Hey all the newspapers do it at year-end, so without further ado, I give you the “Top 5 Most Commented on Posts of Prohomemaker 2008,” as voted by you, the readers.

(By the way, it’s funny what is No. 1)

(And, may I say, with much appreciation, thank you for your readership and friendship. It’s been wonderful.)

OK, here is the list of most commented on and the links:

I loved the last one! Tomorrow, I will post what I think were my most important — and informative — posts of the year. Happy New Year everyone!

I’m going to a casual dinner for New Year’s and am bringing this Black Bean Dip that I found on Food Network and tweaked a bit, per the reviews. (A tip: Always read the reviews for online recipes. When you see the same suggestion over and over, incorporate it.)

This is great and very pantry friendly … and easy to boot! “Heat” it up as you wish, but this is the basic recipe:

Black Bean Dip

Ingredients
1 plum (Roma) tomato, diced
2 tablespoons diced red onion
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped, plus sprigs for garnish
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained
2 minced garlic cloves
Juice of one lime
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons hot sauce
Salt
Tortilla chips, for dipping

Directions
Place the tomato, onion, garlic and cilantro into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until well chopped. Add the black beans, lime juice, cumin, hot sauce and salt, to taste, and pulse until the mixture is mostly smooth. Scrape into a decorative bowl and garnish with cilantro sprigs. Serve with tortilla chips.

Now that Christmas is behind us comes the time to prepare for the holiday wrapup — New Year’s. I began a tradition long ago that I deemed “de-Santa’ing” the house.

In the few days between the two important events, I begin to pack up all Christmas-type decorations, including Santas, snowmen, and anything “cutesy.” Left are the colors of the season in runners, crystal bowls of sparkling ornaments, and silver platters and candlesticks. I seek to transform the house from the warmth of Christmas to the elegance of New Year’s.

But this strategy has a secondary (and more ulterior) motive. By putting away the Santa-type decorations, I am edging toward the “return of normalcy” to the home after the holidays, as well as spreading out the work that is inherent in packing up everything.

It works wonderfully, and has become a standard in my holiday planning. So tonight, all the Santas are gone, but the house still exudes holiday warmth (and I will have it much easier in a couple days).

Try this strategy, you’ll see how well it works. Oh, and may I be the first to wish you, Happy New Year!

Sorry for being so quiet the last few days, but I made it through the holidays and the multi-events. (Well, still have a dinner tomorrow with friends, but that’s at a restaurant.)

Just want to say I hope it went well on your end.

BTW, I think if you add some chicken broth to that leftover turkey, it will stay more moist. Yeah! A tip to boot! I am gonna do it right now!

Yeah! I’ve found one of the favorite samples I list is coffee, and here is an offer that just came out today for a free 2 ounce sample of Don Francisco’s coffee (a 4-cup pot).

Just click here and fill out the simple form to get yours, too!

I’ll try and write a post tomorrow after I get back from my parents’ home for our big family dinner/get-together, but the big push for our Christmas Day night dinner begins when I get home about 10 p.m. But I got nearly everything chopped, so I should be ready to stir and put in the baking containers.

Wishing you all the best for the holidays!

I loved this graphic! I felt like saying, “Who is tired? Raise your oven mitts.”

So how are you doing in the final crunch period?

I’ve got the following done:

I just finished the Christmas cards to past clients, so those are going in the mail tomorrow. I should be OK, and, if not, what the hell.

Let me tell you, we’re all pooped, but I still love this time of year. So how are you doing?

Boy, it’s been a long time since I came across a good free sample offer, but this one just came out Sunday.

Get two free samples of Vaseline Clinical Therapy lotion by clicking this link. At the top of the web site, click “Alaska Sweeps and Rules” for the free sample. (From past experience, these are usually great purse- or travel-size samples, so definitely worth the time.)

This is limited to the first 45,000 requests, and they are already up to 25,000, so click fast!

A tip: When it requests you send an e-card to a friend, just input your email address. Works just fine.

OK, now click the link before this offer is gone!

I got this email today and was so surprised. I did not know it, and it’s true!

Anyway, here is the tip:

I had to go into the kitchen and check this out for myself. Whoever looks at the end of your aluminum foil box? You know when you try to pull some foil out and the roll comes out of the box. Then you have to put the roll back in the box and start over. The darn roll always comes out at the wrong time.

Well, I would like to share this with you. Yesterday I went to throw out an empty Reynolds foil box and for some reason I turned it and looked at the end of the box. And written on the end it said, Press here to lock end. Right there on the end of the box is a tab to lock the roll in place. How long has this little locking tab been there? I then looked at a generic brand of aluminum foil and it had one, too. I then looked at a box of Saran wrap and it had one too! I can’t count the number of times the Saran wrap roll has jumped out when I was trying to cover something up.

I’m sharing this with my friends. I hope I’m not the only person that didn’t know about this.

I love entertaining buffet-style, even if it’s just for four people. I find it the simplest way to entertain, in which you can actually enjoy your guests.

A personal pet peeve of mine is what is called “family style” for a dinner, in which all the food is placed on the table and passed about. Invariably, I have to hold either an incredibly hot dish or try to serve myself while balancing a 3-pound casserole. And, of course, I feel as if I am a waiter for half the dinner, passing this and that, all the while my own food is getting cold. If it works for you fine, but I cannot stand it either as a host or a guest.



With that out of the way, let’s get to setting up a simple buffet!

You can arrange the spread anywhere, as long as it is relatively close to the dining area. Normally, I set ours up on a library table adjacent to the dining table, which is preset with flatware, glasses, bread, butter, and napkins. That way, it’s just a matter of filling your plate and sitting down. I’ve also served it on our large island-style counter (always ensure the kitchen is clean) or even on a stovetop in a 1 bedroom apartment.

Our friends at Wynn-Dixie provided this superb graphic for a standard buffet arrangement. Note the plates and main dish first, and then the items go from there. Flatware and napkins, if placed at the buffet, are always last, along with any beverages (but I always prefer to have those on the table). Even if your guests cannot move around a table, you may use this same setup for a single-line buffet.

A couple quick tips:

I’ve got two buffets planned — one for Christmas Day night dinner and then having friends from LA over the next day for brunch, so this is why this came to mind. Hope it helped give you some ideas.

I’ll admit it, I am pooped today. Yes, Prohomemaker is wiped. But I plan a nap and to get the presents wrapped tonight … or at least one-third.

But just wanted to tip you off to do a to-do list. Start backing out the holidays to ensure you get the most important tasks done.

Yes, that means some get shoved aside.

These are my top priorities:

Everything else goes to B items, including Christmas cards. I’ll do my best, but it’s time to say what’s most important.

So the thought for the day is prioritize. How are you doing?