Buying holiday gifts and preparing for holiday parties are in full swing! I have seen some creative food ideas for holiday parties; it helped inspire Toi Degree and me to do a Modern Holiday Cooking program. Last year, we did a friendly turkey competition; this year, we are joining forces to help inspire our local community.

For this year’s event, on Friday, Dec. 16, we will be focusing on modern holiday recipes, bringing new spins on old favorites. The event will be held at Rowan County Cooperative Extension on 2727 Old Concord Rd., Salisbury from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Be sure to arrive ready to learn how to prepare and make everything for your holiday feast, and come with a good appetite! The cost is $20; you will get to sample all of the recipes, and you will take a printed recipe guide home with you.

This is a great program if you are thinking about adding some local flavor to your meals and appetizers. Some of the local items that will be in our main dishes are pecans, apples, cheese and butternut squash. Many herbs are still available and can kick up your pass-along recipes. The Salisbury Farmers Market will finish its season Dec. 17, so you have a short window to get your last bit of shopping in; the market is also a great place to get one-of-a-kind gifts. It is located at 270 W. Fisher St. and is open from 9 a.m. – noon.

Registration for the Modern Holiday Cooking program is limited; register online at www.go.ncsu.edu/modernholidaycooking or visit our office at 2727 Old Concord Road. The registration deadline is Monday, Dec. 12 at 5 p.m., so sign up soon to reserve your spot. The program is $20; payment accepted in the form of cash or check made payable to CES.

I hope you can join us for this first ever Modern Holiday Cooking program to create some of your new holiday favorites. For more information about purchasing local, questions about the Modern Holiday program, or to register for the Modern Holiday program, call or email your local Cooperative Extension agent, Danelle Cutting, at 704-216-8970 or danelle_cutting@ncsu.edu.