Celebrate the holidays at your library

Short on money this year? Need help finding ideas for gifts to make, recipes for meals, decorating ideas? Why not explore your Summit County Library for great books and DVDs to help you celebrate the holidays this year. With Thanksgiving approaching, maybe you need to see someone else prepare Thanksgiving dinner, why not download to your computer or check out the DVD Jacques Pepin's “Thanksgiving Celebration.” Pepin demonstrates how to prepare Thanksgiving dinner with a menu that includes roasted turkey with apple cider glaze and bread and mushroom stuffing. Maybe you're a vegetarian, try the book “Vegetarian Times Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook” for recipes for your vegetarian Thanksgiving.

Are you celebrating Hanukkah? Try our book “The Jewish Holiday Kitchen” by Joan Nathan. Find recipes for potato latkes or make Aunt Lisl's butter cookies and many others, or try “The Hadassah Jewish Holiday Cookbook: traditional recipes from Contemporary Kosher Kitchens” which covers the seasons through the year with a special section for Hanukkah, and of special interest: Hanukkah Gelt Chocolate Fudge Cake.

Want to try your hand at making your own decorations, cards and gifts? Check out the book “A Greener Christmas” by Goldsmith, which suggests using energy-efficient lights, making spiced orange decorations or giving plant cuttings or eco gifts. A brand new book, which helps you make edible works of art is called “The Flour Pot Christmas Cookie Book” by Margie Greenberg. Interested in making your own Christmas decorations try these books: “Christmas Ornaments Made Easy” by Jane Johnson for great cloth, or wood ornaments; “Holiday Decorations” by Genevieve Sterbenz for wreath, stocking, and candle ideas; or “Good Housekeeping Christmas Joys” for great holiday recipes and decorating ideas; or for the children check out “The Merry Christmas Activity Book” by Jane Bull to make their own sparkly greetings or to cook up some gifts.

Finally if you're one of those people who enjoys baking and needs some inspiration for some holiday baked goods, check out the new “Woman's Day Christmas Cookies Candies & Cakes” for scrumptious recipes like Spice-Cookie Snowmen, Chocolate-Pecan Tassies or Raspberry Schnitten. Another great title for recipes and crafts is “Christmas Gifts of Good Taste” by Oxmoor House with over 200 recipes and crafts.

Looking for some holiday entertainment? When you do a search in the library's online catalog for Christmas DVDs a total of 69 titles appear. Try some of the classics like: “Miracle on 34th St.”; “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”; Frank Capra's “It's a Wonderful Life”; or “A Christmas Carol.” Want to see something new or different? Try these titles: “Jacques Pepin's Christmas Celebration”; “Rick Steves' European Christmas”; or “Christmas Time in South Park” and new classics like: “Polar Express”; “Olive the Other Reindeer”; or “Shrek the Halls.”