A Merry Make-Ahead Holiday with "A Well-Seasoned Kitchen"

December 2010

Create a Haven from Hurried Holidays

Greetings!

Certainly, the holidays bring comfort and joy with the smells of holiday baking, sounds of Christmas carols and the sight of twinkling lights. Yet, this time of year can also mean vying for the last parking spot at the mall, enduring checkout lines and checking off long to-do lists. If you're feeling more frazzled than festive - get back to the reason for the season! Gather friends and family close and host an intimate gathering to celebrate each other and holiday joys. In keeping with the easy, everyday gourmet style for which "A Well-Seasoned Kitchen" is known, I'm pleased to share an entire menu of make-ahead dishes that will allow your guests - and you - to relax and enjoy.

If you want more make-ahead inspiration for Christmas morning or your New Year's Eve menu, pick up a copy of the cookbook at Colorado retailers, on Amazon.com or via our website. And, if you're seeking the perfect gift - look no further. We can wrap "A Well-Seasoned Kitchen" in the paper of your choosing and ship direct! How easy is that?

Wishing you a delicious holiday season!

Lee

Lee Clayton Roper

P.S. Check out our coupon code for free shipping when you shop www.seasonedkitchen.com!

Sophisticated and stress-free
Our make-ahead menu makes for easy holiday entertaining

When you're feeling stretched and stressed at the holidays - it's time to simplify. Host an intimate dinner with a couple of close friends and family to toast one another's company and the ties that bind us together. You may think that planning a dinner party amidst the holidays is impossible, but it really couldn't be any easier! With an entire menu of make-ahead dishes, you can host your dinner gathering and be assured you'll enjoy it, too. An added bonus? Holiday decorations provide immediate ambiance. Find the entire menu and the recipes on our website.

Make-Ahead Holiday Menu

Begin with Palmiers aux Fromages, an appetizer that serves as a delicious and beautiful alternative to traditional cheese and crackers.

Boeuf Bourguignon makes a statement, yet this make-ahead version brings all of the flavor of Julia Child's original but takes a fraction of the time. Get ready for the ooh's and aah's that this dish elicits! Mashed potatoes make the perfect accompaniment.

A French main dish deserves an equally French salad! This Festive Mixed Green Salad features a Dijon cranberry viniagrette.

What's better than breaking bread with friends? Breaking bread that's been prepared with melted butter and a tangy cheese! Don't expect any of these Cheese Rolls to be left in the basket.

End the dinner on a note to remember with gooey and delicious Warm Chocolate Cakes. This make-ahead dish is easy to prepare, a cinch to bake and a treat to eat.

The recipes sound fancy, but this menu is simple as can be. To make it even easier, read the Countdown to Dinner below.

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Countdown to your holiday soiree

With a little pre-planning, it's easy to host an intimate and festive dinner party.

Here's a step-by-step plan for my Make-Ahead Holiday Menu!

Up to a month before the dinner

Prepare the Palmiers aux Fromages appetizer. Simply prepare and freeze according to the recipe instructions.

Four days ahead

Prepare the traditional French Dijon vinaigrette dressing to pair with the Festive Mixed Green Salad with cranberries.

One day ahead

Bake the Cheese Rolls. Make the Boeuf Bourguignon recipe through the simmering step. Cover and keep in the refrigerator.

Hours ahead

A few hours before the dinner party, make the mashed potatoes. Store in the fridge. Prepare the batter for the Warm Chocolate Cakes. Thaw the pre-made Palmiers aux Fromages.

Simply serve!

Attend to the last minute details. Bake the Palmiers aux Fromages. Finish the Boeuf Bourguignon. Dress the salad. Warm the mashed potatoes. Serve the rolls. Bake the prepared Warm Chocolate Cake ramekins. Serve yourself a glass of wine and enjoy the magic of the holidays!

A cookbook that celebrates family and food

"A Well-Seasoned Kitchen" is a recipe treasury for all cooks who cherish creating delicious meals to nourish relationships with family and friends. The cookbook was written by Lee Clayton Roper and her mother Sally. The Claytons have long been known for effortless style and smart sensibility when it comes to home cooking and entertaining. So, when Sally began to suffer from the effects of osteoporosis and memory loss, it was natural for Lee to to engage her mother through memories of their shared times in the kitchen. The result of their effort is "A Well-Seasoned Kitchen," a cookbook of classic recipes for today's contemporary cook.

The hardcover cookbook includes 186 recipes, planning menus and helpful tips on 272 pages that feature delicious photos of some of Sally and Lee's favorite dishes. Renowned food photographer Laurie Smith, whose pictures have appeared in Saveur, Food & Wine and many other esteemed publications, shot the photos for "A Well-Seasoned Kitchen."