Table of contents for Holiday Special 2017 in People

The holidays are a time for family, friends, food and fun. In this special issue from the editors of People, stars and chefs share genius party ideas and delicious recipes to help you create lasting memories during the season. Whether you’re planning a cookie swap, throwing a cocktail party (see Clinton Kelly’s Big-Batch Punches, page 62) or cooking a festive feast, we provide all the tools to make your next gathering merry and bright. So get cozy on the couch, sip onsome eggnog (see page 9), and be ready to catch the spirit!…

1. Ask For Help: “People always ask, ‘What do you want me to bring?’” says Ray. “You say, ‘Oh, nothing.’ That’s stupid; just be honest. Tell them.” 2. Keep the Table Simple: “I’m very basic. I don’t like a lot of junk on the table, because people don’t want it there,” she says. “They can’t see each other, and all they really want is the food.” 3. Find Your Peace: “The holidays are about giving, but you can’t give to other people unless you start with yourself. Pour a glass of wine, make a playlist. Do whatever you need to do to chill out.”…

CRISPY BAKED CHICKEN FINGERS “Knock these out at home, and you’ll transform a fast-food favorite into a truly healthy snack,” Ali says. 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 tsp. garlic powder 3⁄4 tsp. sea salt ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper ½ cup plainwhole-milk yogurt 1½ cups store-boughtwhole-grain or gluten-free breadcrumbs Unrefined coconut oil cooking spray Marinara sauce, ranch dressing, or ketchup, for serving 1.Cut tenders fromeach chicken breast, leaving tenders whole, and place in a large bowl.Cut remaining chicken into strips (about 3x1 inches) to equal 24 total fingers including tenders. Add garlic powder, salt and pepper to bowl, and toss to coat chicken. Add yogurt, and stir to coat chicken. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. 2. Preheat oven to 400°. Line a large baking sheet…

‘Whenever I bake, people go crazy and ask for more’’—Patti LaBelle Patti LaBelle likes to keep the holiday spirit alive all year round. “I feel like Thanksgiving and Christmas should be every day,” the 73-year-old singer says. “I cook every day for my family and friends, so it always feels like a special day inmy life.” While her style of entertaining is typically very casual, she does make an exception during the festive season. “Usually we all hold our plates in our hands, and we’re just walking around and chatting,” she says. “But this is the one time of year that everyone sits at the dining room table.” In her Philadelphia home, unexpected guests are constant—“it’s like drive-bys, honey,” she says—and no meal of LaBelle’s is complete without (at least)…

BUTTON-UP BLOUSE Take this traditionally business-casual piece up a notch by pairing it with shimmery suiting. A sequin jacket will add instant dazzle; then balance it out with a pant that features subtle sheen and black pumps. SEQUIN TANK Offset this blinged-out top with a printed mini in pastel hues. Finish the ensemble with chic, understated accessories, like a woven clutch and black stilettos. CAP-SLEEVE SHIRT Play up this top’s fluttery accents with a whimsical sequin pencil skirt. Metallic accessories, like a silver clutch and strappy sandals, complete the look. SHORT-SLEEVE SWEATER Turn this pretty knit into a black-tie outfit by tucking it into a voluminous ankle-length skirt; then add a matching clutch and embellished heels.…

What’s the ranch like during the holidays? It’s very relaxed. Christmas and Thanksgiving are the two days of the year where we know the spurs are going to stay off the boots because the family doesn’t have to work. It’s such a nice—and rare—treat! How do you decorate? Very low-key! I love nutcrackers, as I was a ballerina growing up. I love candles; the lighting is spiritual. And a real Christmas tree—I couldn’t live without the scent in my house. What’s your signature holiday dish? Cinnamon rolls, without a doubt. I’m a cinnamon roll evangelist. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? Charlie, my beloved, late basset hound. I actually “gave” him to [my husband] Ladd and the kids for Christmas, but he wound up being the dog of my…

Make Your Own FROZEN-WHIPPED-CREAM TOPPERS Use different cookie-cutter shapes—snowflakes, stars, initial letters — to personalize your drinks for the occasion. 2 cups very cold heavy cream 1 tsp. vanilla extract ¼ cup powdered sugar ½ tbsp. instant nonfat dry- milk powder 1. Beat cream and vanilla with an electric mixer on low speed until foamy, about 1 minute; increase speed to medium high, and gradually add sugar and milk powder, beating until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. 2. Immediately transfer whipped cream to a parchment-paper-lined 9 x 12-inch rimmed baking sheet, and spread into an even layer, filling almost entire pan. Place baking sheet in the freezer until mixture hardens, at least 3 hours or up to overnight. 3. Using 1½-inch holiday cookie cutters, cut out frozen whipped cream…

Molly Sims is a partyplanning pro, but that doesn’t mean she’s hosting six-course dinners every night. The supermodelandauthor of Everyday Chic: My Secrets for Entertaining, Organizing, and Decorating at Home says that “people are always popping over” to her Los Angeles home, so she prefers to keep it simple, even during the holidays. “I think it’s the most fun when a party is planned but not too planned,” Sims, 44, says. “Sometimes people don’t entertain because they think it’s too much work or they don’t have the right things. I always say, don’t overthink it.” For a low-key gathering, the mom of three relies on easy, pantry-based snacks and drinks likeher “no-fail nachos”andrefreshing Moscow mules. But more than anything, Simssays, the keyto agreat party of any kind is the company.…

Popcorn Sampler! SALTED CARAMEL 1 cup packed light brownsugar 8 tbsp. (4 oz.) unsalted butter 1 tsp. kosher salt 1⁄2 tsp. vanilla extract 8 cups popped popcorn Combine sugar and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until mixture bubbles and turns dark brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove fromheat, and stir in salt and vanilla. Spread popcorn in an even layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; drizzle with sugar mixture. Toss gently with a heatproof spatula, and let cool slightly, 2 to 3 minutes, before serving.Makes:8 cups BROWN BUTTER & HERB 6 tbsp. unsalted butter 1⁄2 tsp. dried basil 1⁄2 tsp. dried oregano 8 cups popped popcorn 11⁄2 tsp. kosher salt Heat butter in amedium skillet over medium, swirling occasionally, until golden…

Camila Alves McConaughey’s GIFTS $25 AND UNDER THE CO-OWNER OF YUMMY SPOONFULS FINDS AFFORDABLE (AND ADORABLE!) STOCKING STUFFERS Michael Symon’s FOODIE GIFTS THE CHEF AND COHOST OF THE CHEW CHOOSES HIS FAVORITE ITEMS FOR THE KITCHEN plan ahead Personalized items often take longer to be delivered, so order early to ensure your gift arrives on time! Jamie Chung’s CUSTOM GIFTS THE GIFTED STAR PICKS PRESENTS THAT CAN BE PERSONALIZED Russell Wilson's TECH GIFTS THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS QUARTERBACK AND BOSE BRAND AMBASSADOR SHARES HIS GO-TO GADGETS People Deal$ Buy a present, get a present! To kick off the gift-giving season, People teamed up with amazing retailers to offer exclusive freebies. Check out the fab finds below, and start shopping! GLOSSIER Receive a free Glossier tote bag when you spend $30…

RACHAEL & JOHN’S MENU CRANBERRY LAMBRUSCO COCKTAIL ANTIPASTO PLATTER PUMPKIN SOUP WITH BROWN BUTTER & SAGE ROASTED CAULIFLOWER & BROCCOLI GREEN BEANS WITH SHALLOTS SAUTEED GREENS WITH GARLIC WINE-BRINED TURKEY&GRAVY GARLICMASHED POTATOES OLIVE OIL CAKE WITH WARM LEMON CURD, ROASTED PEARS & MINT Maybe Rachael Ray is such a pro at hosting because she does it so often. “We use the holiday break to run kind of like an inn—a Holiday Inn,” jokes the culinary star, who spends the season with her husband, John Cusimano, at their Lake Luzerne, N.Y., cabin in the woods. “We invite people we don’t get to see a lot throughout the year, and we cook, do laundry and rotate the guests so we can try to get everybody in.” Their intimate gatherings always involve a…

HYGGE FOR THE HOLIDAYS Embrace the Danish movement dedicated to all things warm and cozy ALL-OUT GLAMOUR Stage a sparkling scene using a little glitz and a lot of glitter ByMackenzie Schmidt and Megan Stein CLASSIC CHRISTMAS Transport guests to the North Pole— no sleigh required…

Elizabeth Heiskell’s COLA-BROWN-SUGAR-GLAZED HAM The author of the What Can I Bring? cookbook says “lots of basting” is the key to a glossy, lacquered finish 2 cups packed light brown sugar 1 (12-oz.) can cola soft drink ½ cup spicy brown mustard 3 tbsp. orange zest, plus ¼ cup fresh juice (from 4 oranges) 1 (15- to 18-lb.) fully cooked, bone-in spiral-cut ham 1. Preheat oven to 275°. Stir together brown sugar, cola soft drink, mustard, orange zest and orange juice in a medium saucepan over medium low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar melts, about 10 minutes. 2. Place ham on a heavy-duty aluminum-foillined, large rimmed baking sheet or in a shallow roasting pan. Brush ham with 11⁄ 3 cups of the brown-sugar mixture. Bake ham in oven…

Style Tip When going for one of these eye-popping pairs, finish the look with a few great basics. Kate Bosworth chose Tabitha Simmons crochet flats—that sell for $745!—to add pizzazz to her Brock Collection LBD. Style Tip Wearing a dress? Stay warm in opaque tights, which pair perfectly with these closed-toe options.…

Pour your go-to skin care in spill-resistant containers. Transport products in a chic case that can double as an evening clutch. This volumizing formula also absorbs oil to extend blowouts. SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE WITH WIPES! These disposable (disaster-proof!) pads make it easy to leave your favorite liquid formulas at home.…