Glorious Holiday Dinner for 12
Twinkling lights, an elegant feast for your most memorable holiday ever!
Such a special day! Make it one to remember by sharing this joyful feast with relatives or friends. Set out the appetizers so folks can help themselves while you tend to the last-minute details on dinner. Then lower the lights to dine at a beautiful table filled with fabulous food and twinkling with the sparkle of tiny lights and candles amongst a fragrant holiday garland.
Make It Special!Fun Poinsettia Bag Containers
Bend and flex the bottoms and sides of two or three brown paper lunch bags to make the bottoms look more rounded. Fold the tops of the bags down several times until just about the height you plan to fill with Herbed Cashew Snack Mix. Place red paper napkins in the bags so the corners come out over the folded edges of the bags, resembling poinsettia flowers. Tie a piece of green raffia (decorative straw-like ribbon material) around each bag just below the fold--leave raffia loose enough so bag openings are large. Fill with snack mix just before serving.
Eye-Catching Carrots
Buy whole carrots with the green tops still attached (if available); cut off all but about 2 inches of the stems. Cut the carrots to about 5 inches in length from the wide end, and whittle the cut ends with a paring knife to make points. If you'd like, make a lenghwise cut, starting from the wide end, cutting halfway through carrot (cut will open slightly during cooking and will catch flavorful toppings!). Steam carrots, top with butter, and if you'd like, sprinkle with grated orange peel and poppy seed.
Make a Festive Centerpiece Garland
Arrange the garland in the center of the table (you can wind a string of tiny white lights around it first for a sparkling touch) and around the base of tall candlesticks, if you'd like. Be sure the garland doesn't touch any candles and that the candles you use are dripless to help prevent fires. For extra glow, place mirror tiles on the table before arranging the garland and candles. The reflection from the lights will be breathtaking!
Preparation Guide
Up to 1 Month Before
- Make Festive Spiced Apple Rolls, following directions for freezing.
- Make Dried Apple and Nut Garland.
Up to 1 Week Before
- Make Herbed Cashew Snack Mix; cover and refrigerate.
The Day Before
- Make Chocolate-Walnut Torte.
The Morning Of
- Hollow out bread loaf and tear other loaf into bite-size pieces for Spinach Dip Wreath.
- Cut fruit, wash greens and make Orange-Honey Dressing (cover and refrigerate) for Heavenly Mixed Greens with Fruit.
- Peel and cut carrots; cover and refrigerate.
About 2 1/2 Hours Before Dinner
- Make Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze.
40 Minutes Before Serving Appetizers
10 Minutes Before Serving Appetizers
- Reheat Herbed Cashew Snack Mix.
- Put together Spinach Dip Wreath.
About 1 3/4 Hours Before Dinner
- Make Swedish Hasselback Potatoes.
About 25 Minutes Before Dinner
- Cook carrots; toss with butter, and sprinkle with grated orange peel and poppy seed.
- Reheat Festive Spiced Apple Rolls; drizzle with Vanilla Glaze.
Just Before Dinner
- Pour sparkling water into glasses filled with ice.
Just Before Dessert
- Make coffee.
- Cut Chocolate-Walnut Torte into serving pieces.