that are not too personal. These can include desk organizers, co ee mugs, plants, notebooks, photo frames, or even gift cards to nearby restaurants.

• Be mindful of food and beverages. When choosing to give a gift of food, be aware of any dietary restrictions and allergies the gift recipients may have. Also, while a gift of wine or another bottle of alcohol may seem ﬁtting, one never knows if a person is abstaining from drinking, so it’s best to avoid such gifts in the workplace.

• Consider personalized gifts for close colleagues Giving personalized gifts to close coworkers can be a great way to show appreciation when one knows the recipient well enough. For example, if he or she can’t survive without co ee each morning, then a gift of an engraved insulated co ee tumbler can be perfect. If the coworker

Tips for gifting coworkers

mentions being part of a book club, a specialized bookmark or gift card to a bookstore will be ﬁtting.

• Be careful with humor. When gifting a funny present, avoid anything that can be misinterpreted or considered o ensive. It’s best to avoid any political humor. For those unsure about whether a gift might be taken the wrong way, skip that gift and choose another option.

• Limit the cost. Some coworkers may be friends, but it is best to keep all gifts inexpensive and of the same value if the plan is to gift everyone in the department. According to the O ice Depot survey, 27 percent of respondents felt meeting a spending limit is very important. The general range of gift prices at the workplace is between $20 and $30. One of the best ideas for company gifting is to see who might want to participate in a gift exchange, and then everyone brings a grab bag gift. Then there isn’t pressure on any one person, and gifts are distributed randomly.

Gifting between coworkers can be thoughtful and foster stronger relationships if done correctly.

Pideas for homemade food gifts

ersonalized holiday gifts can be especially heartwarming, particularly when they incorporate activities recipients enjoy. That is perhaps one reason why experiential gifts have become so popular in recent years.

Food gifts never go out of fashion. Homemade o erings of edible items may be particularly coveted because they are delicious and don’t take up space. Food gifts require time to prepare and reassure recipients that they are worth the work that goes into this special o ering. Those who have the time and talent to prepare homemade food gifts may want to explore these four options that can be especially meaningful to their recipients.

1. Granola

Granola is essentially a baked oats treat. Many varieties sold in stores o er the nutritional benefits of oats overshadowed by high sugar content. With homemade granola, cooks can customize the ingredients so certain flavors or health profiles may be prominent. Oats, nuts, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and dried fruit can go into granola. A small amount of maple syrup or honey can be used to sweeten the granola before it is baked in the oven for around 15 to 20 minutes. Granola should be allowed to cool before packaging to enable the formation of clusters of oats and other goodies.

2. Frozen cookie dough

If people are always commenting on your delicious cookies, you certainly can gift them ready-made cookies in a tin. But homemade frozen or refrigerated cookie dough also makes a great gift. Follow the lead of commercial cookie dough companies and prepare your ingredients before rolling them tightly in freezer paper to store until you’re ready for gifting. When it comes time for gifting, wrap the cookie dough log in patterned wax paper and secure the ends. Those on the receiving end can slice and bake according to the directions cooks provide on the tag.

3. Chocolate bark

Chocolate bark is simple to make and looks impressive when wrapped in tissue paper and packaged in a decorative box. Melt a favorite chocolate in a heatproof bowl in the microwave and then mix in various ingredients like chopped nuts, raisins, chocolate candies, dried cranberries - whatever you desire. Spread into a parchment-lined pan and refrigerate until ﬁrm. Break the bark into pieces and package into a gift.

4. Flavored salts

Use fresh herbs or fruit rinds to ﬂavor salt for gift-giving. Process fresh herbs and kosher salt in a food processor for about 30 seconds, or until the herbs are well chopped. Spread the salt mixture on a baking sheet and bake at 200 F or 250 F for around 15 minutes. Let the salt cool and then scoop into small jars or other containers. Edible gifts are perfect for showing the people you care about they are loved and appreciated.

Thoughtful gifts for seniors Gifts for every music lover

Gifts from friends and loved ones can make people feel cherished and valued. When these people are the older adults in one’s life, such as parents or grandparents, gifts take on additional meaning because they can warm the hearts of very special people.

Finding unique gifts for seniors can be challenging because these individuals have been receiving gifts for many years, and many may already have everything they need. Inspiration is everything when shopping for the ideal gifts for the older adults in one’s life, and the following are some categories that can serve as a springboard for what to get seniors this holiday season.

Comfort and mobility

Although people like to say, “age is just a number,” getting older may come with a few aches and pains and even some limitations. Gifts like seat cushions that correct posture or easy on/o sock helpers can be helpful. Cloud foam slippers or even a grab bar that attaches into the hood of the car door can be great gifts.

Fitness

and fun

Gifts that cater to interests, well-being and more can be ideal. Active seniors may appreciate a ﬁtness tracker or exercise equipment (yoga mat, light dumbbells, resistance bands) to facilitate ﬁtness goals. Storage solutions for hobbies and craft items

also can be ﬁtting. See-through containers to store paints or beads or an organizer for ﬁshing tackle can make seniors’ hobbies even more enjoyable. A roll-up puzzle mat is great for puzzle enthusiasts to protect their work until completion.

Family gifts

Seniors also may appreciate gifts that touch the heart. A custom recipe cutting board that features a treasured family recipe may become a cherished item. A customized photo calendar that features family members’ birthdays and other key events also is thoughtful. A photo jewelry locket makes a nice gift for a special senior woman.

Travel gifts

Seniors typically have more time to devote to travel than younger adults, and gifts that cater to their wanderlust are a perfect ﬁt.

Digital GPS-based devices that connect to keys or luggage can help prevent lost items while traveling. Bright luggage that won’t get mixed up at the baggage carousel or ergonomic neck pillows that facilitate napping on a ﬂight also can be appreciated. Those who know destinations the seniors in their lives may want to visit can purchase plane or cruise tickets as a generous gift for someone special.

Various categories can provide ample inspiration when shopping for gifts for seniors this holiday season.

Music provides the soundtrack for people’s lives. Music evokes strong emotions and can inspire and motivate individuals while also helping them calm down and reﬂect. Finding the right gift for a music lover this holiday season can be a worthwhile endeavor, as the world of music o ers an array of gift possibilities. Whether a gift recipient plays an instrument, loves live performances or enjoys singing, there is a gift out there to hit all the right notes.

The listening experience

People who prioritize the listening experience will enjoy quality audio equipment. High-ﬁdelity headphones or an upgraded Bluetooth speaker can enhance daily listening sessions, allowing individuals to fully immerse themselves in their favorite tracks. Although digital music is the go-to nowadays, plenty of music lovers are vinyl enthusiasts. For them, a new record player with modern features, such as Bluetooth connectivity or record storage, would make an ideal gift. For others, a subscription to a quality audio streaming service will o er uninterrupted music on demand.

Music creator

Many music lovers enjoy creating

their art. A gift that supports those endeavors will be cherished. Beginners may appreciate entry-level instruments, like a ukulele or a keyboard. Those already playing and creating might appreciate personalized sheet music, new guitar strings and capo, drumsticks, or upgraded software for recording and mixing sound.

Devoted fan

Music fans enjoy expressing their devotion to favorite bands and other musicians. Therefore, artist merchandise can make ﬁtting gifts. Vintage T-shirts, framed album covers, souvenirs from past shows, and any other band-related memorabilia will keep music fans happy.

Live music

A live show is many music lovers’ ideal experience. Tickets to a concert, solo vocal night, theater show, or orchestra performance will certainly strike the right chords with music lovers.

The best gifts for music lovers are those that resonate with their passion for the songs and sounds of life.

Ideal gifts for those who love the outdoors

Many people ﬁnd that the great outdoors is the perfect place to spend their days. Activities run the gamut from hunting and ﬁshing to hiking and camping. Plenty of other interests, like birdwatching or mountain biking, also maximize time spent in the outdoors.

According to the “Outdoor Participation Trends Report” from the Outdoor Industry Association, gateway activities like hiking, camping and ﬁshing each gained more than two million new participants over the last year. There’s also been a surge in participation in such activities among seniors and youth, contributing to a more multigenerational outdoors experience. There’s also been participation growth among Black and Hispanic Americans, indicating long-term momentum toward equity and inclusion.

When it comes to holiday giving, tapping into the interests of outdoor enthusiasts is a great way to o er gifts that will be used and appreciated. Here are some ideas when making holiday shopping lists.

• First aid kit: No matter the activity, having an up-to-date and well-stocked ﬁrst aid kit can be a lifesaver when spending time in the outdoors. The kit should include items like splints and bandage wraps for immobilizing ankles or limbs in the event of sprains.

• Quality wool socks: Nothing can derail an outdoor adventure faster than wet, cold or blistered feet. Wool socks are a must because they are moisture-wicking, warm and comfortable.

• Insulated, waterproof jacket: A high-quality jacket for outdoor adventures that will be e icient at trapping heat, windproof and water-resistant is a thoughtful gift. Patagonia is a popular brand of outerwear, but retailers like Columbia and REI also merit consideration.

• Trail shoes or sandals: Supportive, comfortable and non-slip footwear is a given when enjoying

the great outdoors. Depending on the activity, there are plenty of options from boots to hikers to trail sandals to consider.

• Waist pack: Packing light for short jaunts in the wilderness may include stocking a waist pack (also known as a fanny pack) with must-have items. They are lightweight, comfortable and spacious enough for the essentials without getting bogged down by a backpack or another bag.

• Bu : A bu is a tube of lightweight, stretchy material that serves innumerable functions in the great outdoors. It can be used to shield the neck from the sun or wind, or to absorb sweat or keep hair out of the face. A bu can be useful on a hiking or backpacking trip, or just about any outdoor activity.

• Headlamp: Visibility is essential when enjoy-

ing the great outdoors, and many activities happen during dawn and dusk when light may be at a premium. A headlamp keeps things hands-free and sheds light on surroundings or up-close tasks, like setting up ﬁshing hooks or ﬁeld dressing game.

• Satellite communicator: A satellite communicator can keep outdoors enthusiasts safe and at ease when o the grid. Certain regions have spotty cell coverage, and satellite devices will do better at sending out messages or SOS signals should something go awry.

• Hiking poles: Telescoping hiking poles are adjustable and lightweight, and o er extra support and balance when on trails.

Outdoor enthusiasts will beneﬁt from gifts tailored to their love of nature, wildlife and adventure.

ADOBE STOCK

PHOTOS

Home Holidays

for the

20 Something for all in Solano County’s Christmas, holiday o erings

23 Tractors bring annual holiday cheer to Winters

24 Enchanted Viking Yule returns to Woodland

24 Learn to decorate like a holiday pro

26 Tips to keep holiday guests entertained

27 Davis sponsors Winter Wonderland

29 Davis Odd Fellows host Breakfast with Santa

32 Tips for ﬁrst-time holiday hosts

32 Party pointers for holiday hosts

33 Tips for crafting a meal for a crowd

33 Baked brie a cheese-centric crowd pleaser

34 Tasty chocolate squares make a perfect party o ering

36 Sugar cookies for your holiday baking session

37 A post-meal treat tailor-made for holiday parties

38 Christmas Eve fun for families

40 Shining a light on Hanukkah celebrations

40 Kwanzaa brings communities together

42 How to create new holiday traditions

Something for all in Solano County’s Christmas, holiday offerings

There are many activities to ring in the holidays in Solano County. From tree lightings and concerts, to menorah lightings and Kwanzaa celebrations, there is something for all.

Tree lightings

Fairﬁeld

Jelly Belly 25th annual Tree Lighting: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 29, Jelly Belly Visitor’s Center, 1 Jelly Belly Lane, Fairﬁeld. www.jellybelly. com/fairﬁeld-events.

Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 5. Features entertainment from the The Grinch who’d DJ Christmas, Missouri Street choir, folkloric dancers and more. The tree will be lit at 7:15, Santa will be there.

Suisun City

Christmas on the Waterfront: 2 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6. Opens with holiday market, which includes food and retail vendors. As the sun sets, the Lighted Boat Parade at gets underway at 5:45. Santa is set to arrive at 6:15. Tree lighting and ﬁreworks show at 6:30. www.suisun.com/ events-directory/christmas-on-the-waterfront-2025.

Vacaville

Merriment on Main: 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2. Tree lighting at 6:30. www.cityofvacaville.gov/government/parks-and-recreation/special-events/ merriment-on-main.

Vallejo

Winter at Wonderland: 5 p.m. Dec. 5. Tree lighting at 6:30, Children’s Wonderland Park, 360 Glenn St. www.gvrd. org/2025-12-05-winter-at-wonderland-tree-lighting-celebration.

Benicia

Benicia Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony: 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5, Main Street. Features appearances by Santa and maybe the Grinch, along with performances by the renowned Prime Time Entertainment. www.beniciacf.org/holiday-tree-lighting.html.

Dance

Vacaville Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”: 10 a.m. Dec. 11-13, 7 p.m. Dec. 12-13, 1 p.m. Dec. 14, Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive. https://vacavilleballetcompany.org/nutcracker.

Christmas tree-lighting in Fairﬁeld.

An Irish Christmas: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive. www.vpat.net.

Music

Christmas in My Hometown: 6 p.m. Nov. 29, Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive. www.vpat.net.

Big Band Christmas – A Christmas Salute to Frank Sinatra: 3 p.m. Nov. 30, Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive. www.vpat.net.

Deck the Halls: 7 p.m. Dec. 3, Solano Community College, 4000 Suisun Valley Road, Fairﬁeld. www.solanocollegetheatre.org/events-calendar.

Solano Winds Community Concert Band Sounds of the Season: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5, Downtown Theatre, 1035 Texas St., Fairﬁeld. https://solanowinds.org/ coming-events.

United States Air Force Band of the Golden West Home for the Holidays: 7 p.m. Dec. 5 and 3 p.m. Dec. 6, Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive. www.vpat.net.

Music at the Chapel – Voena Holiday Concert: 2 p.m.

Dec. 7, St. Peter’s Chapel, 1181 Walnut Ave., Vallejo. www.visitvallejo.com/events/upcoming-events/ music-at-the-chapel-voena-holiday-concert.

Solano Symphony Orchestra Holiday Celebration: 3 p.m. Dec. 7, Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive. www.solanosymphony.org/ performances-info.

28th Annual Will C. Wood Madrigal Dinner 2025: 6 p.m. Dec. 11-12, 12:30 and 6 p.m. Dec. 13, Covenant Community Church, 3870 Alamo Drive, Vacaville. www.eventbrite.com/e/28th-annual-will-c-wood-madrigal-dinner-2025-tickets-1751258915559.

Vallejo Choral Society Carols and Lullabies: 7 p.m. Dec. 13, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 120 E. J St., Benicia; and 3 p.m. Dec. 14, Springbrook Masonic Temple, 101 Temple Way, Vallejo. https://vallejochoral.org.

Sing it Yourself Messiah: 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 14, Clock Tower, 1189 Washington St., Benicia. www.visitbenicia. org/events.

Theater

Adrienne’s Holiday Draguation: 7 p.m. Nov. 29, Down-

town Theatre, 1035 Texas St. www.downtowntheatre. com/box-o ice.

“Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Solano Community Players: 7 p.m. Dec. 5, Dec. 17-19, 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 6, 1 p.m. Dec. 7 and Dec. 20, Saturday Club, 125 W. Kendal St., Vacaville. www.starboundtheatre.com.

Dixon’s Great Big Little Christmas Show: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5, 2 p.m. Dec. 6-7. Dixon Performing Arts Center, 555 College Way. https://dixoncommunitytheater.org.

“A Very Merry Christmas Mash,” Lighthouse Theatre Arts: 7 p.m. Dec. 12, 2 p.m. Dec. 13, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13, Journey Downtown, 308 Main St., Vacaville. https:// onstagevacaville.org/events.

Festivals

Suisun Valley’s Wine Country Christmas: 2 to 9 p.m. Nov. 30. Includes tractor crawl, vendors, food and music from Buck Ford. https://suisunvalley.com/events-attraction/ suisun-valleys-wine-country-christmas.

Festivals of the Trees Gala: 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1, Sunrise Events Center, 800 Orange Drive, Vacaville. hwww. opportunityhouse-festivaloftrees.com.

Festival of the Trees, Dixon: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 13, Dixon High School, 555 College Way. www.facebook. com/DixonCAKiwanis.

Mad Hatter Holiday Festival and Parade: Dec. 6, downtown Vallejo. The festival begins at 2 p.m. with dancing horses, craft and food vendors, children’s rides and more in Unity Plaza in front of the JFK Library. The parade starts at 4:30 p.m. at Georgia Street and Sonoma Boulevard; the Tree Lighting Ceremony starts at 6 at JFK Library; and the Lighted Boat Parade begins at 6:30 at the waterfront. www.hattervallejo.com.

Lighted boat parade in Suisun City.

DAILY REPUBLIC FILE

Eddie “K” Ka’anoi, right, and Santa Claus sing “Christmas in Vacaville” during Merriment on Main.

Parades

A Magical Victorian Christmas: 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6, downtown Dixon. Christmas ﬂoats, decorated tractors, Santa visit, train rides. https://downtowndixonca.com/events.

Menorah lightings

Suisun City: 5 p.m. Dec. 18. www.suisun. com/events-directory/4th-annual-menorah-lighting.

Jelly Belly: 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 17, 1 Jelly Belly Lane, Fairﬁeld. www.jellybelly.com/ event-calendar.

Kwanzaa

Suisun City: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 27, Joseph Nelson Community Center, 611 Village Drive. www.suisun.com/events-directory/3rd-annual-kwanzaa-celebration.

Trains

Santa Trains: Dec. 5-21, Fridays through Sundays, Western Railway Museum, 5848 Highway 12, Suisun City. https://westernrailwaymuseum.simpletix.com.

Holiday home tours

Vacaville Museum Guild: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 13. www.vacavillemuseum.org/events.

Grand Victorian Home Tour: 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 14. www.hattervallejo.com.

Tractors bring annual holiday cheer to Winters

Visit Winters for an upcoming event and make a weekend of it to soak in the charming, smalltown experience.

ZenTerra Spa and Serendipity Salon & Holistic Healing Boutique o er services for treatments or massage therapy services. The Winters Collective also host multiple classes and workshops.

Yolo365 Tours is a unique way to show o Winters’ local charm and entertain your guests at the same time. Consider booking a custom-planned tour to experience a number of local Winters’ businesses.

If you’re looking to spend more time together, the Winters Museum is an option to treat guests to local history. The current exhibit spotlights the journey from Spain to Winters.

food trucks with a variety of cuisines. Solano Jumps with a number of inﬂatables will be set up.

In the Hot Cocoa Crawl and Elf Hunt, 4 to 7 p.m., search for elves hidden in businesses and enjoy hot cocoa as you stroll through the Holiday Marketplace.

Another option is to bring guests to see the Winters History Murals created by youth through the Winters Participation Gallery’s summer projects. The Studio Collective, Anona Gallery and multiple businesses host local art galleries to browse.

Mark your calendar for upcoming events in Winters:

November

Winters Theater Company presents Tom Dudzick’s “Greetings!” at the Winters Opera House. It’s a touching holiday story about a young man bringing his atheistic Jewish ﬁancé home to meet his conservative Catholic family for the ﬁrst time on Christmas Eve. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28-29 and 2 p.m. Nov. 30. Ticket prices start at $21.05. For more info, go to www.winterstheatre.org.

Friday, Dec. 5

The Holiday Marketplace features face painting, hands-on tye-dye projects, and local vendors with holiday gifts and toys. Hours are 2 to 9 p.m. at Rotary Park, Railroad Avenue and Main Street. Along downtown Main Street, ﬁnd food vendors and

The Tree Lighting Ceremony begins at 6 to 9 p.m. Gather around as the city of Winters lights the tree downtown. Santa and friends host a meet-andgreet at the Gazebo after the tree-lighting until 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 6

Holiday Marketplace features face painting, hands-on tye dye project and local vendors with holiday gifts and toys. Festivities are 1 to 9 p.m. at Rotary Park, Railroad Avenue and Main Street.

The Holiday Tractor Parade begins at 6 p.m. Tractors and more parade down Main Street, from Haven Street to Morgan Street, for the annual Winters yuletide tradition.

Meet Santa, 7 to 9 p.m. Santa and his friends host a meet-and-greet at the Rotary Park Gazebo following the Holiday Tractor Parade.

Saturday, Dec. 13

The annual Winters Friends of the Library Family Holiday Festival is ﬁlled with fun for the whole family from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Winters Community Center.

Enjoy musical performances, crafts to make and buy, visits with Santa, delicious food from Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen, and quality used adult and children’s books for sale.

Children can visit with Santa (and their grown-ups can take photos). In the fall, children in Winters schools and preschools practice holiday songs with local musicians, and perform at the Holiday Festival. Gift-quality used books will be available for sale.

Santa Claus waves to visitors riding the Santa Train at the Western Railway Museum.

JEFFREY RAWLINSON/MCNAUGHTON MEDIA

2019 Holiday Tractor Parade

Enchanted Viking Yule returns to Woodland

The Norse Herb Company of Woodland announces the return of the Enchanted Viking Yule.

The company, which also produces the Portal Marketplace Extravaganza event, says tickets to the event are free.

In its fourth year, the event will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 at The Hive Tasting Room and Kitchen, 1221 Harter Ave. Enjoy artisan makers in the Viking Village market to shop for all your holiday gifts. Hear real Viking lore and stories and see the Vikings of Bjornstad with their replica weaponry and amazing art of war demonstrations. Live music will be performed on ancient instruments by Sandra Fromm. All ages are welcome.

A second Enchanted Viking Yule will take place in downtown Sacramento at Lucid Winery on Dec. 13.

For more information about the Enchanted Viking Yule, contact Norse Herb Company at 916-233-9274.

For free tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com/ e/fourth-annual-viking-yule-festival-andmarket-at-the-hive-in-woodland-tickets1440023100859.

Learn to decorate like a holiday pro

The sights and sounds of the holiday season help to make this a special time of year that people look forward to. With its magical moments and opportunities to gather with family and friends, the holiday season is a period to celebrate and, of course, decorate. According to an informal poll from the decorating, culture and travel experts at Veranda, 65 percent of respondents said that the time to decorate for Christmas is right after Thanksgiving or the ﬁrst week of December.

Many stores now display holiday decorations and other wares concurrently with Halloween and fall items, so people can plan their decorating early if they expect to be adding to their holiday collections. These tips can help with decorating and make anyone deck the halls like a professional.

• Choose your theme and color palette. Consider a speciﬁc style of decorating, whether it’s traditional, minimalist, country, or even winter wonderland. Then select a few coordinating colors to complement the theme and existing items in your home. Pick up these items as they become available in stores, as holiday merchandise often goes quickly.

• Focus on a few key areas. While it’s tempting to decorate an entire home, pros know to focus on key areas like tables, doorways and mantles to create the most visual interest. This also makes decorating more manageable.

• Rely on the rule of thirds. Create balanced and visually pleasing arrangements by dividing the space visually into nine equal parts, symbolically drawing two equally spaced horizontal and two equally spaced vertical lines. Designers often place important elements along these lines or at their intersections to create a more visually balanced and appealing composition. When grouping decorative items together on shelves and tables, threes often look best.

• Remove clutter. It’s important to declutter a space prior to introducing holiday elements in order to create a clean and organized look. Store additional decorations and knickknacks until after the holiday season.

• Start with lights. It’s often easier to decorate by beginning with lights ﬁrst, and then weaving additional decorations into the mix. Build on lights with garlands and accent items.

• Less is often more. Keep the decorating simple. A few elements here and there can have a much more e ective impact than several things that draw attention away from one another. When taking out holiday decorations this year, use it as an opportunity to assess and cull the collection, which will make things easier next year.

Homeowners can decorate their spaces for the holidays e ectively with some guidelines professional designers often use.

Sandra Fromm plays the harp.

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Tips to keep holiday guests entertained

Gone are the days when extended families live in close proximity to one another. Ours is now a global society, and it is not unheard of for people to live on the opposite side of the country or even the globe from their parents and siblings. But come the holiday season, families often congregate at one place so they can spend time together. That means that out-of-town guests may be spending a few days with holiday hosts to maximize their visits.

According to Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert and owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a weekend is typically su icient for a nice visit, while anything more than three days can be challenging for hosts, particularly if guests are not being helpful.

Hosting houseguests for a few days requires hosts to keep guests engaged. Although the actual holiday itself provides ample opportunity for entertainment, hosts may need additional ideas to quell boredom if visits stretch for more than one day. Here are some ideas for making spirits bright without having to stress too much.

Create a guest basket

O er some in-house entertainment for guests. This can include best-selling novels, a book of word games, an adult coloring book, or some small craft kits picked up at the store. This option enables guests to self-soothe if boredom strikes.

Host a movie marathon

When guests visit, hosts can whip up some microwave popcorn and additional snacks and cue up a few di erent ﬁlms. They can be holiday classics or movies that will bring back fond memories.

Take a trip

This time of year there are plenty of activities going on. Plan a drive over to a Christmas tree farm that may be o ering rides through the ﬁelds or has a hot cocoa station. Walk down the main street of a quaint local town and savor all of that cozy ﬂavor. Time a trip to a tree lighting or another holiday-related special event, or drive around at night and look at neighborhood lighting displays.

Make an edible craft

Spend some time in the kitchen making gingerbread cookies or another relatively easy holiday treat. Guests can customize their desserts with colored sprinkles or other embellishments.

Set up Christmas karaoke

Get everyone in the holiday spirit by streaming instrumental tracks of favorite holiday carols and songs. Everyone takes turns singing a tune, whether they’re great singers or not. The fun is in giving it a shot and laughing along the way.

Go on a crawl

Whether it’s to visit area pubs, diners, dessert shops, or co ee spots, pick a few di erent places to stop in so everyone can get some fresh air and have a little fun.

Entertaining guests for the holidays requires some creative thinking and a willingness to have a little fun.

Winter

Pence Gallery Annual Holiday Market

November 14 - December 24, 2025

Discover a treasure trove of hand-crafted items created by 50+ regional ar tists and artisans, per fect for holiday gift giving. PenceMembers receive a 10% discount!

Open 7 days a week for Holiday Market

Wayne Tilcock/McNaughton Media

Rebecca Wasik /McNaughton Media

Rabaino Roofing fi xed my roof. They were ve ry

Mark S. - Woodland, Ca Se Habla Español

Tips for first-time holiday hosts Party pointers for holiday hosts

The holiday season is a busy time of year. From holiday shopping to readying the home for guests, there’s no shortage of things to accomplish in a relatively brief amount of time. Seasoned holiday enthusiasts may be ready to put their game faces on and tackle tasks with ease. But for ﬁrst-time holiday hosts, the prospect of crossing items o to-do lists may require a little extra assistance.

According to Dr. Vanessa Kennedy, a clinical psychologist at Driftwood Recovery, holiday hosting can “lead to the pressure to curate picture-perfect moments, creating stress and anxiety.” The following are pointers those new to holiday hosting can employ to simplify the process and enjoy the holidays a little more.

• Do as much prep work in advance as possible. Giving yourself extra time to get things done can help immensely. Grocery shop one day, prepare food the next, clean the house one day, and set the table or arrange decor on another. Minor task can be left for the morning of the day guests arrive.

• Cook and freeze items. Utilize recipes that enable you to cook in bulk and then store foods until you need them. Casseroles, baked pasta dishes, freezable soups, and ready-to-bake cookie doughs made in advance will save a lot of time closer to the holidays.

• Stock the pantry. If holiday hosting

involves overnight guests, be sure to keep easy items on hand so guests can help themselves. Dry goods or pre-packaged mu ins for breakfast, chips or pretzels for late-night snacks, granola bars, or store made croissants can ﬁt the bill. Put everything in a dedicated basket so guests can grab items as needed. Stock the refrigerator with water, seltzer, iced teas, and sodas, and make a full pot of co ee in the morning so guests can pour their own.

• Avoid complicated cocktails. You don’t want to be stuck mixing drinks all evening. Instead, make it simple for guests to help themselves. Wine, beer, premade punches, or even one specialty drink are ideal.

• Consider hiring a caterer. If the idea of a homecooked meal feels like climbing Mount Everest, swap out some items for store-bought alternatives, or work with a favorite restaurant or caterer to secure foods that only need to be reheated and served.

• Free up closet and room space. Guests will be coming with a lot of stu , particularly if you live in a cold climate. Make room in the entry closet for guests’ coats and boots. Be sure you can accommodate suitcases or overnight bags. Set aside an area where guests can deposit their wrapped gifts. Holiday hosting can be a whirlwind of activity, but novice hosts can quickly get into the swing of things.

Entertaining is par for the course from November through the end of December. The holiday season is an especially festive time of year, and there’s no shortage of opportunities to celebrate. Holiday hosts may wonder where to get started in regard to planning their events. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the process, but with some pointers just about anyone can have a holiday gathering worth remembering.

• Don’t be scared o by social media When Rebecca Jennings, Vox senior correspondent covering social platforms, was hosting Thanksgiving for the first time last year, she remarked that her social media feed was filled with tutorials that made her feel like everyone was doing it better than she. Although social media can be great for generating ideas, it also might put undue pressure on hosts who feel they need to measure up to the events being executed by professionals, or people with a lot more time on their hands. It’s fine if a host can’t make everything from scratch or doesn’t have a home that looks like something out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Guests won’t be expecting perfection; they just want to have fun and spend time socializing.

• Plan around the guest experience. Instead of getting bogged down on details related to decor, holiday hosts should direct most of their attention to the guest experience. They can ask themselves if a guest will even care about something they are considering

having at the event. This can certainly save time and stress.

• Keep everyone full. Great food often is at the center of a holiday event, and the menu should be designed to be a crowd pleaser. Work with familiar ingredients that may be presented in unique ways. For example, a traditional caprese salad can be transformed into ﬁnger foods by alternating cherry tomatoes, chunks of mozzarella and leaves of basil on skewers. Don’t forget classics like roasted meats, mashed potatoes, stu ing, rolls and butter, and other hearty items. They will ﬁll guests up and keep them happy.

• Lighten the hosting load. Hosts can identify ways to alleviate stress and free up time to engage with guests. This may involve making the event a potluck where everyone is tasked with bringing a dish. Or, if budget allows, hire bartenders, caterers or a cleaning service to handle some jobs and free up time for hosts to mingle.

• Plan for some entertainment. Music and entertainment can set the tone of the party. Create a playlist that includes a mix of holiday favorites and other tunes. Hosts who want to go above and beyond may want to hire a DJ or live musicians, or enlist a karaoke company to get guests involved.

Entertaining during the holidays, whether it’s a festive party or a formal dinner party, can go more smoothly with some simple planning.

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ADOBE STOCK

i s r crafting a meal for a crowd

Holiday meals typically involve a large number of people sitting around the table enjoying one another’s company. Allrecipes estimates the average gathering size for a Thanksgiving dinner is eight people, while Pew Research Center data indicates a little more than a quarter of Americans invite six to 10 people for holiday feasts. Holiday hosts typically prepare food for larger than normal crowds, and that requires a few tweaks to typical cooking routines. The following tips can ensure that anyone can host a crowd and send them home happy and well fed.

• Plan ahead. It is important to give thought to what you will be cooking several weeks in advance of the holiday meal. This enables you to decide on a menu, shop for ingredients at the best prices and accommodate any food intolerances or allergies.

• Consider versatile dishes. Choose foods that can be made in large quantities and easily adapted to di erent dietary needs. For example, o ering a tray of roasted chicken enables guests to add sauces, cheese, vegetables, or enjoy it plain, depending on their preferences.

• Utilize bulk cooking. Certain meals lend themselves to larger batches. Casseroles, baked pasta dishes, stews, and stir fry all can be increased in volume

depending on how many guests will be attending. Purchase items in “family size” packages to save money and time.

• Keep it simple. Stick to dishes that you’ve previously cooked, and utilize slow cookers, air fryers or other tools to make things easier. Limit your meal to one main course and three sides. Think about making appetizers and dessert pot luck, so that guests can contribute to reduce the amount of work you will need to do.

• Be mindful of others. Don’t make food allergies or health needs a second thought. Try to have a separate main course that guests who adhere to vegetarian or gluten-free diets can eat safely.

• Try to limit waste: Even with careful calculations of guest-to-food ratios, there are bound to be leftovers. Plan ways to utilize leftovers if you choose speciﬁc types of food. For example, roasted chicken can be made into sandwiches or salads. Another idea is to have take-home containers at the ready so guests can bring some leftovers home with them.

Feeding a crowd takes some advanced planning and preparation. Bulk-friendly meals that can be made ahead or in a timesaving kitchen appliance means that holiday hosts can enjoy the festivities with guests.

Baked brie a eese- e tri crowd pleaser

Cheese is beloved all over the world. While cheese features more prominently in some cultures than others, its popularity still knows no bounds.

That popularity is something hosts can keep in mind as they plan to welcome loved ones into their homes during the holiday season. Couple the popularity of cheese with a little spice, as this recipe for “Baked Brie With Blackberry Compote and Spicy Candied Pecans” from Lines+Angles does, and hosts are sure to have a crowd pleaser on their hands.

1. For the compote: Combine blackberries, sugar, water, and vanilla extract in a heavy-based saucepan.

2. Cover and cook over a medium heat, stirring from time to time, until the blackberries are soft and jammy, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to one side.

Baked Brie With Blackberry Compote and Spicy Candied Pecans Makes 4 to 6 servings

For the compote:

3 cups blackberries

½ cup sugar

2 tablespoons water

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For the pecans:

½ cup sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

1 pinch chilli powder

1 small egg white

1 tablespoon water

2 cups pecans

For the cheese:

2 Brie wheels

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pomegranate, seeded Fresh thyme sprigs Multigrain crackers

3. For the spicy candied pecans: Preheat the oven to 250 F. Stir together sugar and spices in a large mixing bowl.

4. Whisk egg white with water in a separate bowl until frothy. Toss pecans in egg white mixture before removing and tossing in the spiced sugar to coat.

5. Spread out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 1 hour, turning over every 15 minutes, until dry and crisp.

6. Remove from the oven and let cool to one side. Increase oven to 350 F.

7. For the cheese: Remove the tops of the rinds from the Brie wheels. Place the Brie on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

8. Drizzle with olive oil before baking for 25 to 30 minutes until melted and bubbling.

9. Remove from the oven and let cool brieﬂy before topping with the blackberry compote, spiced pecans, pomegranate seeds, and thyme sprigs. 10. Serve with the multigrain crackers and any remaining compote and pecans on the side.

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Tasty chocolate squares make a perfect party offering

Holiday parties help make the month of December a festive time of year. O ice parties, family gatherings and school functions dot many people’s social schedules during the holiday season, and that means hosts are forever on the lookout for tasty fare to serve their guests.

Many holiday gatherings are informal a airs where foods might be passed around a room or presented bu et-style. In such instances, it’s not uncommon to see a bevy of small bites on a kitchen countertop or dining room table. Hosts planning such events can o er guests a touch of everything, including something decadent like these “Chocolate Squares” courtesy of Lines+Angles.

Chocolate Squares

Makes 3 to 4 dozen

1 cup honey

1⁄3 cup granulated sugar

7 tablespoons butter

3 cups all-purpose ﬂour

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

3 tablespoons cocoa

3 teaspoons baking powder

2 eggs

2 tablespoons rum

2 pounds marzipan

1⁄3 cup icing sugar

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup apricot jelly

2 cups chocolate, dark or milk

1 cup icing sugar

4 to 5 tablespoons milk or water

1 tablespoon butter

¼ cup white chocolate, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Oil a rimmed cookie sheet.

2. Heat honey, sugar and butter in a saucepan until sugar and butter are melted, stirring constantly. Let cool.

3. Mix ﬂour, pumpkin pie spice, cocoa, and baking powder together and set aside.

4. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs with the rum. Add the cooled honey mixture and mix. Slowly add in ﬂour mixture and mix until smooth.

5. Spread dough onto cookie sheet, approximately ½-inch thick. Smooth top and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Let cool.

6. To assemble, knead marzipan with 1/3 cup icing sugar and almond extract. If too soft, add a bit more icing sugar.

7. Roll out marzipan mixture between two layers of plastic wrap until it is the size of a cake.

8. Cut the cake horizontally to make two layers. Brush bottom layer with jelly or marmalade and then cover with marzipan.

9. Next, brush jelly or marmalade over marzipan layer. Cover with top cake layer. Cut into approximately 1-inch squares.

10. In a double-boiler, melt chocolate and mix with 1 cup icing sugar, the water or milk, and butter.

Dip “dominosteine” in chocolate and let set on cookie rack until chocolate has hardened. Place melted white chocolate in a small piping bag and decorate the chocolate squares with dots of melted white chocolate for a domino decoration.

Sugar cookies for your holiday baking session

Baking cookies is a holiday tradition. Although there are many di erent cookie recipes out there, no cookie-baking session is complete without traditional sugar cookies.

Sugar cookies are ideal for cutting and decorating, which makes them great selections for holiday baking sessions. This recipe for “Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies” from “Butter, Flour, Sugar, Joy” (Sourcebooks) by Danielle Kartes is perfect for family baking sessions this holiday season.

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Yields two dozen cookies

Cookies:

1½ cups confectioners’ sugar

1 cup butter, softened

2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened

1 egg

Seeds scraped from one vanilla bean

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon salt

2½ cups all-purpose ﬂour

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Cream cheese frosting:

1 cup butter, softened

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 pinch salt

4 to 6 cups confectioners’ sugar

In a stand mixer, with a hand mixer, or by hand, cream the sugar, butter, and cream cheese together in a large mixing bowl until light and ﬂu y, about 3 minutes; add the egg, vanilla, almond extract, and salt; mix well.

Add the ﬂour and cream of tartar and mix by hand until it just comes together. Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes, but overnight is best.

When you are ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll the dough on a ﬂoured surface into a ¼-inch thick rough circle and use your favorite cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake 12 to 14 minutes, until set. Continue this process until you’ve used up all the dough. Cool cookies on sheets of foil and frost once completely cool. These cookies are ﬁne to eat right away, but Kartes feels they get their signature touch when frosted and left out overnight. The author does not put them away until the next morning.

For the frosting, cream the butter, cream cheese, almond extract, and salt until light and ﬂu y; slowly add the confectioners’ sugar. Kartes likes hers less sweet, so she uses 4 cups of confectioners’ sugar, but you may use up to 6 cups. Feel free to color small bowls of the frosting and decorate the cookies with sprinkles or tiny candies.

A st-mea for holiday parties

The festive nature of the holiday season is on display in many places throughout the month of December, and that includes private homes. Gatherings with family and friends ﬁll celebrants’ social schedules throughout the holiday season and present various opportunities to catch up with loved ones in a fun, warm and welcoming setting.

Gatherings undoubtedly make the holiday season more special, and food plays an important role during this festive time of year. Dessert might not be on the menu year-round, but a tasty post-meal treat certainly makes for a ﬁtting ending to a holiday meal with loved ones. With that in mind, hosts can whip up this recipe for “Chocolate Pudding and Mixed Berry Triﬂe” courtesy of Lines+Angles.

Chocolate Pudding and Mixed Berry Triﬂe

Makes 8 servings

1½ cups sugar

11⁄3 cups all-purpose ﬂour

2⁄3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

¾ cups strong brewed co ee

¾ cups buttermilk

6 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1⁄8 teaspoon salt

1½ cups whole milk

½ cup heavy cream

2⁄3 cup good-quality milk chocolate, chopped

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 cups fresh raspberries

6 cups fresh blueberries

Milk chocolate, shavings for garnish

1. For the cake: In a large bowl, sift together the ﬁrst 6 ingredients. Add the co ee, butter-

milk, eggs, oil, and vanilla and mix until just combined. Transfer the batter to a parch ment-lined baking pan. Bake at 325 F for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool and then cut the cake into 2-inch pieces.

2. For the chocolate pudding: Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, and salt in a large saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk and cream. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, whisking constantly. Boil until mixture thickens, about 2 minutes - it will get thick very quickly. Remove from heat and whisk in chocolate and vanilla quickly. Continue whisking until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and

3. To assemble the triﬂe: Get out eight small serving cups (approximately 8 ounces). Place cake pieces, a bit of raspberries and blueberries at the bottom of each serving cup. Spoon chocolate pudding on top, spreading it into any spaces in the cake layer and smoothing the top so it is as ﬂat as possible. Continue with the second layer of cake pieces, berries and pudding. For the third top layer, sprinkle only pieces of cake and berries and then garnish with shaved milk chocolate.

Christmas Eve fun for families

The day and evening before Christmas is a time of much anticipation for young children, particularly those awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. What children do not realize is their parents have been working hard behind the scenes for many weeks to help maximize the holiday magic, and Christmas Eve often is the ﬁnal push to get everything done before the big day (and man in red) arrives.

Keeping children happy and entertained on Christmas Eve can free up time for adults to check o their to-do lists and savor some of the holiday spirit themselves. Here are some traditions to explore on Christmas Eve that are entertaining for kids and adults.

Bake some cookies. Santa is going to want a fresh batch of cookies to refuel for a long night of delivering presents. Therefore, having children prepare and bake some cookies can be a Christmas Eve tradition that keeps little ones occupied. When cooled, and after sampling one or two themselves, kids can feel pride placing a dish of cookies out for the jolly old elf.

Decorate gingerbread houses. Christmas Eve is a great night to decorate gingerbread houses. Families who do not freshly bake the panels for the gingerbread houses can rely on pre-made kits available at various stores. It’s a smart idea to have some extra icing available, especially if kids are anxious to “glue” on extra candy embellishments.

Attend evening services. Most churches hold Christmas Eve services, with some o ering a Midnight Mass for parishioners. Spending time at these services enables families to slow down and celebrate their faith.

Do a Christmas pajama reveal. It’s traditional in some families to buy matching PJs to wear to bed on Christmas Eve and then lounge around in them on Christmas morning. Whoever is in charge of wrapping gifts can set apart the Christmas PJs by wrapping them in a di erent patterned paper. Then everyone opens the pajamas at the same time for the big reveal.

Leave out reindeer food. Kids can have a fun time putting together a batch of special reindeer food. After all, Santa isn’t the only one doing the heavy lifting delivering gifts; his reindeer probably get hungry, too. Reindeer food can be made using a few di erent ingredients, namely oatmeal, shredded carrots and glitter. Children can decide where to toss this reindeer food, with some opting to make a path along the front lawn leading toward the house.

Watch a holiday classic. Choose a Christmas movie and gather the family around to watch it. Some options include “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Elf,” or “A Christmas Story.” Set up a popcorn bar nearby where everyone can customize their popcorn with di erent add-ins, like chocolate candies, cheese or seasonings.

Christmas Eve traditions can be fun for kids and families as they anticipate all the festivities to come on Christmas morning.

Shining a light on Hanukkah

Fall and winter provide plenty of opportunities for merriment, including Hanukkah, which encourages the Jewish community to gather and celebrate their faith together.

What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah (also spelled Hanukkah), is a Jewish festival that lasts eight days. It starts on the twenty-ﬁfth day of Kislev, which usually falls within the month of December, and commemorates the rededication of the Jewish Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees. The Temple had been previously desecrated by the Syrians.

Why is Hanukkah eight days?

After the Maccabees fended o the Syrian-Greeks and reclaimed their Temple, they sought to light the Temple’s menorah. However, they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination, according to Chabad.org. Miraculously, the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity. Sages subsequently instituted the festival of Hanukkah to commemorate and publicize this miracle.

Menorah lighting

The menorah is the centerpiece of the Hanukkah celebration. It holds nine ﬂames, one of which is called the

“shamash” (attendant). That candle is used to kindle the other eight lights. By the eighth night of Hanukkah, all eight lights are lit and glowing. The menorah is placed in a doorway or window.

Oily foods

Since the Hanukkah miracle focuses on oil, it is customary to enjoy foods fried in oil. Potato latkes are commonly enjoyed, as are jelly-ﬁlled donoughts called “sufganiyah.”

Giving

Hanukkah really isn’t about exchanging gifts. The tradition actually is to give out Hanukkah gelt, which is gifts of money to children. Also, individuals reward positive behavior and devotion to Torah study. The cash gifts enable kids to give to charity.

A minor holiday

Although it is a signiﬁcant and widely observed festival, Hanukkah is a historical rather than biblical holiday. It doesn’t carry the same religious weight as other Jewish high holidays like Yom Kippur, for example. Its emphasis may be due in part to Hanukkah’s proximity to Christmas.

Hanukkah celebrations enable faithful Jews to celebrate together and focus on their faith during a festive time of year.

Kwanzaa brings communities together

December is brimming with festive holidays designed to celebrate family, friends and good fortune. While Christmas and Hanukkah may dominate the holiday landscape this time of year, African American and Pan-African cultures observe a week-long celebration known as Kwanzaa from December 26 to January 1.

Kwanzaa is designed to a irm African family and social values. It is primarily celebrated in the United States and is not a religious holiday, setting it apart from events like Christmas and Hanukkah. The name of the holiday and the celebration were the brainchild of Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana studies at California State University, Long Beach. Karenga borrowed the word “kwanza,” meaning “ﬁrst,” from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza.” He added an extra letter “a” to the word to make it a seven-letter word to coordinate with the seven children present at an early Kwanzaa celebration in the mid-1960s, as well as the seven principles of the holiday, according to Britannica. The notion of the holiday is rooted in ﬁrst fruit celebrations, which are found in cultures throughout Africa both in ancient and modern times.

The values that are the tenets of this festival include Umoja (Unity), Kuji-

chagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). These principles were drawn from the values found throughout Africa. Each day of the celebration is dedicated to one of the seven principles.

Seven symbols embody the holiday, including fruits, vegetables and nuts; a straw mat; a candleholder; ears of corn; gifts; a communal unity cup; and seven candles in the colors of red, green and black. Families come together to light one of the candles in the kinara (candleholder) each day, and discuss the day’s principle.

On December 31, participants join in a community feast, and many people wear traditional African clothing. The feast includes foods from African, African American and Caribbean traditions. Dishes enjoyed during Kwanzaa include candied yams, fried chicken, jerk chicken, jollof rice, gumbo, and collard greens. CBC Kids News says celebrants also play drums and dance during Kwanzaa festivities.

Kwanzaa unites Black communities and helps to celebrate heritage, culture and community spirit. The holiday rounds out the year with ritual and celebration.

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How to create new holiday traditions

Tbrations that fall at the end of the year. The customs people hold dear are among the many factors that set the holiday season apart. It’s why we eat turkey when giving thanks or kiss under the mistletoe.

Just because a holiday is associated with various established traditions doesn’t mean individuals and families cannot come up with new customs. Here are some pointers for people seeking to establish new holiday traditions.

Identify what you value

Values establish the foundation for holiday traditions. Maybe you aspire to give back to your community? Perhaps the goal is to spend more quality time with family? Once you’ve identiﬁed the values driving your motivation to start a new holiday tradition, you can then establish one that aligns with those values. For example, if you aspire to give back, then a day of service at a nearby soup kitchen can become a holiday tradition.

New traditions do not have to be entirely unique; they could expand on things that families already do. If family baking sessions are an existing tradition, perhaps the e orts can be expanded to include more family members? Extra items can be packaged up and shared with elderly neighbors who may no longer have a lot of family visiting or can’t bake on their own.

Reﬂect

on childhood traditions

Perhaps there is something adults did during their own childhoods that can be incorporated into modern traditions? An adult who has fond memories of playing a game in between courses of the holiday dinner can engage in that same game to pass it on to another generation.

Get inspired

Although scouring social media can create feelings of inequality or even competition as everyone posts their holiday activities, such searching also can provide inspiration for innovative traditions. If something a friend is doing looks

like it can be fun and rewarding, families can borrow the tradition and make it their own.

Communicate with others

Engage the entire family in discussions about traditions they may want to include in holiday celebrations as well as what ones they may not enjoy. For example, traditions that foster over-consumption or create unnecessary stress can be eliminated and replaced with customs that make everyone feel better.

Involve others

Part of the magic of the holidays is the chance to connect with others. Expand holiday traditions to include more people. If a home is not large enough to handle a crowd, think about renting a room at a VFW center or ﬁrehouse, where a greater number of people can get together to create wreaths or even watch holiday movies. The more, the merrier this time of year.

Holiday traditions can make the season enjoyable, but they are not set in stone. Families can modify existing customs and create new traditions to make the season even more meaningful.

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HolidayRecipes

44 Go gourmet from comforts of home

44 A less traditional take on a dinner staple

46 Simple stu ed shells to please a hungry crowd

46 A sweet side to pass around the table

47 Roasted pork makes a perfect holiday meal

47 Craft a cocktail with seasonal staples as star ingredients

48 Pumpkin pie is the classic holiday dessert

50 The perfect treat to indulge in this holiday season

52 Adorable cookies add to festive feel of holidays

52 A dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth

53 Bake a tasty batch of gingerbread cookies this holiday season

54 Cake pops to light up kids’ eyes this holiday season

54 Ginger cookies ﬁt right in during holiday baking

Go gourmet from comforts of home

Gourmet o erings are typically enjoyed at notable restaurants with well-earned reputations for crafting unbeatable meals. But gourmet foods need not be reserved exclusively for nights out on the town.

Many a home chef has the ability to craft delicious meals from the comforts of their own kitchen, and those meals range from popular, easily prepared comfort foods to more unique, gourmet-style o erings. Holiday hosts looking to o er something that aligns more with the latter category can try this recipe for “Stu ed Poularde Hen With Chestnuts and Apples” courtesy of Lines+Angles.

Stu ed Poularde Hen With Chestnuts and Apples

Makes 6 servings

2 cups roasted, shelled chestnuts, divided

4 medium apples, divided

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

2 tablespoons butter

½ cup onions, chopped

2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced

½ pound ground pork

1 cup panko breadcrumbs

¼ cup chicken stock

1 teaspoon fresh thyme, plus additional for garnish

2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided or to taste

1 teaspoon pepper

1 4- to 5-pound whole chicken Handful fresh bay leaves, for garnish

1. Peel and core 2 apples and chop together with 1 cup of the chestnuts. Set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 350 F. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute. Add the pork and cook until browned, about 3 to 4 minutes.

3. Stir in the chopped chestnuts and apples, breadcrumbs, stock, and thyme and continue to cook for another minute until everything is well combined. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and pepper.

4. Stu the mixture into the chicken cavity and tie the legs together to secure. Season the chicken with additional salt.

5. Transfer chicken to a roasting pan. Add the remaining apples and whole chestnuts to the pan; drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Bake for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

6. Remove chicken from oven and let rest about 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional thyme and fresh bay leaves.

A less traditional take on a dinner staple

Fried foods are often characterized as guilty pleasures. Though frying might not be the healthiest way to make a meal, it’s hard to argue against the ﬂavor proﬁle of fried foods.

Air frying can produce meals that call to mind the familiar ﬂavors of fried foods and do so in a far healthier way. This holiday season, hosts can look to air frying as a means to crafting ﬂavorful meals without a lot of the negatives of traditional frying. That’s even possible with traditional family staples like roast beef. With that in mind, hosts can try their hands at this recipe for air-fried “Roast Beef” courtesy of Lines+Angles.

Roast Beef

Makes 4 to 6 servings

1 2-pound beef roast, trimmed 2 tablespoons olive oil

Flaked sea salt

Freshly ground mixed peppercorns

1. Preheat air fryer to 360 F. Rub beef roast with olive oil and liberally season with salt and mixed peppercorns.

2. Tie at intervals with kitchen twine to secure.

3. Spritz air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place beef roast in basket and cook for 45 minutes for medium-rare; cook for additional 5-minute intervals for more well-done meat.

4. Remove beef roast from air fryer and cover loosely with aluminum foil, letting it rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Holiday hosting is a fun way to welcome loved ones. Opportunities to host abound between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, and savvy hosts know how useful an expansive culinary repertoire can be during a time of year when it’s common to enjoy home cooked meals with loved ones.

Simple but ﬂavorful meals are a holiday host’s best friend. Such meals, which include the following recipe for “Stu ed Shells With Spinach and Ricotta” from Lines+Angles, give hosts more time to mingle but still ensure a delicious dish makes its way to the table come dinnertime.

Stu ed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Salt, to taste

32 jumbo pasta shells

10 cups frozen chopped spinach, thawed

2 cups ricotta, softened

1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (divided), plus extra to serve

3 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Simple stuffed shells to please a hungry crowd side to pass around the table

Despite their name, side dishes have a tendency to take center stage come the holiday season. That's particularly true when hosting a potluck-style dinner for family and friends. Such an arrangement, which typically sees hosts prepare the main course and guests bring side dishes and desserts, can remove a lot of responsibility from hosts' shoulders and a ord them more time to mingle with their loved ones.

Those tasked with crafting a delicious side this holiday season can build their o ering around a popular and seasonal main ingredient like sweet potatoes. This recipe for "Sweet Potato Mash" from Lines+Angles ﬁts that bill and is sure to please everyone around the holiday dinner table this year.

Sweet Potato Mash Serves 4

4 large sweet potatoes, peeled Salt

4 tablespoons butter

3¾ cups marinara or spaghetti sauce

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook per package directions until al dente. Rinse pasta in cold water to stop cooking process and drain well.

2. Squeeze spinach dry. Transfer spinach to large bowl. Add ricotta, ½ cup Parmesan, garlic, and beaten eggs to bowl. Season mixture with salt and pepper, and mix to blend.

3. Preheat oven to 350 F.

4. Spoon ½ cup marinara sauce evenly over bottom of 9- x 13- x 2-inch baking dish. Fill each pasta shell with spinach mixture. Place shells, ﬁlling side up, in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup Parmesan. Cover loosely with foil and bake until heated through and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Spoon remaining sauce over shells. Garnish with Parmesan cheese, if desired, and serve.

1 sprig coriander, or parsley

Freshly ground pepper and salt

1. Cut the potatoes into large chunks and cook in boiling salted water until tender, about 14 to 18 minutes.

2. Drain thoroughly, then set the pan over a low heat and shake the pan to drive o any excess moisture.

3. Mash thoroughly with the butter until smooth, then season generously with salt and pepper and serve with a garnish of coriander.

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PHOTOS

Roasted pork makes a perfect holiday meal

The main course is highly anticipated when gathering to break bread with friends and family during the holiday season. Turkey might be the go-to main course for Thanksgiving, but hosts have the freedom to consider more options when hosting holiday parties and family dinners in December.

As families prepare to gather for fun and festive times this holiday season, hosts welcoming loved ones into their homes can serve this Lines+Angles recipe for “Roasted Pork Hock With Cider, Apples and Rosemary Potatoes.”

Roasted Pork Hock With Cider, Apples and Rosemary Potatoes

Serves 4

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 onions, roughly diced

2 carrots, roughly diced

3½ ounces celeriac, roughly diced

2 garlic cloves

1 teaspoon ground caraway

4 small ham hocks, approximately 500 grams each

10 ounces meat stock

1 pound waxy potatoes, peeled, halved or quartered

2 apples, peeled and cut into 8 wedges each 1¼ cups cider

1 to 2 sprigs rosemary, leaves picked

1. Heat the oven to 400 F and oil a roasting pan.

2. Add the onions, carrots and celeriac to the pan and brown lightly in the oven for around 30 minutes.

3. Crush the garlic and mix with the caraway, salt and ground black pepper. Rub this mixture into the hocks. Place the hocks on top of the vegetables and pour on a little stock. Bake in the oven for approximately 1 hour, turning the hocks regularly and adding more stock as required.

4. At the end of the cooking time, remove the root

vegetables from the meat juices using a slotted spoon. Turn the oven up to 425 F. Add the potatoes and apples, stand the hocks upright, add the cider, and cook for a further hour.

5. Take the cooked hocks out of the roasting tin and place on a baking tray. Return to the oven to form crackling.

6. Meanwhile, pass the juices through a sieve. Put the apples and potatoes in a warm place. Reduce or thicken the sauce as required and season to taste with salt and ground black pepper.

7. Stir the rosemary through the potatoes and plate up.

Craft a cocktail with seasonal staples as star ingredients

Holiday season parties are particularly festive a airs. The jovial spirt of the season lends itself to fun gatherings with family and friends. When welcoming loved ones at home this holiday season, hosts can consider some seasonal staples and craft a unique cocktail guests won’t soon forget. Pumpkin might be more synonymous with fall than winter, but cinnamon certainly has a place on holiday season dinner tables. This recipe for a “Pumpkin Martini Cocktail With Cinnamon” from Lines+Angles combines staple ﬂavors of fall and winter into a delicious drink holiday celebrants will love.

Pumpkin Martini Cocktail With Cinnamon Serves 2

2 tablespoons maple syrup

¼ cup graham cracker crumbs

5 ounces pumpkin spice liqueur

2 ounces Baileys Irish Cream

2 ounces vodka

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cinnamon sticks

1. Pour the maple syrup in a saucer and put the graham cracker crumbs in a separate saucer. Dip the rims of 2 chilled martini glasses ﬁrst into the simple syrup, then into the graham cracker crumbs.

2. Fill a shaker with ice and add the pumpkin spice liqueur, Baileys, vodka, and vanilla extract. Shake for 15 seconds and strain between the prepared glasses. Garnish each with a cinnamon stick.

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PHOTOS

Pumpkin pie is the classic holiday dessert

Turkey might garner the bulk of the Thanksgiving feast fanfare, but a notable and wildly popular dessert also provides something to look forward to during a holiday when food is a focal point. After a couple of helpings of turkey and various side dishes, Thanksgiving celebrants know it’s time for pumpkin pie. It’s a testament to the ﬂavor and popularity of pumpkin pie that overstu ed Thanksgiving celebrants still ﬁnd a way to squeeze in this beloved dessert.

Hosts who want to truly impress can prepare a homemade pie that’s sure to please loved ones. This recipe for “Pumpkin Pie” from Lines+Angles can be just what guests are looking for as they seek to tie a bow on their Thanksgiving feast.

Pumpkin Pie

Serves 8 for one 9-inch pie

For the crust:

1 cup butter, cold and cubed

2¼ cups all-purpose ﬂour, plus extra as needed

1½ tablespoons maple sugar

1 pinch salt

1 medium egg, lightly beaten

2 teaspoons white vinegar

2 to 3 tablespoons iced water

For the ﬁlling:

1 small pumpkin, halved, seeded and cored

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons all-purpose ﬂour

1/3 cup maple sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground ginger

1 pinch ground nutmeg

1 pinch ground cloves

¼ cup maple syrup

1 cup heavy cream

1. For the crust: Combine the butter, ﬂour, maple sugar, and salt in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs.

2. Add the egg, vinegar and 1 tablespoon iced water. Pulse until the dough starts to form around the blades; add more water as needed if too dry, or a little more ﬂour if too wet.

3. Turn out onto a lightly ﬂoured surface and shape into a disc. Wrap in parchment paper and chill for at least 1 hour.

4 .For the ﬁlling: Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place the pumpkin halves ﬂesh-side down on a large baking sheet.

5. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes until the ﬂesh is tender to the tip of a knife. Remove from the oven and let cool to one side.

6. Once the pumpkin is cool enough to handle, scoop out the ﬂesh into a bowl and mash well until smooth.

7. Beat the eggs with the ﬂour, maple sugar and ground spices in a large mixing bowl until pale and thick, about 3 minutes.

8. Gradually beat in 1½ cups of the pumpkin mash followed by the maple syrup and cream until fully incorporated.

9. Roll out the pastry on a lightly ﬂoured surface

into a large round approximately 1/3-inch thick.

10. Drape into a 9-inch pie dish, pressing well into the base and sides. Cut away any excess pastry before crimping the edges with your ﬁngers.

11. Gently prick the base all over with a fork before slowly pouring the ﬁlling into the lined pastry.

12. Bake for 20 minutes before reducing the oven to 350 F. Bake for a further 40 to 50 minutes until the ﬁlling is set and starting to come away from the edges of the pastry; a knife should come out clean from the center.

13. When ready, remove from the oven to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before serving. Tip: If preparing in advance before serving, let the pie cool completely before wrapping in plastic wrap and chilling.

The perfect treat to indulge in this holiday season

There’s much to look forward to come the holiday season. Celebrations with family and friends, awe-inspiring lighting displays and opportunities to see loved ones’ eyes light up after opening the perfect gift are just some of the many things that excite holiday celebrants each December. Foodies also have much to look forward to come the end of the year. Beginning on Thanksgiving and continuing through the new year, food ﬁgures prominently in holiday season celebrations. Indeed, everything from tasty appetizers to main courses to dessert excites holiday celebrants. Dessert is particularly appealing come the holiday season, when many people relax their dietary restrictions and indulge in some treats they tend to avoid during the rest of the year. Holiday hosts who want to ensure guests get as much indulgence as they can handle can try this recipe for “Chocolate Crumble Pie” courtesy of “Chocolate” (Love Food) by the editors at Parragon Books Ltd.

Chocolate Crumble Pie Serves 8

Pie dough:

Scant 1¼ cups all-purpose ﬂour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

¼ cup superﬁne sugar

1 egg yolk

1 to 2 teaspoons cold water

Filling:

2⁄3 cup heavy cream

2⁄3 cup milk

8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

2 eggs

Crumble topping:

½ cup packed brown sugar

¾ cup toasted pecans

4 ounces semisweet chocolate

3 ounces amaretti cookies

1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa

To make the pie dough, sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl, rub in the butter, and stir in the sugar, then add the egg and a little water to bring the dough together. Turn the dough out, and knead briefly. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Roll out the pie dough and use to line a 9-inch loose-button tart pan. Prick the pastry shell with a fork. Line with parchment paper and fill with dried beans or baking beans. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and take out the paper and beans. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F.

To make the ﬁlling, bring the cream and milk to a boil in a saucepan, immediately remove from the heat, and add the chocolate. Stir until melted and smooth. Beat the eggs and add to the chocolate mixture, mix thoroughly and pour into the shell. Bake for 15 minutes, remove from the oven, and let rest for 1 hour.

When you are ready to serve the pie, place the topping ingredients in a food processor and pulse to chop. (If you do not have a processor, place the sugar in a large bowl, chop the nuts and chocolate with a large knife, and crush the cookies, then add to the bowl with the cocoa and mix well.) Sprinkle over the pie, then serve it in slices.

Adorable cookies add to festive feel of holidays

Food helps to set the festive atmosphere that has become synonymous with the holiday season. Celebrants asked to recall their fondest memories of the holiday season undoubtedly would point to nights spent surrounded by loved ones at the family dinner table, which serves as a testament to the unifying power of food during a special time of year.

Holiday hosts looking to food to set a festive tone can consider these “Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies” from Lines+Angles. These cookies are ﬂavorful and the ﬁnished product is adorable, which can help celebrants feel even more festive during seasonal celebrations.

Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies

Makes 48 cookies

½ cup unsalted butter, softened ¾ cup peanut butter

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1½ cups all-purpose ﬂour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

48 large red M&M candies

96 mini semisweet chocolate chips Pretzels, broken into 96 1-inch pieces

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, beat together butter, peanut butter, sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until light and ﬂu y, about 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together ﬂour, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, and place at least 1 inch apart on cookie sheet. Bake only 10 to 12 cookies at a time. Refrigerate the bowl of dough in between batches. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, until the cookies are just set.

4. Immediately place one M&M in the center of each cookie for a nose (press down a bit if your cookies aren’t ﬂat enough), 2 mini chocolate chips for the eyes, and 2 pretzel pieces at the top for antlers. Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

A dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth

Baking is a popular activity come the holiday season. Families may designate entire weekend afternoons to baking holiday goodies, and those e orts are much appreciated by the beneﬁciaries of all that time spent in the kitchen elbows deep in ﬂour and confectioners’ sugar.

Cookies tend to be a go-to holiday treat, particularly in households with young children who want to leave out something homemade for the jolly old elf on Christmas Eve. But there’s also plenty of room to expand your horizons during holiday baking sessions with the family. A ﬁnished product like these “To ee Cheesecake Bars” from “Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Cookbook” (RDA Enthusiast Brands) by the Taste of Home/Reader’s Digest Kitchens can delight guests and might even compel the man in the red suit to smile even wider come the night before Christmas. To ee Cheesecake Bars Makes 2½ dozen 1 cup all-purpose ﬂour ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar

1⁄3 cup baking cocoa

½ cup cold butter

1 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1¼ cups milk chocolate English to ee bits, divided

1. In a small bowl, combine the ﬂour, confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, and baking soda. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press in the bottom of an ungreased 13-inch x 9-inch baking dish. Bake at 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes or until set.

2. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until ﬂu y. Add the milk, eggs and vanilla; beat until smooth. Stir in ¾ cup to ee bits. Pour over crust. Bake 18 to 22 minutes longer or until center is almost set.

3. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining to ee bits; cool completely. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours overnight.

Bake a tasty batch of gingerbread cookies this holiday season

The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without the various traditions that make this special time of year so unique. Baking is arguably among the most cherished holiday traditions, as many cannot imagine what the month of December might be like without cookies. That’s a reality those who love to bake need not confront, and this recipe for “Gingerbread Holiday Cookies” from Lines+Angles ensures holiday celebrants can meet their need for cookies this season.

Gingerbread Holiday Cookies

Makes 36 to 48 cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1½ cups packed dark brown sugar

4 large eggs

½ cup molasses

7¼ cups all-purpose ﬂour, plus extra for work surface

4 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

For royal icing:

4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted (plus extra if needed)

3 tablespoons meringue powder

½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

½ cup warm water with ¼ cup more, if necessary

In addition:

Food coloring, gel paste preferred

1. Using an electric mixer set on low speed, cream together the butter and sugar until thoroughly combined. Add the eggs and molasses and mix until incorporated. Sift together the ﬂour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Add the

dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix well.

2. Divide dough in half and wrap each portion in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or until ﬁrm.

3. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.

4. Allow dough to sit at room temperature until pliable, about 15 minutes. Take about ½ cup of dough at a time and roll out onto a ﬂoured surface to a thickness of 1/8-inch. Cut out desired holiday shapes with cookie cutters. You can re-roll the scrap pieces. Transfer the cookies to the prepared cookie sheets, using a spatula.

5. Bake for 10 minutes, or until just brown around the edges. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

For Royal Icing:

1. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the confectioners’ sugar and meringue powder until combined. Add the vanilla and ½ cup water and beat on medium to high speed for 5 to 7 minutes or until glossy and sti peaks form. Test the consistency by spreading a small amount of icing on a cookie using a knife; if the icing runs o the edge of the cookie, add more confectioners’ sugar until the desired consistency is achieved; if too thick, add more water.

2. Working quickly, divide icing between bowls and add food coloring. Decorate as desired. Icing hardens quickly when exposed to air. Store remaining icing in an airtight container.

Note: Yield will vary depending on the size of the cutters.

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Cake pops to light up kids’ eyes this holiday season cookies fit right in during holiday baking

There’s no denying Christmas Eve is a little more special in homes where kids are excited about an overnight visit from Santa Claus. Indeed, kids’ joy and enthusiasm helps to make the holiday season such a special time of year.

Since kids add so much to the holidays, it makes sense to prepare something special for youngsters. Of course, treats such as these “Christmas Tree Cake Pops” from Lines+Angles also may appeal to festive adults.

Christmas Tree Cake Pops

Makes 24 cake pops

1 box vanilla cake mix

¾ cup canola oil

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon milk

3½ cups green candy melts

24 cake pop sticks

Icing dots

Icing stars

1. Prepare cake according to package

instructions, adding ¾ cup canola oil to the cake mix before baking.

2. Once cake is cool to the touch, transfer to a large mixing bowl and break up into crumbs. Allow to cool completely.

3. In a medium bowl, add the butter, sugar, vanilla, and milk. Use an electric mixer and beat on medium speed for about 4 minutes until light and ﬂu y.

4. Add ¾ of the frosting to the cake crumbs and mix until mixture can hold together well. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

5. Using your hands, shape the cake pop mixture into 24 conical shapes.

6. Melt the green candy melts. Dip one end of each of the cake pop sticks into the melted chocolate before inserting into the bottom of the cake pops. Dip each cake pop into the melted chocolate, making sure to cover completely, allowing excess to drip back into bowl.

7. Use a toothpick to create the textured look of the tree and decorate with the icing dots and stars before standing upright to dry completely.

Holiday baking sessions are a beloved tradition in many households. A family baking day during the holiday season is a great activity that appeals to loved ones of all ages, making a day spent in the kitchen an ideal way to bring multiple generations together under one roof.

There’s no shortage of options when baking together as a family, but no treat embodies this season of baking more than cookies. Whether you’re baking cookies for Santa Claus, bringing them along to a holiday party or simply whipping them up for some extra energy when decorating the tree, these “Ginger Cookies” from Lines+Angles are sure to please this December.

Ginger Cookies

Makes 48 cookies

1 cup packed brown sugar

¾ cup shortening

¼ cup molasses

1 large egg

2¼ cups unbleached all-purpose ﬂour

½ teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

2 teaspoons baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

Granulated sugar, for rolling

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly grease baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat brown sugar, shortening, molasses, and egg together until light and ﬂu y. Stir in all remaining ingredients, except granulated sugar.

3. Shape dough by rounded teaspoonfuls into balls. Dip tops into granulated sugar and place balls, sugar side up, on prepared baking sheet, about 3 inches apart.

4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until just set. Remove from cookie sheet immediately to wire rack to cool. Serve.

Tip: Before measuring molasses, spray the measuring cup with cooking spray; the molasses won’t stick to the sides of the cup.