All Time Best Holiday Entertaining

Book excerpt: Celebrations call for meals that impress, and with thousands of meticulously tested recipes to our name, the experts at Cook's Illustrated are no strangers to pulling off a great holiday feast. In this timeless collection, we have gathered 75 spectacular, foolproof recipes from over 20 years of testing to help you confidently pull off a holiday meal to remember. Chapters devoted to each course (Starters, Centerpieces, Shareable Sides, and Sweet Endings) make planning easy, whether you're ­feasting with extended family, hosting a small-scale celebration, or simply bringing along a standout dish. Reimaging the Thanksgiving table? Find that new go-to side, such as Roasted Cauliflower Gratin or Wild Rice Pilaf with Pecans and Cranberries. Baking Christmas cookies or other treats for gift-giving? You'll find the perfect cookie recipes (butter and gingerbread) as well as a foolproof method for producing luscious Chocolate Truffles. Hosting an intimate New Year's Eve dinner? Our showstopper recipes, whether a Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake, Italian-style Porchetta, or Boneless Rib Roast with Yorkshire Pudding, guarantee success. Invite Cook's Illustrated to your holiday table this year and watch new traditions take root.