Homemade Gift Giving Pick up some entertaining tips, courtesy of Lou Seibert Pappas. Click here . The beginning cook must know by now that once you start cooking, it's hard to stop, especially when the holidays come around. Once you calm down and read through some of the recipes typical for this season, you'll see that they're not all that difficult when taken one at a time. A turkey goes in the oven and will cook even if you ignore it.
Side dishes can also hide in the oven and cook for a long time.
Wild rice is perfect for new cooks. First of all, it's expensive, so your guests will be awed that you thought of them so highly. By the time you're done, you'll be able to inform everyone that it's not a rice at all but an aquatic grass. Practice saying Zizania aquatica . Because of its nuttiness, wild rice goes nicely with almonds, pecans, pistachios, cashews or walnuts.