A Warm Welcome
Out-of-town guests arriving at your home will appreciate a warm welcome, especially if it involves food! A casual buffet meal, more timesaving to make and set-up in advance, will allow guests to feel at home while satisfying the heartiest of appetites. Simple spreads that include cold-weather favorites such as beef stew, hearty soups or chili are always crowd pleasers. Even grilled sandwiches can be dressed up when paired with a favorite family recipe for potato salad or a more adventurous dish such as an Asian carrot and apple coleslaw. The new BonJour Stainless Steel Serveware is double wall insulated and perfect for keeping a variety of foods at the optimum hot or cold temperature. These versatile serving pieces, available in 2- and 3-quart oval and round sizes, and featuring tight fitting lids with stylized vegetable knobs, look beautiful on any holiday buffet table.

Baking Family Traditions
Holiday cookies are a staple of the season and what better way to preserve family traditions than to ask for guests to share some of their favorites. The week or two before your gathering, ask guests to provide you with recipes of their favorite holiday cookies so you can prepare each in advance. Most cookie dough recipes can be frozen and thawed when ready to use. Your guests can participate in the actual baking and decorating step together.

Before you break out any ingredients, make sure to have all the tools needed to properly prepare each recipe. Quality cookie sheets are a must-have staple in any baker's pantry. Anolon Commercial Bakeware Cookie Sheets are designed for home cooks that prefer rugged baking pans without a nonstick coating. Available in a generously proportioned 14-inch by 16-inch size, Anolon's cookie sheets are oven- and broiler-safe and feature reinforced rims to prevent warping. Be sure to have an ample supply of cookie sheets on-hand so that your guests can prep cookies while others bake and cool.

Before baking the cookies, set out cookie sheets and traditional edible holiday baking decorations, including silver dragees, edible glitter sugar, Non-Pareils, crushed cinnamon and peppermint candies, and colored sprinkles. For pressed cookie recipes, BonJour's Cookie Factory excels in making large batches quickly and easily with the press of a button. The BonJour Cookie Factory features a powerful automatic motor, jumbo and traditional-size cookie barrels, and a large assortment of cookie disks and decorating tips. The results are beautifully uniform cookies, perfect for giving or eating.

The Main Event:

Holiday Dinner
Regardless of whether your guests are coming for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or Christmas, the festivities culminate at the holiday dinner table. Oven-cooked main courses, such as a large turkey or roast, are easier to prepare since there is little prep work and all the cooking is done in the oven. A high-quality roasting pan, such as the KitchenAid 5-Ply Stainless Steel Clad 15-inch Roaster is essential. Designed for superior heat conductivity, the KitchenAid Roaster features an aluminum core throughout the pan and a non-reactive, gleaming stainless steel cooking surface for optimum cooking results. Solid cast stainless steel handles are ergonomically designed for comfort and easy lifting of the pan from oven to table.

Turkey and roasts would not be complete without flavorful gravy, which can also be made easily on the stovetop in the roasting pan. After your meat is finished cooking, simply transfer it to a platter and begin preparing gravy in the same pan. That way you can utilize all the savory cooking juices and caramelized bits which give gravy an authentic "finished" taste.

When you are ready to serve, designate one guest - whether it is the eldest member of the family or someone new to the holiday table - to the honorable task of carving the roast. Make the ritual extra special with good quality cutlery, such as Anolon's 2-Piece Carving Set, which features an 8-inch forged carving knife, and 6-inch carving fork.

Anolon full tang, forged knives are crafted from German steel and feature Santoprene handles for a comfortable grip.

For side dishes, green bean almondine casserole and potatoes au gratin are always a favorite. Make these in advance in an Infinite Circulon Covered Buffet Casserole. This new line of hard-anodized aluminum cookware is both dishwasher safe and can also be used on induction ranges. For added convenience, Infinite Circulon features a superior nonstick cooking surface that makes clean up quick and easy. An Infinite Circulon Warming Cradle with Butane Burner is the perfect accessory for keeping piping hot casseroles warm at the table.

Until Next Time, Farewell
For overnight guests, set up a "help-yourself" buffet brunch that will stay fresh all morning, regardless of what time everyone wakes up and gets on the road home. Festive holiday mugs, juice cups and dishes can be set out the night before. Keep the menu simple with an assortment of dry cereals and granola, fresh fruit and muffins that were made ahead of time, juice and coffee. For a special touch, brew your guests the best cup of coffee to make this simple meal memorable. Coffee purists agree that the ultimate cup of gourmet coffee is specially brewed in a French Press coffee maker. BonJour's Maximus 12-cup French Press brews gourmet-quality coffee in minutes and features a patented Flavor Lock filter system, which shuts down brewing with a simple twist of the lid knob for optimum flavor. A filtering lid helps eliminate sediments in the cup, and the generous 12-cup capacity is ideal for entertaining.

Finally, leave a personalized card for each departing guest thanking them for their visit and wishing them a wonderful new year!

Our Holiday Specials Marketplace