The holidays are all about large extravagant meals full of tasty traditional foods that most of us are taking the opportunity to indulge in and enjoy. If you do eat a large meal high in fat, the best thing to do for yourself and your arteries is to go for a 45-minute walk. Even if you've put counting calories on the back burner during the holidays, you should still try to keep your health in Read more

If you have a formal dining room, eat Christmas dinner there. If you don't, set up a table beside the glowing Christmas tree. Next, focus your attention on creating a beautiful table setting. Cover the table with a holiday print tablecloth. Top this with gold chargers and your best china. Shiny green napkins rolled with jingle bell napkin rings are festive and fun. Serve the food on shiny red Read more

My elegant Christmas dinner calls for equally-sophisticated cocktails. I'll have distinct wine pairings for each course and one festive signature cocktail to get the night started right. With the oysters and crab crostini, pour a sparkling Prosecco; it's a lovely and affordable varietal. With the main course offer a spicy red Pinot Noir or Zinfandel. Have a white varietal that complements the Read more

Follow up a decadent Christmas dinner with a spread of just as delectable desserts. Boxes of chocolates, candy canes, and truffles look gorgeous among a pair of stunning homemade treats. For the chocolate traditionalists, serve Emily Luchetti's variation of German chocolate cake. For the fruit lovers, offer a pear and cranberry crisp. To get these recipes, read more Read more

In my opinion, Christmas dinner should be an absolutely delicious, fragrant meal. At my house, we always begin our Christmas with seafood. Oysters on the half shell and crab crostini pair perfectly with bubbly, sparkling wine. At the table, serve a show-stopping pan roasted beef tenderloin with rosemary and garlic as the main course. A decadent potato gnocchi with gorgonzola cream sauce is Read more