Foodie News - Holiday Highlights - Food Network

**FOOD NETWORK 2010 NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS**
FOOD NETWORK PREMIERES 29 BRAND-NEW HOLIDAY-THEMED EPISODES
‘Dear Food Network’ Answers Top 10 Turkey Day Queries; ‘Cupcake Wars’ Returns
Celebrate with Giada De Laurentiis, Ina Garten, Sandra Lee, Melissa d’Arabian and More

NEW YORK – October 19, 2010 – This holiday season, Food Network serves up all-new daytime and primetime shows with festive recipes, entertaining ideas and more. Eight Food Network stars help solve Turkey Day conundrums in Dear Food Network: Top 10 Thanksgiving Problems Solved, the one-hour primetime special premiering Saturday, November 13th at 9pm. Iron Chef America celebrates the holidays with a festive and bubbly battle premiering Sunday, December 5th at 10pm, and popular competition series Cupcake Wars returns for a second season just in time for the holidays on Tuesday, December 7th at 9pm. “In the Kitchen” daytime favorites like Giada De Laurentiis, Ina Garten, and Claire Robinson bring in the holidays throughout November and December. Plus, FoodNetwork.com features exclusive Thanksgiving videos, entertaining tips and scrumptious holiday recipes from Paula Deen, Alton Brown, the Neelys, Tyler Florence and more. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

NOVEMBER

PRIMETIME
Highlights of primetime holiday programming are outlined below. Additionally, Food Network airs all-new holiday-themed episodes of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, Food Feuds, Good Eats, Outrageous Food, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, and Unwrapped.

Dear Food Network
Premieres Saturday, November 13th at 9pm
“Top 10 Thanksgiving Problems Solved”
Food Network stars save Thanksgiving once again by answering viewer questions and dishing up fantastic recipes destined to become new family favorites. Aaron McCargo Jr., Aarón Sánchez, Alex Guarnaschelli, Chris Cosentino, Claire Robinson, Melissa d’Arabian, and Sandra Lee count down the most common Turkey Day questions as searched on FoodNetwork.com.

Food Network Challenge
Premieres Sunday, November 14th at 8pm
“Thanksgiving Family Face-Off”
Four regular families visit the Challenge studios to prove their Thanksgiving meal is the best around. A distant loved one must come to assist them cook up the feast, and one very happy family takes home $10,000.

The Next Iron Chef
Premieres Sunday, November 21st at 9pm – SEASON FINALE!
“Honor”
After a season packed with grueling challenges, only two chefs remain to battle it out for the ultimate culinary title of Iron Chef. The challengers head to New York for a Thanksgiving-themed showdown in legendary Kitchen Stadium where they face a true Iron Chef challenge: prepare five creative and delicious dishes in 60 minutes using the always-feared Secret Ingredient. In addition to the season’s three judges, the finalists also try to impress special guest judges – Iron Chefs Bobby Flay and Masaharu Morimoto. In the end, only one chef will reign supreme to earn the title of The Next Iron Chef.

Ace of Cakes
Premieres Saturday, November 27th at 10pm
“Holidays on Icing”
Charm City Cakes gets in the holiday spirit by decking the halls, sipping the eggnog and hitting the golf course. The bakery staff chops a tree, decorates ornaments and sneaks around town playing Secret Santa. Plus, Duff whips up a batch of his infamous eggnog until evil Christmas elves cause some wedding cake damage.
Food Network Challenge
Premieres Sunday, November 28th at 8pm
“Holiday Windows”
Three teams of artistic pastry chefs transform boring storefront windows into edible holiday wonderlands. The team that can create, transport and install the best holiday window display takes home a $10,000 prize.

Chopped
Premieres Sunday, November 28th at 9pm
“Yes Virginia, There Is a Chopping Block”
In honor of the holidays, the chefs stick with a seasonal theme, but gauging from the first basket, the competitors quickly learn they need to veer from tradition. In the Entrée Round, things get loosey-goosey when the chefs must butcher a big bird and use a cloyingly sweet jarred fruit. When both finalists want to use the only microwave to speed things along in the Dessert Round, some holiday bickering ensues.

DAYTIME
Highlights of daytime holiday programming are outlined below. In addition, Food Network airs all-new holiday-themed episodes of 30 Minute Meals, Barefoot Contessa, Big Daddy’s House, Cooking for Real, Giada at Home, Guy’s Big Bite, Nigella Kitchen, Paula’s Best Dishes, Sandra’s Money Saving Meals.

5 Ingredient Fix
Premieres Saturday, November 13th at 10am
“Thanksgiving”
For a five ingredient Thanksgiving, Claire shares her most favorite recipes along with a two-day breakdown of the menu, shopping list and Turkey Day tips to help everyone enjoy the holiday. In this one-hour special, she prepares an easy and delicious meal that includes a Classic Turkey in 5 along with a rich Southern Egg Gravy. Everyone loves Thanksgiving sides, so Claire makes a flaky Brie and Onion Puff and Pecan Bars to satisfy every guest at the feast.

Barefoot Contessa
Premieres Saturday, November 13th at 1:30pm
“Thanksgiving Potluck”
Ina goes back to basics on Thanksgiving pot luck parties. First, Ina prepares a fool-proof, no-stress Turkey Roulade, with easy sides like Roasted Vegetables, Cranberry Conserve, and Homemade Gravy. For dessert, Ina whips up Gingerbread Cupcakes with Orange Frosting plus a festive table setting created by Ina's new stylist Robert Ruffino.

Alex’s Day Off
Premieres Sunday, November 14th at 9:30am
“An Early Thanksgiving”
Alex celebrates an early Thanksgiving with some of her close friends featuring family traditions and some new additions. Alex grew up with family traditions like her Sugar-Cranberry Pie with a flaky homemade crust and tangy cranberry filling. The centerpiece, a golden Turkey, is paired with a Sourdough and Spicy Sausage Stuffing. Plus, a Stovetop Green Bean Casserole topped with fried shallots.

Dessert First with Anne Thornton
Premieres Sunday, November 14th at 12pm
“Thanksgiving Desserts”
Anne transforms traditional Thanksgiving desserts with a unique and indulgent touch. She starts with scrumptious Pumpkin Maple Pecan Cheesecake baked with crumbled graham crackers, nutmeg and maple syrup. Filled with thinly-sliced Golden Delicious apples, Anne’s impressive Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie serves as a mouth-watering Turkey Day option.

Ten Dollar Dinners
Premieres Sunday, November 14th at 12:30pm
“Thanksgiving”
Melissa d'Arabian gets creative with classic Thanksgiving dishes to prepare an entirely new dinner menu to use up all those leftovers. Crunchy and cheesy Turkey Taquitos make the perfect salty foil for sweet and tangy Cranberry Salsa. For dessert, baked Sweet Potato Empanadas get a dusting of cinnamon-sugar and a dollop of creamy yogurt.

DECEMBER

PRIMETIME

Iron Chef America
Premieres Sunday, December 5th at 10pm
“Garces vs. Lata”
The Chairman celebrates the holiday season with a festive battle. Charleston, S.C. chef Mike Lata of FIG (Food is Good) enters Kitchen Stadium to take on Iron Chef Jose Garces. Will Chef Lata's food be impressive enough to topple the towering Iron Chef Garces?

The Best Thing I Ever Made for the Holidays
Premieres Monday, December 6th at 9pm
From succulent juicy prime rib to sweet delicious butter tarts and a sizzling crispy rack of pork, Food Network stars Cat Cora, Aarón Sánchez, Ted Allen and more welcome viewers into their homes while they create mouth-watering dishes for the holidays.

Cupcake Wars
Premieres Tuesday, December 7th at 9pm – SEASON PREMIERE!
In the season two premiere, four talented cupcake bakers from across the country vie for the chance to take home $10,000 and have their decadent displays featured at a star-studded holiday tree lighting ceremony in the heart of Hollywood.

Food Network Challenge
Premieres Sunday, December 19th at 8pm
“Sugar Destinations”
Four top pastry chefs board a seven-day cruise to four ports of call. The competitors must design a colorful sugar and candy showpiece inspired by shore excursions found at each destination. Then the chefs visit Food Network Challenge studios and attempt to create their sugar showpiece in hope of winning $10,000.

DAYTIME

5 Ingredient Fix
Premieres Saturday, December 4th at 10:30am
“Posh Potluck”
For the ultimate pot-luck menu, Claire serves up scrumptious dishes such as a warm and thick Butternut Squash Soup. She also prepares a sweet and tender Roasted Chicken with Pomegranate Molasses that pairs perfectly with Rice Pilaf. For a decadent dessert, Claire makes her Chocolate Truffles sure to satisfy even the pickiest of guests.

Down Home with the Neelys
Premieres Saturday, December 4th at 11am
“Holiday Time”
It's 'Holiday Time' in Tennessee, and the Neelys share the food wealth with some near and dear senior citizens. Their flavorful Grilled Holiday Honey Ham pairs perfectly with two scrumptious sides of Roasted Asparagus with Mustard Vinaigrette and Crumbled Feta and garlicky Holiday Wreath Rolls. Finally, everyone gets a pair of melt-in-your-mouth Gingerbread Cookies.

Secrets of a Restaurant Chef
Premieres Saturday, December 4th at 12:30pm
“The Secrets to Standing Rib Roast”
Anne pulls out all the stops with an impressive menu perfect for the holidays. Standing Rib Roast makes a mouthwatering centerpiece, and cheesy Smashed Potato Gratin adds a creamy and indulgent touch. Molten Chocolate Cake with Crushed Candy Cane serves as a festive twist on a classic crowd-pleaser.

Giada’s Family Christmas
Premieres Saturday, December 4th at 1pm
Giada and her family celebrate the holidays at Aunt Raffy's house in Aspen where fun-filled days in the snowy mountains end with family meals and amazing food. In the one-hour special, they prepare a delicious Straccoto (Italian Pot Roast), and a honey Italian Struffoli for a sweet dessert. To start the morning off right, the family makes a special holiday French Toast that will keep everyone full of good cheer throughout the day.

Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee
Premieres Sunday, December 5th at 11:30am
“White Christmas”
Sandra and her sister prepare a holiday feast to make the winter days sparkle. Sandra begins the festive menu with a Macadamia Nut Crusted Goat Cheese and cooks up Pork Crown Roast with Royal Glaze and an amazing Roasted Parsnip Medley. They whip up 'Snowy' Angel Food Cakes for dessert and White Chocolate Egg Nog for cocktail time.

Dessert First with Anne Thornton
Premieres Sunday, December 5th at 12pm
“Anne’s Christmas”
Tis’ the season to eat dessert first! Anne whips up the perfect Christmas dessert menu starting with Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Cake, a cool and delectable treat filled with crushed peppermint candies and topped with a luscious chocolatey glaze. Then, Anne prepares three easy and edible holiday gifts: Russian Tea Cakes featuring salted pecans and a dusting of powdered sugar, Fabulous Fudge packed with chocolate chips, and festive Christmas Cookies with a super simple icing!

Mexican Made Easy
Premieres Saturday, December 11th at 9:30am
“My Favorite Holiday Dishes”
Marcela shares some of her holiday favorites like a flavor-packed Avocado and Cilantro Mousse. Spicy and tangy Roasted Pork Loin with Pineapple Glaze pairs perfectly with Marcela’s rice with ancho chiles and pine nuts. To round out this tasty menu, she prepares an Easy Mexican Chocolate Soufflé.

Barefoot in London
Premieres Saturday, December 11th at 1pm
Ina Garten explores the London food scene in a dazzling all-new one hour holiday special. Inspired by her delicious discoveries, Ina conjures up a savory Sausage and Mash, mouth-watering Iberico Ham and Figs, and a refreshing Middle Eastern Salad. To top off the meal, she makes sweet Chocolate Bark.