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Hello!
This holiday season my friends and I (all struggling students) decided to make baked goods to give to people that deserve a present but given our bank statements were not going to receive one. We plan on making a variety of different cookies, squares, peanut brittle, and other goodies.
My question is, how soon can we package these items to give out? Our idea was to put them in those cute little chinese take-out container boxes with cellophane inside. We would like to get started but I was just wondering what kind of expiration date baked goods had. Thanks!

Love the show!

My boyfriend and I have had lots of surprise guests dropping by our new house during the holiday season, and I'd like to have something tasty to offer them. Do you have any suggestions for quick, but impressive meals & desserts I can whip up for our unexpected visitors?

On the subject of baked goods, can you suggest some holiday cookie (or other small baked good) recipes that can be made ahead and baked later, or that will keep a couple of weeks?

Hello! We are hosting a holiday brunch for a crowd of 25, and I want to include menu items that won't need to be served hot -- this will give my guests something to eat while I keep an eye on the eggs! Can you suggest a quick and simple item that will be an asset to my menu?

I have 20 folks coming over for dinner on Christmas Eve and I need a good hot buffet dish that I can make. In the past I've made beef bourginon and short ribs, and even Martha's spinach and ricotta stuffed chicken breast, but I want to change things up a bit. Any suggestions?

I love the winter classics, especially sweets. The flavor of peppermint always fits nicely with the holidays, but I have never used it before in recipes. Could you describe some different uses for different types of mint and how I could add some to my favorite wintry foods and drinks?
Thanks and happy holidays!

Allie - help!
My homemade cookies just don't taste fresh when baked and packaged ahead of time.
I spend hours (make that days,) making every type of Christmas cookie from almond bars to spritz.
What are your trick of the trade to keep my goodies fresh and tasty?

Happy Holidays!

Hi Allie

Some of my Christmas Cookie recipes call for butter, some margarine and still others call for a Crisco type product... are these interchangable in recipes? What difference will it make to the finished product?

Happy Holidays!

I have a 7 month old daughter and have been trying to bake cookies etc for the holidays. I have some recipes where I can freeze the dough once it's made which lets me prepare the dough while entertaining my little one (tricky in itself!) and then bake them later while she's napping. Will all cookie recipes freeze well ? If not are there guidelines as to what kind of dough will work?
Thanks for your help!

All the holiday food seem so heavy. What are some ways to lighten up old favorites so my stomach doesn't feel like a sack of coal?

Allie,

I would love to make a nice but simple breakfast for our family on Christmas morning but don't want to be hovering over the stove while everyone else is opening presents and having fun. Can you recommend a delicious make-ahead breakfast dish that I can just pop in the oven?

Thanks so much!

Allie,

Can you give us a list of holiday pantry must-haves so that we can avoid all the last minute dashes through the snow to the store?

Thanks!

i'm planning to bake a lot of pies/tarts this holiday. i've always been curious as to why certain crust recipes call for eggs and some don't. What is your favorite all-around crust recipe? thanks so much!

Hi Allie, I'm having my first ever cocktail party at my first ever house. Could you suggest one or two appatizers that are both crowd pleasers and can be made ahead so I can still socialize with me guests? Thanks!

I'm wondering what time-saving tips you have for us in regards to holiday cooking. We get so busy this time of year, but it seems to be expected that we spend hours in the kitchen making cookies, candies, and holiday feasts. What can I do to be stress-free but still have a fabulous holiday spread?

Hello Allie,

This year instead of a traditional Christmas Dinner we are having a Christmas Brunch for 10 people. My mom and I are looking for some good Brunch ideas that reflect the holiday season.

Allie,

I love the show and the Everyday Food cookbook.

I'd love some great food gifts for neighbors and friends that aren't the typical cookies. We have made bread in the past, but we're looking for something different this year.

I adore nuts, and it seems like the holidays are the perfect time to bring them out. Chocolate hazelnut tortes, pecan pies, banana bread studded with toasted walnuts. Problem is, I do have guests who have nut allergies and can't have any of these delicious treats. I do try to accommodate them with other desserts, but you can only have so many gingersnaps. Do you have any suggestions for ways to replace nuts in some holiday recipes, or great recipes that don't incorporate nuts? I could always substitute nuts with chocolate chips I suppose, but something is lost there. Thanks!

What's the best way to put together holiday gift baskets? I have some quince jam I made recently and thought I would start with that, plus small rounds of bread for each basket, but I'm at a loss for what else to put in them. Do you have any ideas or recipes for great holiday baskets?
Thank you!

Hey Allie,

I've been wondering this for a while now. Despite not overworking my pie dough and keeping the ingredients very cold, not stretching it into the pan, and letting it chill for at least an hour, it still shrinks quite a bit. Overall, it looks great and is quite flaky, I just can't get it to not shrink drastically for pies and especially for tarts. What should I do?