'The Chew' makes merry

Hugh Bonneville, Niecy Nash, John Leguizamo, Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten, Todd Oldham, the Rockettes and Santa Claus visit

"The Chew" celebrates this holiday season with sumptuous recipes to delight the senses, easy crafts to impress, and a feast of celebrities including Santa Claus himself. Hugh Bonneville ("Downton Abbey"), Niecy Nash ("Getting On"), John Leguizamo ("Walking with Dinosaurs"), Ina Garten ("The Barefoot Contessa") and designer Todd Oldham visit "The Chew" kitchen.

Monday, Dec. 16 - "How-To Holiday" -Michael Symon and Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, create ham and roasted kale with potato fennel gratin. Clinton Kelly demonstrates how to make beautiful ombre tree topiaries, and Daphne Oz teams up with author Gail Monaghan ("The Entrees") to make chocolate silk pie. Carla Hall takes over "Clinton's Craft Corner" with instructions on a bottle cap snowman ornament during the "12 Ornaments of Christmas."

Tuesday, Dec. 17 - "Home For The Holidays" - Hugh Bonneville cooks a delicious entree with Daphne and dishes about the new season. As part of ABC's "Home for the Holidays" honoring our military, Mario Batali cooks a favorite meal for a deployed Naval officer's wife, and "The Chew" travels to Portland to check out the Society of Vincent De Paul's Mobile Kitchen, which, in partnership with Feeding America, serves more than 17,000 hot meals per year.

Wednesday, Dec. 18 - "Winter Funderland" - Niecy Nash partners with Clinton to create a tasty, wintery dish. Famed designer Todd Oldham and Daphne create an adorable kids' table for the holidays.

Thursday, Dec. 19 - "The Chew's Snow Day" - The weather could be frightful, but it's delightful in "The Chew" studio as the audience wears all-white and the co-hosts heat things up with delicious dishes cooked low and slow. Two contestants play a trivia battle, "Snowballs to the Wall," to win prizes stuck to the wall. Carla makes a ranch dip, and Clinton celebrates the final craft for his "12 Days of Ornaments": a hot glue snowflake.

Friday, Dec. 20 - "Extra Value Friday: The Best Christmas Party Ever!" - The Radio City Rockettes and Santa Claus himself stop by "The Chew" and spread holiday cheer. Mario cooks with actor John Leguizamo, and the co-hosts share both their "Secret Santa" gifts and resolutions for the New Year.

"The Chew" airs weekdays at 1 p.m. on ABC. Follow "The Chew" (@thechew) and hosts Mario (@mariobatali), Michael (@chefsymon), Clinton (@clinton_kelly) Carla (@carlahall) and Daphne (@DaphneOz) on Twitter.