Christmas: Expert Guides and Resources

Bûche de Noël is French for Christmas log. This dessert with the fancy name is found in every pastry-shop window in France during the month of December. It’s simply a yellow sponge cake rolled around a white chocolate and cherry filling. You can start this the day ahead and let it sit overnight. Preparation time: 45 minutes; 8 hour cooling time Cooking time: 20 minutes Yield: 10 servings Yellow Sponge Cake for Bûche de Noël 1/4 cup whole milk 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 cup cake flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Pinch salt 3 large eggs 3 large egg yolks 1 cup sugar Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

An Italian Christmas Eve tradition involves a multi-course seafood dinner where you might enjoy a delicious seafood stew. This holiday dish is sure to impress. just round it off with some crusty bread and perhaps a salad and cheese course.Although this is a low-fat recipe, it doesn't skimp on flavor. Low-Fat Seafood Stew Preparation time: 10 minutesCooking time: 25 minutesYield: 8 servings 1/4 cup olive oil 2 large yellow onions, diced 1 fennel bulb, chopped and diced, fennel tops reserved 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 tablespoon thyme 2 teaspoons crushed rosemary 1 bay leaf 4 cups bottled clam juice 2 cups dry white wine 28-ounce can plum tomatoes, drained and chopped 2 dozen small clams, scrubbed 2 dozen mussels, scrubbed 2 pounds sea bass fillets, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 dozen large shrimp (20 to 25 shrimp per pound size) Three 4-ounce frozen lobster tails, defrosted, cut into thirds Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Cassoulet is a festive, budget-friendly main dish that's just right for a family Christmas dinner. This version of the classic French casserole makes a rich bean stew full of five types of meat. You can make it a month ahead and freeze, so it's a perfect dish for holiday entertaining. ©iStockphotos.com/ALLEKOThis cassoulet benefits from an overnight rest in the refrigerator.

Most people have a mountain of leftover turkey the day after the big Thanksgiving meal. This soup is a creative and easy way to make use of those tasty leftovers, even if they are just scraps. Preparation time: 15 minutesCooking time: 35 minutesYield: 10 servings 5 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 3 celery stalks, diced 3 carrots, peeled and diced 1 teaspoon thyme 1 teaspoon sage 3 large all-purpose potatoes, peeled and diced 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels 1/2 cup frozen lima beans 6 cups turkey or chicken broth 1 1/2 pounds (about 3 cups) cooked leftover turkey, diced or shredded 1/2 cup frozen peas 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup whole milk Salt and pepper to taste Melt the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium heat.

Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without pumpkin pie. If you are on a budget, this might be the only desert you offer your Thanksgiving guests. The lightly spiced pumpkin pie presented here goes beautifully with many holiday meals. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Agnieszka Kirinicjanow 2012 Basic pie crust Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 2 hours chilling time Yield: 2 piecrusts, enough for one 9-inch deep-dish double-crust pie 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) chilled unsalted butter, cut into large pieces 3 ounces (hefty 1/2 cup) chilled shortening 3 to 4 tablespoons ice water Measure the flour and salt into a mixing bowl and place in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Squash is a common side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas meals. For a different — and delicious — version, try Roasted Squash Soup for the holidays. This inexpensive soup is creamy, has a lovely orange color, and offers a hint of sweetness. If you serve it with crusty bread and a green salad, it makes a light meal during the hectic holiday season.

A Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without stuffing, a budget-wise and filling side dish. This classic bread stuffing has apples for moistness, and sausage and cognac for flavor. You can substitute brandy for the cognac, if you like. Classic Bread Stuffing with Sausage, Apples, and Cognac Credit: ©iStockphoto.

In Italy, antipasti can include rice dishes, egg dishes, fish and shellfish, and more, but for your pre-Christmas dinner purposes, a lighter selection is just fine and will fit into even a tight budget. Many dishes that Italians consider as appetizers can easily be found readymade. Just gather together purchased and homemade foods and arrange them on a large platter or on a series of smaller dishes.

With little time and effort, you can turn a simple walnut into beautiful Christmas ornaments. This project is a fun activity for kids at Christmas time. They can give the ornaments as gifts or keep them and hang them on the tree at home. Red, burgundy, or green ribbons look particularly striking against the metallic background.