
Fewer
restaurant patrons, more
recession dining specials: If you've dined out at all in the past year, it's been impossible not to notice the impact that the
economy's had on the restaurant industry. The latest development? Establishments have begun
charging patrons for bread.

Last week, I woke up (no surprises here) slightly hungover. It seems I had played one three too many rounds of beer pong. As I lay in bed, my head pounding, I suddenly realized I was in the best place in the world to be hungover: my parents' house — where the fridge was always stocked!

Instead of hosting a crazy party on New Year's Eve, invite friends and family over for a decadent lunch on Jan. 1. Begin the soirée in the early afternoon (around 2:30) to allow late-night partygoers plenty of time to recover.

This year instead of hosting a formal
Hanukkah dinner, invite friends over for a festive happy hour. Serve guests a selection of vegetable latkes with a buffet of traditional toppings like applesauce, sour cream, and smoked salmon.
Classic potato latkes are delicious alongside cauliflower curry latkes.

On Christmas Eve it's customary for Italians to consume seafood for dinner; they enjoy course after course of rich fish items. Although my family has Irish origins, I thought it would be fun to plan an Italian-style Christmas Eve — this year we'll be eating seven delicious seafood dishes. To get the party started we'll have raw oysters and cold, marinated anchovies waiting for the guests.

One of my favorite soups of all time is avgolemono, a traditional
Greek soup made of lemon, chicken, and eggs. I love it so much that even when I'm not in the mood for steaming-hot
soup, I'll still search for something else (like a pasta) that incorporates the same creamy, tangy flavors.
This
chicken, plated with orzo, carrots, and avgolemono sauce, is exactly the type of recipe I'd turn to.

Shopping for a couple who recently got married can be difficult because chances are, they've received a lot of kitchen gifts at their wedding. Look for original and creative gifts that wouldn't necessarily be on a registry. A
couples cooking class allows them to learn something new together.

The holidays are a great time to break out the old punch bowl. I'll be dusting off mine Friday for
a tree-trimming party and filling it with this sparkling pomegranate punch. Made with
Prosecco and no hard alcohol, this red-hued concoction is a sublime blend of pomegranate juice, fresh squeezed orange juice, and limeade.

I've
invited some friends over this Friday for a holiday cocktail party. Since everyone (including moi!) will be attending a jewelry sample sale before, the snacks must be prepared in advance. Crostini with lentil and green olive spread can be made the night before the party.

Many people think that serving your family a classic, delicious
Thanksgiving requires days of work in the kitchen. However, with a little culinary savviness, one can make a complete
meal in a couple of hours. Pick up store-bought snacks to tide over your crowd until turkey time.