Yikes! Christmas is on Friday?!!! With New Year’s soon on it’s heels…
If you are as unprepared as I am, here’s an annotated list of some past posts from ‘the improvised life’ to help with the holiday crush… from recipes and gifts to strategies, and decorations…
Recipes
Essential Chocolate Cake for Improvising An EASY dazzling make-ahead chocolate cake
Celery Root Puree (with Recipe) and other Winter Vegetable Purees are fine accompaniments for holiday roasts and game: from turkey and pork to venison and pheasant…make ahead and warm in a double boiler…
Recipe: Roasted Pears for Sweet or Savory Improvisations serve as a sweet “sauce” for game meats, pork, or poultry OR as a dessert
Recipe: New Potatoes with Creme Fraiche and Coriander Seed (and Other Swell Ideas) this can be an hors d’oeuvre (using whole (uncrushed) fingerlings for guests to dip in creme fraiche and sprinkle coriander OR as a side dish
Whipped Cream with Sea Salt, and Other 2-Ingredient Discoveries perfect to accompany chocolate cake and other desserts
Recipe: Amontillado and Other Grown-Up Milkshakes a sensational dessert or pick-me up OR serve instead of egg-nog!
Sweet or Savory Cornmeal Cakes for Breakfast, Lunch + Holiday Celebrations think late-night supper or New Years celebration, OR breakfast after a night of partying
Greek Soul Food: Beets with Garlic Sauce a wonderful make-ahead hors d’oeuvres or appetizer, or forget the beets and serve the garlic sauce with crudites or potato chips
The Formula for a Satisfying Breakfast (or Lunch or Dinner) when you are running on empty and want a quick REAL meal
Conference Call Pot Luck (with Spoon Lamb Recipe) This effortless lamb dish takes almost no time to put together, then cooks itself (while you do other things) to feed a crowd
Roasted Chestnuts (and Chestnut Purees) An easy way to “chestnuts roasting over an open fire…”
Strategies
Conference Call Pot Luck let everyone help put together a party and organize it by conference call
One Big Swell Table from Several Smaller Ones
How to Seat a Crowd: Chair Bench
d-i-y gift wrap some ideas and inspiration for on-the-fly gift-wrapping
Pot Luck PS: How to Haul Celery Root Puree (with Recipe)
Gifts
A Perfect All-Purpose Cook’s Spoon and…
Double-Duty Gift with Heart (charity donation gift card)
Perfect Kid’s Book: Mud Pies and Other Recipes
Food Gifts: Homemade Chocolates for Improvising… easy and impressive
‘What Matters Now” for You + Everyone on Your List, Free (an amazing free e-book you can email)
The Perfect Glass (Thin, Cheap, Well-Designed) for entertaining + giving
Big Black Bag who couldn’t use one of these?
Donut Chef (kid’s book)
Urawaza: Secret Everyday Gifts from Japan (book)
Decorations
Related Posts:
NYC Bloggers Do the Holidays: you’ll find more ideas for entertaining and gift-giving.
Our Homemade Food Gifts on “The Splendid Table”. The Splendid Table’s “Holidays” page has loads of recipes, menus and resources.