So you thought it was going to be a lot of work, all this holiday cooking? We know, just thinking about it can be exhausting. The spirit of fussy Martha Stewart dueling with the ghost of drop-the-turkey-on-the-floor Julia Child? Top Chef duking it out with Iron Chef? Paula Dean versus Rachael Ray? It's enough to make you send for Chinese takeout.

And yet there's a way to get through the season without feeling totally guilty. Make a list or two, buy some decorations, set a pretty table, cook one big thing. "Constantly remind yourself that holiday entertainment is fun!" writes Diane Morgan, a Portland author of cookbooks. "Be playful in the kitchen."

Morgan, who's also written books about Thanksgiving and everyday grilling, is bringing her latest tome, The Christmas Table, to Seattle this weekend for book-signings and demos (schedule below). Like all good writers, she makes it look easy, and warns you when it's not.

Still searching for ideas for Christmas morning menus, or for holiday desserts such as a Buche de Noel? Diane Morgan, author of "The Christmas Table: Recipes and Crafts to Create Your Own Holiday Tradition," will be in town Friday and Saturday. Morgan will appear at three Metropolitan Market branches: On Friday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., she'll be at the Proctor market in Tacoma. On Saturday, she'll be at the Sandpoint market from noon to 2 p.m., and she'll be at the Admiral market in West Seattle from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

At the markets, Morgan will demonstrate holiday-ready recipes like her Butter Lettuce Salad With Satsuma Tangerines and Pomegranate Seeds. But if you go, I'd check out the chapter on edible holiday gifts (a topic close to our hearts) and the one on recipes that use up holiday leftovers.

(Oh. And, while it's most emphatically a Christmas cookbook, it also has latkes and rugelach and brisket, plus suggestions for a hybrid "Chrismukkah" menu. Some of you are cringing at that, others will want to take notes.)

Still searching for ideas for Christmas morning menus, or for holiday desserts such as a Buche de Noel? Diane Morgan, author of "The Christmas Table: Recipes and Crafts To Create Your Own Holiday Tradition," will be in town Friday and Saturday. Morgan will appear at three Metropolitan Market branches: Friday, from 4 to 6 p.m., she'll be at the Proctor market in Tacoma. On Saturday, she'll be at the Sand Point market (5250 40th Ave. N.E.) from noon to 2 p.m., and at the Admiral market in West Seattle (2320 42nd Ave. S.W.) from 4 to 6 p.m.

At the markets, Morgan will demonstrate holiday-ready recipes like her Butter Lettuce Salad with Satsuma Tangerines and Pomegranate Seeds. (For a copy of the recipe, check out my blog at blog.seattlepi.com/devouringseattle.) But if you go, I'd check out the chapter on edible gifts and the one on recipes that use up holiday leftovers. (Oh, and while it's most emphatically a Christmas cookbook, it also has latkes and rugelach and brisket, plus suggestions for a hybrid "Chrismukkah" menu. Some of you are cringing at that; others will want to take notes.)

BEST SANDWICH

If you haven't had a sandwich from HUSKY DELI raise your hand!! What? There's no one?

Elliott Bay Brewery and the prime rib sandwich from Metropolitan Market had plenty of votes heaped on too!

BEST GROCERY STORE

Next year there will be at least two more grocery stores for METROPOLITAN MARKET to compete with, but a champion is a champion until someone takes the title away and Metropolitan Market is still the title holder.

Often we spend more time with our co-workers than we do our family. They are the people that can help us get through a day, provide support on a project, or encourage us to take a risk that opens doors to a brighter future. If you work with someone that inspires you, or supports you but don’t have a big budget this year here are some ideas to get you started and they are all under $40.

Hydrate in Style

As most of us know drinking out of a water bottle adds contributes to the many environmental challenges that we face. This glass water bottle is a chic way to drink water while at work. It resembles the shape of a plastic water bottle, but I eco-chic down to the cork on top.

Roost Glass Water Bottle, $28, Metropolitan Market (100 Mercer St, Seattle, WA; 206-213-0778, www.metropolitan-market.com)

Sugar and spice ($3.99 to $6.99): It's easy to brighten the eyes -- and pantries -- of friends and family members who love to cook with a selection of fine spices or other specialty items. Pair a bag of dark muscovado sugar, for instance, with a recipe for gingerbread, and match dried mushrooms with directions for an Asian soup. Products from Seattle-based India Tree are attractively packaged (available on Amazon.com and at various markets; the ones pictured are from Metropolitan Market, 1908 Queen Anne Ave. N.). Dozens of fresh-ground spices, chiles and salts to suit any palate also can be purchased by the ounce or by the package at World Spice Merchants, 1509 Western Ave.