They say timing is everything, and that’s especially true when planning a holiday feast. Find out our top tips for making celebrations a breeze.

Today’s quiz: Which common culinary spice brings feelings of cozy warmth and fills the kitchen with its sweet aroma while baking? Here’s a hint: No apple pie would dare be caught without it. If you guessed cinnamon, you’d get an A!

Cinnamon has been used by many cultures around the world for centuries. It is actually the bark of the cinnamon tree, a kind of evergreen. Native to Sri Lanka, Mediterranean spice traders kept its source a mystery to protect their monopoly. Cinnamon made it’s way to Egypt as early as 2000 BC and is now grown in a number of countries.

There are many varieties of cinnamon, but the two most familiar are Ceylon cinnamon, which is considered to be true cinnamon, and cassia, sold as Chinese, Vietnamese or Indonesian cinnamon. The two are used interchangeably in cooking as the difference in taste and aroma is very subtle. Read the rest of this entry »

The holiday season is the last time you need added stress and complications so in every one of our stores, you will find a “Holiday Table” with real people who can help. This table is basically “holiday central” for Whole Foods Market. You can order everything from a turkey to dinner rolls to a full holiday meal. This is the place for selecting party trays, pies and an exceptional selection of side dishes.

So, the next time you’re in our store, before you let yourself get overwhelmed, steer your cart to the Holiday Table and relax. There are plenty of choices and everything on the menu is made with ingredients you can count on; the same high quality ingredients and the same standards that apply in our aisles, including no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives, and no hydrogenated fats. Hallelujah!

And if you want to skip the Holiday Table in person, you may be able to visit it virtually. Some locations offer online ordering.

Learn about the art of the Affineur from a world-renowned master, Hervé Mons who discusses the business practices of Mansion Mons as well as their Tommes de Bois Noir goat’s milk cheese.

Traveling for the holidays can be appealing, but let’s be honest…not all of us can afford a trip to Europe, South America or even northern California. You can take a journey by bottle instead of by plane with our “top notch wines at easy-to-swallow prices.”

Your vinous passport to so many wonderful places minus the flight delays and inclement weather and – get this – all for under $15 a bottle. Now THAT is a deal that can’t be beat! Read the rest of this entry »

It’s November 5th and Thanksgiving Day is exactly three weeks away. (Cue Psycho-esque scary music here.) Whether you will be serving a house full of guests or a special dinner for two, preparing your kitchen ahead of time and thinking through your entertaining plan of action now can definitely save last-minute hassles on the big day.

Here are some of our ideas and tips for getting ready for the impending holiday crunch. Read the rest of this entry »

Busy, busy, busy – that’s what it’s been like around here as we tested recipes, searched out unique gifts and pulled together our very best tips to help you get ready for a memorable holiday season. Here’s a sampling of what we’ll be sharing with you on our blog over the coming weeks. Check out our introductory holiday video featuring Top Chef Season 5 winner Hosea Rosenberg and explore our great tips, recipes and creative ideas for taking this holiday season to a new level of taste.

Find meaning in the present with our fantastic selection of holiday gifts.

Everything to do your party good, from wine pairings to holiday decor.

Helpful tips that will make your holidays easier & your guests happier.

Get the goodness in every bite with our holiday recipes and menu ideas.

All Things Good. We hope you’ll make us your “go to” bookmark for all your holiday needs.

I was flipping through the October-November issue of The Whole Deal and this money-saving tip caught my eye (I wrote the piece months ago, so I’d almost forgotten it):

Make Décor do Double Duty. Decorate your table with winter squash, fresh herbs, citrus, apples, pears, pomegranates and nuts, and then use them in recipes. Read the rest of this entry »

Wow, we’ve got some creative shortcut chefs out there, chock full of creative ideas for saving time in the kitchen without sacrificing quality. From stocking up on fresh veggies in season and freezing them yourselves to inventive uses of rotisserie chicken to “cheating” with our Prepared Foods and Bakery selection – there’s lots of wonderful ways to save both time and money in our dinnertime pursuits.

And without further ado, this week’s randomly selected* winner…

Denice H:

If I am in need of a quick meal, I turn to soup. It is healthy, tastful, and easy. However, all the chopping,washing,peeling of the vegetables can be a pain. Instead I just open a jar of good quality mild salsa and add it to chicken stock. It is a great, quick foundation for many soups. It already has the mirepoix plus a nice small amount of heat.

Denice will be receiving a $100 gift card! We hope you enjoyed “value contest month” on our blog during October. For more giveaways, check out our Facebook Fridays and Twitter Thursdays for more weekly contests throughout the holidays.

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* This comment was randomly chosen using random.org.

In Part 2 of our series on natural health during cold and flu season, we’ll hear about how the immune system works, which supplements have been shown to support wellness, and some of the best ways to help maintain health year-round. Malia Curran, MS, MPH is a nutrition consultant and speaker, and sees clients in the Denver, CO area.

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