Holiday feasting: set the table and gather together—the moment everyone is waiting for has arrived. A holiday feast is an opportunity to enjoy favorite foods and create new memories

Ebony, Nov, 2003

Are you cooking your first holiday meal this year or your twentieth? Either way it's bound to be special for you and your loved ones, because everyone always looks forward to sitting down to share in a traditional dinner. Dressing your table for the occasion is a fun way to get in the mood for the festivities. The Martha Stewart Everyday[TM] collections make it easy to decorate your dining room with coordinating linens, dinnerware, and serving pieces in holiday colors and patterns. How you serve the meal can raise the level of excitement. Whether your culinary centerpiece is a turkey, ham or roast, a decorative platter garnished with herbs or fruit will make a lovely presentation. If you have a fancy knife and fork, you might want to carve the main course right at the table. A selection of favorite side dishes such as stuffing, salads, and roasted vegetables in complementary serving bowls will round out the meal. If you need to save some time, you may wish to make baked foods such as casseroles and gratins directly in GLAD[R] OvenWare pans a day before for quicker cooking and serving. Because they can travel from the refrigerator or freezer to the oven or microwave, these lidded pans also come in handy if you are invited to a holiday dinner and asked to bring a side dish or dessert.

tips for a memorable meal

* It's fun to set a formal table, but if it's too overwhelming for the kids, remember Grandma's old rule: Work from the outside in.

* Make your holiday sparkle; bring out your finest china, crystal, and silver. Festive linens are an extra touch.

* To make your guests feel special, put a pretty place card at every spot, and decorate napkins with seasonal greenery or a tiny ornament.

* Enjoy the company of your guests by planning your cooking and serving so you don't spend the entire time working in the kitchen. GLAD[R] food-storage products offer simple solutions for preparing, storing, and savoring holiday foods.

* For fun, begin the meal with a toast or ask everyone to tell a story. Or, you may like to follow up coffee and dessert with a song or game.

* While a bountiful bowl of food looks impressive, it may be difficult for guests to pass to one another.