BRAMPTON, ON, Nov. 5 /CNW/ -- The wait is finally over - let the Holidays officially begin! Today, the President's Choice(R) brand launches its highly anticipated and hugely popular 2009 Holiday Insider's Report(R). This year's Holiday Insider's Report is brimming with everything Canadians need to entertain guests and keep them coming back for more - all at great prices.

"For the last 25 years and the next quarter-century, the President's Choice brand is about helping make the holiday season for customers easy-to-manage and special with innovative, high-quality products at affordable prices - and this year's no different," says Paul Uys, Vice-President, Fresh and Loblaw Brands, Loblaw Companies Limited. "We've brought back many classic favourites that we know people look forward to each holiday season, and, as always, introduced an exciting and delicious range of new products that Canadians are also sure to love."

This holiday season, more than one thousand Loblaw Companies Limited corporate and franchised stores have transformed into holiday shopping destinations, all across the country, celebrating the second year of the "We Love the Holidays Too!" event, with everything from trees and turkeys to hors d'oeuvres, desserts, stocking stuffers, gifts and holiday décor. The Holiday Insider's Report also features rounded pricing on select items, to help shoppers easily calculate shopping lists and manage holiday budgets.

Entertaining comes home for the holidays

"Entertaining at home is a trend we've seen grow exponentially over the last few years," says entertaining and style guru Sebastien Centner of Eatertainment Special Events. "Not only does it just make sense from a budget perspective, but hosting friends or family at home also gives you the opportunity to create a more intimate atmosphere. People now understand that creating a truly magical event right in your own living room is both easy and affordable!"

To help kick-start the holiday season, here are some great tips to entertain in a big way, without breaking the bank:

Simple cocktail parties make a big splash

The President's Choice brand has probably introduced more Canadians to more kinds of appetizers than any major brand, over the last 25 years. Entertaining at home doesn't have to mean serving a four-course meal - hosting a cocktail party with PC(R) Mocktails and hors d'oeuvres is a chic way to save both time and money. With tasty and easy-to-cook favourites, such as PC Cheese Hors D'Oeuvre Collection, PC Cocktail Sausage Rolls, PC Fig & Goat Cheese Blooms, new Must Try! PC Beef Mini Wellingtons and the new Must Try! PC Indian Hors D'oeuvres Collection, you'll impress your guests for less. For a more homemade approach, try the new Must Try! PC Gravlax Cured Atlantic Salmon paired with a rosti and a little garnish; visit pc.ca for this and other recipes.

Easy-cheesy, charcuterie-please-y

Create an at-home cheese and charcuterie sampler to mimic today's trendy tapas bars.