"While the celebration of Christmas once lasted for 12 days, now it seems to start in early October. Too often, the Christmas holidays can whimper to a close in January, and I like the idea of one final, festive night to enjoy the music, the candles and the confections of the most special season of the year." ~ Culinary Types

Asking a cook to pick out favorite recipes is an impossible request, like asking a mother to single out her favorite child. Our recipes, they're food bloggers' 'babies' and we love them all! Still, every year, a fresh round of "best recipes of 2008" posts crop up, helping our readers focus on the best of the best.

Tick, tock, tock, tick. New Year's Eve is fast approaching. Don't be caught without a collection of appetizer recipes. No party is complete without a cheesy appetizer or two, so here are a few recipe ideas from favorite food bloggers.

Thanksgiving --> Christmas --> New Years. Whew, it's a three-holiday marathon and the finish line is in sight. But before we can breathe deeply and get back to eating and sleeping normally, there's the way station known as New Year's Eve. Whether you're celebrating quietly at home or heading out for a big party, chances are, there's an appetizer in your future. Here are a few elegant ideas.

So you're going to save that Christmas ham bone, right? (Wait, you did get a bone-in ham, right? Right?? If not, next time, okay?) Whatever you do with the meat, once you're down to the bone, it's time to get out your biggest pot. We're gonnna cook and a ham bone, well, it's 100% flavor and it's 100% free.