Hark! The celebrations are nigh, let's remember to gird ourselves for sneaking a kiss beneath the mistletoe and maybe even dancing round the Christmas tree by setting a pretty table for a good breakfast and with any luck, finding good reason to linger long at the table still in jammies and slippers. Should I put on another pot of coffee? Merry Christmas to all who celebrate ...

Wake up the morning with a festive mostly make-ahead breakfast bursting with holiday spirit. Thick bread slices are soaked overnight in eggnog (homemade or store-bought, your choice), cooked until crisp and golden (on the stove or in the oven, your choice), then spooned with a delicious tart-but-still-sweet apple-cranberry sauce. It's a cozy, indulgent (and dare I say, easy?) way to kick off a holiday morning, a family favorite since way way back. Festive French Toast for Special Holiday Breakfasts. A Long-Time Family Favorite. Budget Friendly. Vegetarian. What're you waiting for?! So Good!!

Everyday oatmeal all dressed up for Christmas with fresh cranberries and small bites of tangerine, a real study in taste and texture and temperature contrasts. It's a perfect choice for simple but still special breakfasts during the holidays, leaving room for ... dare I say? ... a cookie or two? Approachable, Memorable Whole Food, Simply Prepared. Morning Oatmeal All Glammed Up for the Holidays. Mere Minutes to the Table. A New Addition to The Homemade Pantry , a Kitchen Parade Specialty. Budget Friendly. Weekday Easy, Holiday Special. Great for Meal Prep. Perfect When Cooking for One or Two . Weight Watchers Friendly. Vegetarian. Naturally Gluten Free. What're you waiting for?! So Good!!

Christmas is a magical time for kids, and what better way to celebrate than with festive treats made just for them? and often right alongside them? This week's recipe collection is packed with fun, easy-to-make sweets and treats (and even a few veggies) that will bring joy to little chefs and their families. Let’s make Christmas even sweeter, one recipe at a time. And here's hoping there's a keeper or two for every auntie, uncle, nana and papa and all who have special kids in their lives.

How to Make Suomalainen Joulutorttu or Tähtitorttu Here's a favorite Christmas sweet treat from Finland, so festive and just a couple of bites big. All it takes is two ingredients, a box of ready-made frozen puff pastry and good jam, either homemade or from the store. If you've ever made thumbprint cookies with jam centers, you'll love these simple Nordic pastries. Beautiful Color & Dramatic Star Appearance. (Or Wait, Is It a Pinwheel?! Southern Living calls these "Jam Pinwheels" in this month's issue.) Mere Minutes to the Table. Just Two Ingredients, No Mixer Required. A Fun Baking Project with Kids. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Great for Holiday Food Gifts. Perfect When Cooking for One or Two . Potluck & Party Friendly. Easy DIY. So Good!!

This recipe is for salad lovers! If you, too, live for a good salad, well, life is about to get better, much better. It's a robust tangle of crisp greens that whose names might be unfamiliar (think radicchio, Belgian endive, endive lettuce, arugula, baby kale) plus tangy bites of tangerine, sweet dried fruit and a sprinkle of fresh herbs. If you're inclined, scatter in some bits of creamy cheese? maybe a few sweet nuts? This is an exuberantly seasonal salad and yet at the same time, a much-welcome antidote to all the rich food of the holidays. Approachable, Memorable Homestyle Whole Food, Simply Prepared. Real Food, Fresh & Flexible, Seasonal & Special. Beautiful Color! Extra Welcome When "Supper's a Little Skimpy" But Can Also Stand In for a Salad Supper, a Quick Supper , a Kitchen Parade Specialty. Easily Adapted to Your Family's Tastebuds. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Perfect When Cooking for One or Two But Scales from Small Plates to Larg...

Santa's sack is overflowing with ideas (and recipes, of course!) for the holidays, not just for the Christmas dates themselves but for all the good times in between. Here's to embracing the holidays!

Stock up on butter, all, because this week's "Seasonal Seven" recipe collection is for the holiday bakers in our number, whether we've got a cookie exchange coming up or live with some bonafide cookie monsters or plan to deliver treats to a neighbor with a sweet tooth. I hope you'll find one or two destined as "keepers" in your own Christmas cookie favorites.

Meet your new favorite autumn-inspired drink, a simple yet outright special combination of smoky bourbon, tangy apple cider and crisp ginger ale served by the glass or prepped by the pitcher. It's barely boozy, unless you prefer otherwise, of course. Cozy autumn vibes? You bet. Bottoms up, all! A Memorable Seasonal Cocktail, Just Three Ingredients. No Hard-to-Find Liquors or Liqueurs or Bitters or Mixers, No Cooking Simple Syrup. Barely Boozy. Scales from a Mixed Drink for One or Two to a Pitcher for Parties. Beautiful Color! Mere Minutes to the Table. Fun Picnic & Tailgate Beverage. Easily Adapted to Personal Tastebuds & Alcohol Consumption. Budget Friendly. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Perfect When Cooking for One or Two . Potluck & Party Friendly. Easy DIY. Not just vegan, Vegan Done Real . Naturally Gluten Free. So Good!!

This week's "Seasonal Seven" recipe collection is for everyone (me included!) with a soft spot for Thanksgiving's wonderful vegetable side dishes, I swear, I could make a dozen 🙄 and still find room on the menu for one more. But! Here I selected just seven simple but Thanksgiving-suitable recipes for seven different vegetables, then paired each one with another that's slightly more effort but extra-worthy. I've been collecting Thanksgiving vegetable recipes since way back in 2006, you just know, there are so many winners here.