"holiday desserts" news and stories

• It's Thanksgiving, and the magazine has a ton of great ideas.
• America's great wines to serve this holiday.
• Some easy recipes for foods to give as gifts this season.
• Jacques Pepin's favorite holiday desserts.
• A visit to the cooking school at Mexico's Rancho La Puerta spa.
• Here's the next great food destination in Las Vegas.
• The secrets of a cocktail master.
• This month's recipes include: Chicken Liver Pate' with Pistachios, Ginger Beef and Pork Toasts, Caramelized Onion and Toasted Bread Soup, Creamy Potatoes with Bacon, Applesauce Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake, Best Ever Nut Brittle, and Santa's Little Helper.

I just got off the phone with my sister. Looks like we're doing something different for Christmas this year. Instead of the usual turkey and stuffing and veggies, we're going with a mix: a ham, lasagna, casseroles, green bean salad, antipasto. Oh, and desserts. Lots and lots of desserts, including a half dozen different pies, brownies, cookies, candy, and other things. Whatever progress I made exercising the past few weeks is going to vanish, quickly.

But desserts don't have to be bad for you. This Food & Wine slideshow has pics and recipes for 32 different desserts you can make for the holidays and not feel guilty (well, not completely guilty anyway), including a Melon Sorbet, a warm Citrus Gratin with Toasted Almonds, Dark Chocolate Bark with Walnuts and Black Cherries, and Banana Souffles. Not all of the desserts are low fat, but the ones that aren't still have a lot of good things in them.

The site also has some ideas for healthy holiday meals from cookbook author Melissa Clark.

Find Christmas dessert recipes by Gail Simmons and Christmas recipes on KitchenDaily.