Christmas Tips

Christmas can be celebrated as both a religious and secular holiday, depending upon your personal traditions. It need not be full of flash or tinsel. If you prefer a quieter holiday atmosphere, feel free to express yourself. But if you like to pull out all the stops, go ahead and do it!

Whatever is your style, try to take time throughout the season to relax, have fun. Go for a walk, bake cookies (if you want) or go on a cookie-buying spree and find your favorites. Not everything has to be homemade, fancy or complicated. Sometimes, the simplest traditions like an evening spent in front of the fire, or family movie night with popcorn and sodas is the best way to celebrate in a busy season.

Meals at holiday time can be rich and fancy or simple and homey. To simplify a celebration, pre-cook roasts, hams or turkeys and serve at room temperature with fancy breads to make mini-sandwiches. If made more than two hours ahead of time, refrigerate to keep fresh until ready to use.

If you don’t have fancy dishes just use simple cutting boards, wooden bowls, and trays to serve with. It’s the time together with friends and family that counts.