Savoring the season

From fancy to casual, these holiday recipes will impress everyone

By Rachel Brougham Contributing writer

From large, casual parties to formal family dinners to small, impromptu gatherings, holiday recipes need to run the gamut. You need satisfying appetizers you can throw together in a ash, main dishes that can feed a crowd but also pass for fancy and desserts that impress but don’t take all day to decorate. We have the solutions to your holiday meal planning. No matter that type of get-togethers you’re planning this holiday season, the following recipes will have you covered.

Make a Charcuterie Board

Di culty level: Easy to di cult, depending on ingredients and size of board. Not only does cheese appeal to almost everyone, but making a charcuterie board for your holiday gathering allows you to be creative and work with your own tastes. Plus, there’s really no wrong way to make one and they can be fun to assemble. Here are some tips to create the ultimate holiday cheese board that will surely delight even the fussiest of guests. First, choose your serving vessel. You can use a platter, a wooden cutting board or any kind of tray. Second, decide on how many cheeses you’d like to serve. Many experts say you should start with three, and then for larger parties, add from there. Now it’s time to pick your cheeses. Try one so variety, like a brie or a camembert. A stinky cheese like a bleu or gorgonzola is a good choice. en, try a milder cheese like a havarti, a good cheddar or muenster. Next, you’ll want to cut or break up the cheeses into bite-sized pieces and place them around your serving vessel. is will make it easier to keep the varieties of cheese separate. Now it’s time to ll in some gaps. You can do this by adding some charcuterie meats like salami, prosciutto or even turkey or ham deli meat if you know your party will include young kids. Fruit is also a great addition. ink berries such as blackberries and raspberries or various types of dried varieties such as gs and apricots. Spread these llers out among your cheeses. Get fancy! Try wrapping some prosciutto around small Italian breadsticks or pear slices. Bunch up salami so it doesn’t look like you just threw it down on the platter. O er up some dips and crackers if you want. Try a cheese dip or something made of cranberries which makes any charcuterie board look festive. Place these items in between the cheeses, meats and fruits.

Add some nuts. Almonds, pistachios and cashews not only pair well with the other items on your charcuterie board, they can ll in any open spaces. Put on the nishing touches. Add in some jams, mustards or honey in little condiment serving dishes and place among the other items. Garnish with rosemary or thyme sprigs. You can even throw on some olives or pickled vegetables. Once you master the art of building a traditional charcuterie board with cheese, try taking it to another level by building one for holiday brunches or Christmas morning breakfast. Use your serving vessel to serve mini pancakes or waf es, mini mu ns, doughnuts or danishes. Add some breakfast meats such as bacon, sausage links or sliced ham if you’d like. Fill in the gaps with fruits such as berries and banana slices, along with any toppings you might need like maple syrup, honey or jams. If you’re serving pancakes or wa es, you can even add in some whipped cream and chocolate chips and you’ll have a make-your-own breakfast board!

5-Ingredient Cranberry Brie Cinnamon Puff Pastry Swirls

Di culty level: Easy to Moderate-Serves 16

ese pu pastry swirls are a great option for those times when you have family show up unexpectedly or you have a party to go to in the evening and you just don’t know what to bring. With only ve ingredients, they are not only easy to make, but they will be a crowd favorite. Plus, the recipe can be easily doubled.

Ingredients

1 sheet frozen pu pastry, thawed 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted 6 ounces Brie cheese, rind mostly removed and nely diced 3/4 cup dried cranberries 2-4 Tbsp. cinnamon sugar, using more or less to taste

Instructions Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Unroll the pu pastry on a clean work surface. Brush the pastry with 1 tablespoon melted butter and then sprinkle with 1-2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar. Sprinkle the diced brie and cranberries evenly over the pastry. Starting at the long end, roll the pastry up as tightly as possible (like a cinnamon roll). Brush the roll with the remaining melted butter and then sprinkle the roll with cinnamon sugar to coat. Using a sharp knife, cut into 16 swirls. Place the swirls on the prepared baking sheet and bake 15-25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the pastry golden, these are a little messy. Allow to sit on the pan about two minutes and before transferring to a serving plate. Serve warm. Tip: You can make these ahead! Just prepare through step three and place the swirls on the baking sheet. Cover and keep them in the refrigerator for up to two days. When you’re ready to bake, just do so as directed. To make cinnamon sugar, mix 1/4 cup white sugar with 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon. Store in an airtight container. Recipe source: https://www.hal akedharvest.com/idiot-proof-5-ingredient-cranberry-brie-cinnamon-sugar-pu -pastry-swirls

Pizza Sliders

Sliders are a great option for a low-key Christmas Eve celebration or a New Year’s Eve party. ese call for just pepperoni, but can easily be customized with other meats or vegetables. Double or even triple the recipe for larger gatherings and you’ll be surprised at how quickly they disappear. Di culty level: Easy to Medium-Serves 12 Our Town | Winter 2022 13

Ingredients 12 sweet rolls (I used Hawaiian) 1 cup pizza sauce 2 cups shredded mozzarella or pizza these blend 24 pepperoni slices

Garlic Butter Sauce 4 Tbs. melted butter 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. garlic powder 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning Instructions Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Place the package of sweet rolls on the parchment without pulling apart rolls. Cut rolls into two halves. Layer bottom half with 1 tablespoon sauce, 1 tablespoon cheese, 2 pepperonis and 1 tablespoon more of cheese. Place top of roll back on. Mix all ingredients for the garlic butter sauce together and spread over the top and side. Sprinkle with Parmesan if desired. Bake for 15 minutes.

Recipe source: https://tastyoven.com/pepperoni-pizza-sliders-with-garlic-butter-parmesan-sauce/

Holiday Punch Di culty level: Easy-Serves 12 If you’re planning a large gathering, a festive punch makes for less hassle since you can make it before guests arrive. is holiday punch not only looks festive, but it’s non-alcoholic so kids can enjoy it alongside the adults. And if you’d like, keep some rum or vodka nearby for the adults if they want to add some to their drinks.

Ingredients

1 (64 ounce) container cranberry juice cocktail 1 (14 ounce) container pineapple juice 1 container frozen lemondade 1 can Sprite, 7-UP or other kind of lemon-lime soda Orange slices for garnish Fresh cranberries for garnish Ice Vodka or rum (optional)

Instructions Squeeze the container of frozen lemonade into a large drink dispenser or punch bowl. Add the cranberry juice cocktail, pineapple juice and lemon-lime soda. Gently stir to combine. Add plenty of ice or an ice ring. Serve over ice and garnish with slices of oranges or any citrus and fresh cranberries. Tip: You can also add scoops of orange, lemon or lime sherbet to glasses and pour the punch own top.

Recipe source: https://afarmgirlskitchen.com/holiday-punch/

Glazed Sweet Potatoes and Apples

Di culty level: Easy-Serves 4 is side dish is a bit more classy than your traditional sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top. It pairs well with many holiday meats, including turkey, chicken, ham and beef. Ingredients 3 medium sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes 1 apple, cored and cut into 1-inch cubes 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup apple juice or cider 1/2 Tbsp. honey 1 1/2 tsp. butter, melted 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. nely grated orange peel 1/4 cup pecan pieces Our Town | Winter 2022 14

Place sweet potatoes and apples in a 2- to 3-1/2-quart slow cooker. Mix together brown sugar, apple juice, honey, butter, cinnamon and orange peel. Spoon over sweet potatoes. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 hours or until potatoes and apples are tender.

Meanwhile, cook nuts in an ungreased heavy skillet over medium-low heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently until browning begins, then stirring constantly until golden brown and fragrant.

Sprinkle with pecans just before serving.

Recipe source: https://www.hy-vee.com/recipes-ideas/recipes/glazedsweet-potatoes-and-apples

Onion Garlic Butter Mushrooms

Di culty level: Easy-Serves 4

Ingredients 1 pound button mushrooms, cleaned and halved 1 Tbsp. butter 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1/4 cup low-sodium vegetable stock 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 medium onion, minced 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish Red pepper akes, for garnish

is recipe can easily be doubled to feed a crowd. Try mixing up your mushrooms — consider using a mix of button, portobellos and even shiitake. ese mushrooms pair well with holiday beef dishes! Instructions In a skillet over medium-high, heat the butter and olive oil and sauté the onion until so ened. Add the halved mushrooms and cook for about 4-5 minutes until mushrooms are golden and crispy on the edges. Pour in the vegetable stock to deglaze the skillet and cook for 2 minutes, to reduce slightly. Stir through 1 tablespoon of parsley and minced garlic to the mushrooms. Cook for a further 30 seconds, until fragrant. Season lightly with salt and pepper, and serve the mushrooms immediately, garnished with fresh chopped parsley and red chili pepper akes.

Recipe source: https://www.eatwell101.com/garlic-butter-mushrooms-recipe

Perfect Roast Beef

Di culty level: Moderate-Seves 8 is roast beef recipe is the perfect option for a holiday main dish since it can be served for large, informal gatherings or fancy, small dinners. Plus, with four cuts of meat to choose from, you won’t pay near as much as you would for a beef tenderloin or prime rib.

Look for cuts such as top round roast, top sirloin roast, bottom round roast or eye of round roast. If these cuts of meat are new to you, don’t be afraid to ask your butcher. ese are generally tougher cuts of meats (read: less expensive) but since you’ll be cooking them low and slow, they’ll be extremely tender when ready to serve.

Roast beef allows you to get creative with your seasoning. You can do just salt and pepper, or you can add herbs such as thyme, rosemary, sage and parsley. e more avor the better! Before cooking, you’ll want to make sure the roast comes to room temperature so it cooks evenly throughout. Try one to two hours on the countertop, depending on the size of your roast. Finally, when it comes to slicing, be sure to let the meat rest for about 30 minutes so the juices can distribute throughout the meat and not end up all over your cutting board. Cut the meat thin so it’s extra tender.

Ingredients

1 (4-lb.) round roast 1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme leaves 2 tsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Instructions Recommended: let roast sit uncovered at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. In a small bowl, combine oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Rub all over roast. Place roast in roasting pan tted with a roasting rack. Roast for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 325 degrees and roast 1 hours 45 minutes more for medium, or 2 hours for medium well done. Remove from oven and let rest 15 to 30 minutes before serving. Tip: For larger, more informal gatherings, serve the beef on sliders with a horseradish cream sauce and various toppings. Recipe source: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a23584914/perfect-roast-beef-recipe/

Cheesecake Filled Bundt Cake

Di cultly level: Moderate to Di cult-Serves 12

Chocolate? Check. Feeds a crowd? Check. Festive? As much as you want it to be.

is cheesecake lled bundt cake is great since it not only taste delicious, but it looks great when served on a plate and decorated for the holidays. is cake on its own is fairly easy to make, but the di culty level increases depending on if and how decorate it.

Add holiday sprinkles, or you can even try decorating the top in some kind of holiday theme with santas or snowmen, string lights or decorative trees. Really, the options are endless.

Ingredients For the lling: 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 tsp. all-purpose our

For the cake:

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-processed 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, nely chopped 1 Tbsp. espresso powder 3/4 cup boiling water 1 3/4 cups (7.87 ounces) all-purpose our 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup sour cream, at room temperature 1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 cups packed light brown sugar 1 Tbsp. vanilla 5 large eggs, at room temperature

For the glaze: 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 tsp. corn syrup 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped Instructions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. For the lling:

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and For the cake: Combine the cocoa, chocolate, and espresso powder in a large bowl. Pour the boiling water into the bowl and cover. Let stand for 5 minutes. In a small bowl whisk together the our, salt, and baking soda. Whisk the chocolate mixture until it is smooth. Let cool to room temperature. When it has cooled, whisk in the sour cream. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla for about 3 minutes, or until light and u y. Add the eggs, one at a time, until combined. On low speed gradually add the our mixture and the melted chocolate mixture alternatively, beginning and ending with the our, until the batter is smooth. Pour a little more than half the batter into the prepared pan. Pour the cheesecake lling into the center of the batter, not allowing it to touch the edges of the pan. Pour the remaining batter of the lling. Bake the cake for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Let cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then turn the cake out and let cool completely.

For the glaze: In a small saucepan heat the cream and corn syrup over medium heat until hot. Remove from heat and add the chocolate, whisking until smooth. Let cool slightly until thickened. Drizzle over the cake. Let the glaze set at room temperature, about 10 minutes, before serving. Recipe source: https://handletheheat.com/cheesecake lled-chocolate-bundt-cake/

Holiday Haystack Cookies

Di culty level: Easy-Serves 24

Not only are these holiday haystack cookies easy to put together because they have minimal ingredients, they can be decorated with whatever sprinkles you have already in your cupboard. is is a great recipe to make with young kids.

Ingredients

2 cups white chocolate chips 1 cup salted peanuts 3–4 cups chow mein noodles Christmas sprinkles

Instructions Melt chocolate in large microwavable bowl according to bag instructions. Add peanuts and chow mein noodles. Drop by rounded spoonfuls on to wax paper. Shake on sprinkles and allow to cool for several hours before removing from the wax paper. Recipe source: https://www.smalltownwoman.com/white-chocolate-peanut-holiday-haystacks/