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Merry Christmas! Cozy Up to Our Favorite Recipes

Susannah Chen — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 04:30:34 PST

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Merry Christmas, everybody! Hopefully you're snuggling by the fireplace with close friends and family, recalling hilarious moments or the best highlights of your year. Of course, as you're sitting treeside, you'll need a smorgasbord of merry-making foods to keep the festivities going. Check out some of our Christmas favorites.

Roasted Chestnuts	Roast Duck	Fruitcake
Bûche de Noël	Hot Buttered Rum	Gingerbread Cookies

Merry Puppy Christmas!

PetSugar — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 03:33:46 PST

Merry Christmas from PetSugar! While we might not be able to gift you with a cute puppy, we can offer you this video of playful puppies tearing up the presents under the tree. After all, it's what everyone really hopes they receive at Christmas . . . an adorable, tiny ball of fluff and cuteness. Even if you aren't gifted with a playful pup this Christmas morning by a loved one, there's always next year, right?

See puppy video.

Merry Christmas!

BellaSugar — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 02:01:10 PST

From San Francisco, Los Angeles, the Deep South, and the Midwest, our team wishes you a merry Christmas! Here's hoping you enjoy laughter, connection, and maybe - no, definitely - some gingerbread men. If you find yourself scrambling to pull together a few more gifts, consider going for a drugstore goodie basket, an electronic gift card, or another idea from our last-minute gift guide. And if a regifting party is in your near future, don't miss our white elephant gift suggestions, which include some wild gifts like bacon bar soap and mullet lip balm. Most importantly of all, if you enjoy a few too many eggnogs, help your skin recover from over-boozing. Enjoy the holiday, have fun, and be safe!

Merry Breakfast! 9 Festive Pancakes For Christmas Morning

Nicole Abbott — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 07:35:33 PST

Mama can never go wrong with pancakes! Kids love them, and they're quick and easy to make - so why not prepare a very special pancake breakfast for Christmas morning?

From Santa, snowmen, and reindeer to peppermint-flavored pancakes, we've rounded up nine festive Christmas pancakes kids will love. They're all so fun and creative, Mama might love them even more than the kiddos - if that's possible!

Are These Holiday Foods Safe to Eat When Pregnant?

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:12:40 PST

Step away from the buffet! When you're pregnant, it often feels like there are more items on the do not eat list than foods you can devour! The holidays are all about food, family, (gifts!) and fun, so it's important to know what's safe for you and your baby-to-be before heading sitting down to dinner. Take this quiz to see if you know what to pile on your plate over Christmas and New Year's!

Question 1 of 8

It wouldn't be Christmas without a spiral cut ham on the table! While some families serve it straight from the oven, others prefer the tradition of a pre-baked ham set out on the buffet. Are pre-baked hams safe during pregnancy?

Lil Gift Guide: Fun Gift Card Holders

Nicole Abbott — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:26:42 PST

Ah, the fine art of gift-card giving! When Mama simply doesn't have the time or a clue as to what to get a special someone on her list, gift cards are our go-to gift of choice. Everyone could use one! Sure, lots of people frown upon the idea of gift-card giving, but we think it's totally acceptable - if presented in a fun and festive holder! Click through for five creative gift-card holders ideas that'll make the recipient give a lil "ho! ho! ho!".

A Classy Christmas Dinner Menu

YumSugar — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:07:09 PST

Still looking for an elegant dinner to ring in this Dec. 25? Look no further; we've put together a Christmas party plan that's stunningly simple - yet its festive flavors will leave everyone incredibly impressed. Our favorite item? The chocolate beet cake at the end of the meal. It's a delicious surprise that'll create a wonderful talking point around the dinner menu. For more Christmas fodder, keep reading.

Source: Thinkstock

5 Tips For Capturing Incredible Candid Photos on Christmas!

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:47:56 PST

Don't miss the Christmas morning magic! San Francisco shutterbug Lauri Levenfeld teaches moms how to capture interesting images of their tots and holidays are the perfect time to put her tips to use. "The images you capture are bound to create lasting and special memories, even if you have to find a little humor in some of the recordings," she said. "The best way to capture all the wonderful aspects of your family's celebration is to treat your recordings as an overall story of the day," Levenfeld added. Check out her five fabulous tips!

All photos courtesy of: Zoom Photography

'Tis the Season For Gingerbread Cookies

Lauren Hendrickson — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:13:36 PST

Making a batch of gingerbread cookies is an essential for the holiday season: not only are they tasty, but your house is bound to smell like Christmas as they bake. These cookies are crisp on the outside and chewy in the center, perfect with a hot cup of tea and a roaring fire. The extent that you decorate these cookies is up to you. Maybe you want to use a small straw and poke a hole in each cookie so they can be strung onto the tree with a little bit of ribbon. Alternatively, pull out those cookie cutters, and let the family go wild with their decorations.

Or keep it really simple like I did here and use a drinking glass to make perfect circles and sprinkle the cookies with sugar before baking. It isn't too late to get into the holiday mood, so keep reading for the recipe.

At the Table: 5 Kid-Friendly Dishes to Serve at Your Christmas Dinner

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:07:48 PST

Gathering the kids around the table for a holiday meal should be a easy, not a chore. Adding fun, kid-friendly dishes to the meal is a surefire way to ensure that they'll be running for their seats come dinnertime. This Christmas, why not shake up the menu a bit to include some festive side dishes - they're sure to bring out the kid in everyone at the table!