This Cranberry Salad Recipe makes a sweet and creamy Thanksgiving side dish recipe or a light dessert. Made with fresh cranberries, pineapple, pecans and mini marshmallows, this cranberry salad is always a hit with the kids. And the best part is you can make this recipe in advance, leaving you more time to spend with the family.

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Cranberry Salad image by Stephanie Gallagher 2010, licensed to About.com Inc.

If people knew just how easy it is to make homemade Cranberry Sauce, nobody would ever buy the stuff in a can. Truly, it's that easy. This cranberry sauce recipe has just four ingredients and just three steps. How hard can it be? And there is nothing better to go with Thanksgiving turkey.

For more terrific cranberry recipes, see also:

• Cranberry Jello Salad - Another classic Thanksgiving side dish.
• Chocolate Cranberry Brownie Mix Cookies - Chocolate and cranberries are an excellent combination. Try this recipe, and you'll see why I say that.
• Cranberry Relish - Another super easy cranberry side dish. This one makes a great alternative to cranberry sauce.

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  Cranberry Sauce image by Stephanie Gallagher 2010, licensed to About.com Inc.

This collection of Christmas Cookies includes all of my family's favorites (well, most of them anyway - hey, we like a lotta cookies!). From classic gingerbread cookies (so soft and cinnamony) to the perfect breakfast cookie - my recipe for chocolate biscotti, these Christmas cookies will satisfy your family all season long.

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Gingerbread Cookies image by Stephanie Gallagher 2010, licensed to About.com Inc.

Tis the season for baking, and that means Christmas cookies! Don't want to bake tons of Christmas cookies yourself? No problem. Just Host a Cookie Exchange Party. You'll only have to bake one kind of cookie (to share with your friends) and you'll get lots of different cookies in return (to share with your family). It's a lot of fun, and some cookie exchange parties also include prizes. Others just share recipes or get together to nibble and socialize. The choice is yours.

Click here for cookie exchange party invitation ideas.

For the best cookies for a cookie exchange party, see these recipes:

• Soft Sugar Cookies - An easy drop sugar cookie that's perfect for cookie swaps.
• Soft Molasses Cookies - They taste like the holidays.
• Chocolate Crackle Cookies - Ideal for the chocolate-lovers at the party.

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Soft Molasses Cookies image by Stephanie Gallagher 2010, licensed to About.com Inc.