Their First Christmas

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f you're newly married, deciding where to spend Christmasdinner can be a challenge. Tim and Elizabeth Griffin solved thematter by starting their own tradition and inviting over a fewcouples for a laid-back get-together at their home in Little Rock,Arkansas. "These recipes are perfect for folks preparing Christmasdinner for the first time; they look special but are really easy tomake," explains Elizabeth. In fact, she recommends preparing the HolidayRoast With Gravy the day before. "Once the roast cools, I cutit into slices and then pour the gravy over the meat," she says. "Icover it with foil and refrigerate it overnight. The next day, Ipop it in the oven for about 45 minutes to reheat." The Griffinsencourage each couple to bring a bottle or two of wine for aninformal predinner tasting. Whether you're new to wine or a trueaficionado, there are loads of serving tips and pairing suggestionson the Foodand Wine Resource Guide.

• Holiday Roast With Gravy
• Holiday Pork Loin Roast
• Sautéed Brussels Sprouts With Apples
• Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
• White Chocolate-Cranberry Crème Brûlée
• White Chocolate-Banana Crème Brûlée
• Sugared Cranberries and Mint

This mouthwatering plate of holiday favorites may look fancy, but it's easy enough for even the novice cook to pull together with success.

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts With Apples elevates this often overlooked veggie to new and delicious heights. Even the skeptics on our Foods staff agreed that Brussels sprouts never looked or tasted so good.

Whole-berry cranberry sauce adds an unexpected layer of flavor to decadent White Chocolate-Cranberry Crème Brûlée.

"Their First Christmas" is from the November 2007 issue of Southern Living.