Food
As I write this column, I have to admit that it has been hard coming to grips with it's being November. Where I live, the weather has been warm and not at all conducive to embracing the holidays. Nevertheless, Thanksgiving is less than a month away and Christmas, hot on its heels. While balancing the holidays with a busy schedule and a stretched budget is always a challenge, some pre-holiday planning can help keep seasonal anxieties in check. 110409 FOOD 2 Sue Ade As I write this column, I have to admit that it has been hard coming to grips with it's being November. Where I live, the weather has been warm and not at all conducive to embracing the holidays. Nevertheless, Thanksgiving is less than a month away and Christmas, hot on its heels. While balancing the holidays with a busy schedule and a stretched budget is always a challenge, some pre-holiday planning can help keep seasonal anxieties in check.

Photos By Sue Ade

For taste, quality and convenience, it's hard to beat Harry & David's conserves and citrus curds for making holiday favorites, like Linzer tart cookies. Some of the cookies pictured above were filled with Harry & David's delicious Zesty Lemon Curd and Michigan Red Tart Cherry Conserves. For further information about all Harry and David products, call the company toll-free, at 1-877-322-1200, or visit their web site, at www.harryanddavid.com

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Story last updated at 11/4/2009 - 1:52 pm

Plan, Shop, Stock, Bake: Holiday strategy, sprint towards Christmas, very smart

As I write this column, I have to admit that it has been hard coming to grips with it's being November. Where I live, the weather has been warm and not at all conducive to embracing the holidays. Nevertheless, Thanksgiving is less than a month away and Christmas, hot on its heels. While balancing the holidays with a busy schedule and a stretched budget is always a challenge, some pre-holiday planning can help keep seasonal anxieties in check.

If you have not already begun, start squirreling away supplies for holiday cooking, baking and gift giving, especially the ones you can find on sale. (I once bought a dozen jars of clearance-priced jellybeans, not for the candy, but for the decorative glass containers I intended to fill with peppermint hot cocoa mix.)

If cookie baking is a tradition in your house, start getting your recipes and supply lists in order, and be on the lookout for new, or new-to-you, products that will help you with your baking tasks.

Recently, I was introduced to Harry & David's line of conserves and curds, which are not only delicious, but also convenient for use in fillings for favorites like Thumbprint and Linzer tart cookies. While strategizing and planning ways for using ready-made store bought ingredients is just one step towards keeping the holidays stress-free, it's a good beginning.

Of course, "planning" is not the same as actually "doing," but at this stage of the sprint toward Christmas, it's a very smart start.

Sue Ade is a syndicated food writer with broad experience and interest in the culinary arts. She has worked and resided in the Lowcountry of South Carolina since 1985 and may be reached at kitchnade@yahoo.com .


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