Christmas always is an event at the American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Av. S. Seasonal decor in the mansion will be in place this weekend, with the museum shop stocked with all sorts of traditional bulk candies for lördagsgodis, or "Saturday candy." Reservations are being taken now for the annual lutfisk dinner on Nov. 17. The popular Christmas Market on Dec. 1-2 will offer handcrafted items along with foods. Then on Dec. 16 and 23, two traditional Christmas Julbords, or smörgåsbords of holiday foods, will highlight breads, herring, cheeses, smoked salmon, jellied veal, Jansson's Temptation and much, much more. For details on prices and reservations for all of these events, visit www.asimn.org.

Make an heirloom cookbook

Personal historian Hella Buchhein will offer her popular class on how to create an heirloom cookbook -- in just one day! -- from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 N. Concord St., Suite 218, South St. Paul. Buchheim knows that we're rife with good intentions this time of year, but find it difficult to follow through. "So why not use the holidays to help expedite the process and finally get it done," she said. Students will receive a free copy of her CD to help coach you after you leave the class. Copies of Hella's other books about preserving family memories will be on sale, along with the society's cookbook, "Recipes of Our Ancestors." The class is free, but please register to attend at mngs.org/classes.htm.

Where the wild things are You can take a nosh on the wild side with Jax Cafe's annual Hunters Dinner on Nov. 14, where the menu includes rattlesnake cakes, alligator satays, venison sausage, grilled elk tournedos, smoked pheasant pizza and much more -- although the flier notes that the list is subject to change. Perhaps if some wildebeest becomes available? The meal is $80, and includes various cocktail and beer pairings. Jax is at 1928 University Av. NE., Mpls. Call 612-789-7297 for reservations.

Stalking silverplate With festive family meals in the offing, this often is the time of year you realize that you never replaced the gravy boat that broke, or you could use two more dinner plates since Heather got married. Replacements Ltd., in Greensboro, N.C., claims to have the world's largest selection of old and new dinnerware, including china, stoneware, crystal, glassware, silver, stainless and collectibles -- 13 million pieces in more than 360,000 patterns. They also will buy your extra pieces, or help identify your pattern. Check out the website at www.replacements.com.

KIM ODE