Playful and dazzling desserts include meringue mushrooms, which look just like the real thing, and a Birch de Noel made of chocolate and cream, laid out like a Yuletide log. Household decorating hints are both clever and simple, including the strategic placing of colorful bowls of fruits and candies on shelves, and the embellishing of homemade wreaths with colorful balls (small, pink ones from Japan are oddly magical), candy, and popcorn. A section on Hanukkah gifts and foods includes a nice idea for filling embossed bags with candies, and a variation on traditional potato pancakes that includes adding strips of carrots and parsnips. Suggestions for making gifts and wrapping round out this very pleasant disc. --Tom Keogh

Product Description
Bring Martha Stewart home for the holidays! This DVD offers everything one could need for the perfect holiday season. Includes traditional and non-traditional recipes for Christmas dinner, Hanukkah, and holiday baking, plus holiday decorating tips, handmade ornament ideas, as well as gift wrapping ideas.

DVD Features:
DVD ROM Features:Printable recipes and how-to instructions, Marshmallow stars, Holiday Planner, Christmas Trees 101, "Ask Marc" Holiday Pet tips, Christmas Cookie Glossary, Plus 13 Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipes
Other:Bonus video: Martha's Classic Eggnog, Collecting Christmas Ornaments, Old-Fashioned Sleigh Bells, Inside Boston Candy Kitchen Bonus tips & techniques: 10 helpful how-to demonstrations

Also on the disc are guides for making several fantastic stuffing dishes, the most dazzling of all a pumpkin challah bread stuffing and a fruit-and-nut stuffing recipe that begins with the soaking of apricots and prunes in bourbon--and just gets better from there. Side dishes include a mouth-watering garlic-horseradish mashed potato dish, and the fascinating "Native American Succotash," a brilliantly colored dish that requires little but veggies themselves. As for desserts: the rustic apple tarts are spectacular and look easy to make in Stewart's kitchen, but the cranberry-pistachio biscotti could be enough to make a grown man weep. There are sections, too, on settings and centerpieces (the gourd candle holders sound silly but look great) as well as kids' crafts. Fun to watch, learn from, or just dream by, The Martha Stewart Holiday Collection: Martha's Classic Thanksgiving is a good thing. --Tom Keogh

Product Description
Let Martha Stewart make your Thanksgiving the most special one yet. This DVD covers the traditional Thanksgiving basics plus offers more ideas for those interested in trying something new. Includes turkey, stuffing, side dish and dessert recipes, centerpiece, table setting and decorating ideas and Thanksgiving crafts for kids.

DVD Features:
DVD ROM Features:Printable recipes and how-to instructions Raffia Cornucopia Thanksgiving Planner 6 Gravy Tips Turkey Trivia Place Card Thanksgiving Clip-Art Place Cards
Other:Bonus video: How to Carve a Turkey Classic Turkey Platter Presentation Cranberry Bog Field Trip 10 Helpful How-To Demonstrations