Holiday Cooking Tips from Home & Pro Cooks for NYT Feature

As the holiday season approaches, the kitchen beckons. This is a time of year when many people — both more- and less-experienced cooks — find themselves working on baking projects or planning festive meals. Perhaps you’re wondering about the best way to bake several kinds of cookies at once. Or you’re feeling stuck because you forget to defrost your centerpiece roast. Or maybe you’re trying to figure out how to make the crispiest latkes. We’re here to help. What advice would make your end-of-year entertaining easier and better?