I love the holidays!  My mother always would cook a big family meal, and I like to do the same.  Even if our family is invited to have Thanksgiving dinner with my cousins, I plan on cooking a turkey the next day!  The menus listed here are my favorites for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and a Summer BBQ.  I don't want to be totally frazzled when guests arrive, so I do as much prep work as I can in advance.

Halloween

Spider Eggs

Thanksgiving   

Clam Dip  Make the dip day before and serve with carrots and celery 

Turkey and Gravy Take out the giblets and make the gravy the day before.  Save the turkey remains to make Turkey Noodle Soup  the next day.

Bread Stuffing with Celery and Onions

String Beans or Frozen Green Peas

Caramelized Corn with Parsley

Chili-glazed Sweet Potatoes - I love sweet potatoes, but my husband does not.  I'm going to try this recipe from Sunset Magazine to see if it is more to his tastes.

Mashed Potatoes 

Cranberry Sauce 

Pear & Walnut Salad

Pumpkin Pie (crust)

Christmas Morning

No Fail Egg Soufflé

Christmas Dinner

Christmas Salad -pomegranate seeds, spinach, and avocado make a colorful Christmas salad 

Standing Rib Roast with Zinfandel Sauce.  Make the sauce 1 - 3 days before

Scalloped Potatoes

Steamed Green Beans - Trim the beans the day before

Apple Pie (crust  for double crust pie) with Vanilla Ice Cream or Gingerbread.  Make the pie the day before; the gingerbread can be make 3 days in advance.

Summer BBQ

Watermelon Appetizer - very easy!

Guacamole, Salsa, and Chips - make your own guacamole, but salsa and chips may be purchased if time is a factor,

Corn on the Cob - I like  fresh yellow corn –  it is not as sweet as white, and I think it has a much better taste.

Potato Salad

Cornbread - make in a iron frying pan

BBQ Chicken for a Crowd

Ice Cream Sundaes - serve with sliced strawberries, hot fudge, nuts, whipped cream, boysenberries, and anything else that strikes your fancy.