Loads of great recipes inside! Your first aid kit for holiday entertaining ‘Tis the season to be…exhausted from all that shopping. And that's why we put together this special guide. Packed with easy-to-follow recipes and expert tips on entertaining, it will save you time and hassles — and help you prepare picture-perfect holiday feasts. For more great recipes and ideas, check out: Cooking For Dummies® by Bryan Miller and Marie Rama Entertaining For Dummies® by Suzanne Williamson with Linda Smith Bartending For Dummies® by Ray Foley Discover how to: Host a very merry holiday party Cook the perfect turkey Whip up yummy side dishes Serve festive holiday drinks Create delectable desserts Get smart! www.dummies.com
Just the thought of the holidays can be overwhelming: the decorating, the shopping, the entertaining, and the extra commitments (not to mention the extra calories). Fortunately, Surviving the Holidays For Dummies offers expert tips to help you make it through the holidays in one piece — with your friends and family marveling at how you do it all! This specially created ebook is divided into four parts that guide you through the holiday process. We can't help you with every holiday happening (and we would never claim to be able to do so) but we can help you plan and prepare for what should be the most wonderful time of the year. So whether you're having trouble getting in the holiday spirit or overwhelmed by all the shopping and entertaining, we've culled tried-and-true content from many of our bestselling titles to bring you this fun, approachable ebook to survive — and thrive — throughout the Holiday season. You'll start with tips and hints for avoiding as much holiday stress as possible and discover how you can get a head start on holiday shopping with gift ideas and, of course, Dummies product suggestions. Next up you'll find out how to entertain like a pro and host a stellar bash — from choosing a date and planning a menu to making your holidays flow smoothly with handy, must-have to-do lists. Plus, you'll find easy-to-follow recipes for drinks, appetizers, main and side dishes, and desserts and that will make you the talk of Tinsel Town. And what would any holiday be without a bit of overindulgence? If the holidays leave you feeling drained and in need of a recharge, we've got advice for how to quickly recover, both mentally and physically. We've even included a lighthearted Part of Tens. In this section, you discover what you should (and shouldn’t) do during the holidays. 'Tis the season to enjoy the holidays with a little bit of help from For Dummies.
Even if your home’s decor hasn’t changed since 1976, you can refresh, revamp, and revitalize it at the holidays with just a few simple strokes. Unlike regular decorating – where you agonize over paint colors, upholstery choices, and furniture styles – holiday decorating is easy. Holidays provide a set theme; a color palette; and merchandise and motifs that are usually mass-manufactured, so you can purchase and decorate when you’re ready. You may be feeling intimidated about decorating for the holidays, or you may be ready to dive right in. No matter what level of decorator you may be, Holiday Decorating For Dummies shows you tricks that you may not already know. This guide is for you if: You need easy, affordable ideas to fill your house with holiday cheer You have no idea where to start and just need some ideas to get you going. You already have a huge collection of your own holiday stash and need to get organized before acquiring more You love to celebrate very special occasions: an anniversary, a special birthday, a warm welcome home A flair for decorating isn’t necessarily inherited. Armed with clear explanations of how you can achieve beautiful yet practical holiday decorating, planning tips and tricks, crafting basics, care and cleaning tips, storage solutions, and more, you can decorate like a pro. Holiday Decorating For Dummies helps you gain that skill with topics such as: Discovering tabletop decorating basics Budgeting time, money, and space Getting organized Caring for your decorations Knowing where to go for ideas and inspiration Celebrating Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving Decorating for Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Jewish holidays Embellishing the exterior of your home Getting crafty with paper, florals, fabric, beads, and embossing Creating luminaries and etched-glass projects Part decorating guide, part stylist guide, and part craft instruction book, Holiday Decorating For Dummies helps you access the knowledge you need to create beautiful homes and great gatherings that will provide a warm welcome for family and friends.
From small dinner parties to big-time shindigs, Entertaining For Dummies shows you how to impress and pamper your guests no matter what the occasion. It’s full of fresh, creative ideas and proven tips for creating an unforgettable experience — at your daughter’s sweet sixteen birthday party, a fancy dinner in honor of your boss, or any other get-together. Whether you’re a homemaker in need of creative ideas for your next big party, or a busy professional who needs to impress the boss without spending a bundle, Entertaining For Dummies covers all the bases — from planning, to decorating, to cooking, to hosting. Regardless of the size of the event or its purpose, you’ll find helpful tips on these topics and more: Planning large or small events Designing distinctive invitations and a balanced menu Creating a comfortable atmosphere in any space Making your guests feel welcome Hosting a business gathering in your home Treating the family to special events like picnics, birthday parties, and Sunday dinners Hosting theme events like costume parties Renowned entertaining speaker Suzanne Williamson offers all the expert advice you need to make every event a success — from black-tie parties to backyard barbecues. She’ll give you all the tools and tips you need to get organized and get your party off the ground. Whether you’re entertaining for a dozen or a thousand, you’ll find everything you need right here: Organize a last-minute party Use your imagination to create a unique atmosphere Drinks—from cocktails to coffee Table settings and food presentation Hire a disc jockey or band Cope with accidents, emergencies, and unplanned occurrences Entertain during the holidays Parties for children from tots to teens Entertain for business associates or government officials Solutions for common cooking disasters If you want step-by-step help on getting your party off the ground, or just a reliable reference for trouble-shooting those unforeseen emergencies, Entertaining For Dummies is the only book you need. It’s full of creative ideas that making throwing your next party a blast — and a breeze.
This book is designed for the beginner who desires to entertain in her home but lacks experience. It includes 13 complete menus for popular occasions, full-color photographs, delicious recipes, simple instructions, decorating ideas, step-by-step checklists, music and drink suggestions. Each chapter has a section on "Mistakes to Avoid", "Optional Shortcuts", "Party Etiquette" and "Tips to Ensure Success". Each reader is instructed and encouraged in her endeavor to have satisfying and successful entertaining events in her home.
Look no further for tips and recipes for whipping up a dazzling array of delicious holiday meals — without stress! Christmas is the biggest holiday of the year -- and Americans traditionally love to celebrate the season with food, food, and more food. This easy guide shows cooks of every generation how to plan and prepare scrumptious seasonal treats. It includes: 100 delicious recipes for hassle-free holiday meals, including Warm White Bean Dip, Four-Cheese Spinach Lasagne, and Chocolate Truffle Tart Tips, checklists, and charts, plus step-by-step guides and shopping lists for special holiday meals, including a Christmas Tree-Trimming Party A special section on Christmas decorating and food gifts from the kitchen 16 pages of color photos featuring holiday meal recipes and kitchen-made gifts and decorations
