compilation

Some Of My Favorite Holiday Recipes…

youbetchcanmakethis 2 Comments

Over the next week or so I am going to be taking a hiatus from posts to my blog but I didn’t want to leave my readers high and dry. So I thought I’d look through my posts and put together a one-stop-shop of some of my favorite holiday recipes.

What I like about this blog is it includes a wide range of recipes from cookies, to main dishes, to appetizers, vegetables and sides and all are tested and true. And this compilation is based on what many people tend to serve during this time of year. So look through what I’ve put together and simply click on each picture to be redirected to the original posts and the recipes. Happy Holidays all! I’ll be back right before New Years with a great appetizer recipe!

COOKIES

Lets start with cookies. Cookies are what I am known for over the holidays. I’ve been baking cookies at this time of year ever since I was in high school. I’ve made many different varieties but the link I am providing here is to my all time favorites. You’ve got plenty to choose from. Just click on the picture below and happy baking!

APPETIZERS

Next let’s look at some holiday appetizers. Holiday parties and family get-togethers tend to have a main meal adorned with great appetizers. Click on the picture below to see a compilation of my favorite holiday appetizers with links to each one. And if you don’t see anything you like, check out my recipe index to see a complete list of the appetizers I’ve blogged about.

SOUP

There’s nothing so satisfying as a hot bowl of soup during the holidays. And whether you choose to serve it with your holiday meal or simply as a cozy supper, you can’t ignore soups at the holidays. I chose to feature my butternut squash soup but there are others in my recipe index as well. To me this soup just screams the holidays. And if you don’t serve this with your holiday meal try it with a salad and some crusty bread anytime.

MAIN DISHES

Let’s move on to main dishes. I chose to focus on four of my recipes. The first is roast chicken in a cast iron skillet. If you want something a little different than turkey, this is a great recipe. The chicken cooks evenly in the cast iron and comes out juicy and delicious. Try this one over the holidays or anytime and, if you’re a chicken lover like me, this may be your go to recipe for roasting a whole chicken.

Next is my prime rib recipe. Many times my family would make this for Christmas because we just had turkey a month before. Or sometimes if we were feeding a huge crowd we’d make turkey and prime rib. Or prime rib became the center of attention on New Year’s Eve. Either way, over the holidays it’s always good to have a go-to prime rib recipe. Just click on the picture below.

Next I’m including a turkey recipe but not the type of turkey recipe you might think. Since Thanksgiving this recipe has been getting a ton of hits on my blog which leads me to believe that readers are looking for alternative ways to serve the bird. This is a slow cooker recipe and it is delicious. So if you’re looking for an alternative way to serve turkey, this recipe is for you!

And last but not least, so many people use the occasion of the holidays to dapple in making lobster tails. Because they are so expensive and are not good overcooked many shy away from making them. But you shouldn’t. They are surprisingly easy to make if you follow the lessons learned in my blog. So go ahead, splurge and enjoy some lobster tails over the holidays!

SIDES

What would the holidays be without a stuffing/dressing recipe. So many times I hear from people that their family’s recipe is the best. But sometimes people are looking for a change or just for a good stuffing/dressing recipe. Well here it is! This is not my mother’s stuffing which I did love but never got from her. So in my quest to find a great substitute I landed on this recipe. It is fabulous and tastes even better if made the day before and reheated the next day.

And what are the holidays without sweet potatoes. Personally I’m not a big fan of sweet potato recipes that include a marshmallow topping so you won’t see that here. This particular version has a great combination of flavors, from orange juice, to cinnamon, to maple syrup – you just can’t beat this one. I make this often during the year. Try it, I’m sure you’ll love it!

My last side is an ethnic side. My ancestors came from Lithuania and this recipe was a staple at all of our holiday meals. I remember when I first posted this recipe, I didn’t think it would generate much interest. Surprisingly it continues to be one of the more popular recipes on my blog. Keep in mind that this recipe is not very heart healthy. Years ago people were only concerned about making food that was cheap and filling and this certainly fits the bill. But every once in a while you can let go and enjoy a dish like this. So enjoy my grandmother’s Lithuanian Kugelis recipe (or potato pudding as some people now call it). If there is a food that can conjure up beautiful holiday memories, this is the one for me!

VEGETABLES

This is one of the most popular vegetable recipes on my blog. It uses a variety of veggies and roasts them in the oven with some olive oil. Couldn’t be simpler, it’s delicious and provides an array of festive colors for your holiday table.

I’m a big fan of butternut squash. To me there’s nothing better than roasted butternut squash. And when you pair it with a little cinnamon, it’s to die for. Butternut squash is a great accompaniment to almost anything you could possibly serve for your holiday dinner. This recipe is full proof and will probably become one you use all year long

DESSERTS

It’s hard to believe that after a holiday meal there is still room for dessert, but no holiday meal would be complete without one, or two, or… So I am including a few of my favorite desserts that are not only delicious but look like they belong on a holiday table.

First are my lemon raspberry cheesecake bars. This happens to be one of my husband’s favorites. It is easy to make, delicious and it’s decorative raspberry swirls scream the holidays. Because it is light and airy, this is a great dessert to serve after a robust holiday meal.

My chocolate cherry cream cheese cake is a great addition to any holiday dessert table. Not only does it combine the delectable flavors of rich chocolate, cream cheese and cherries but it boasts of holiday colors and looks unbelievable. It does require a few steps to get that special dotted cherry look, but believe me this cake is worth the effort.

I make cranberry bread every year when fresh cranberries hit the grocery store. And for several years I’ve played around with this recipe until now that I feel I finally perfected it. There’s nothing that says the holidays like cranberries, and this sweet bread is a nice finish to a holiday meal.

Last but certainly not least is my cranberry upside down cake. I made it for the first time this year and fell in love with it. Color me crazy, but the joy of baking this and then turning it over to see the gorgeous display of cranberries on top is a joy second to none. It looks so festive and is easy to make. This was my first try at making it and look how gorgeous it is. If you make any of my suggested desserts, I would recommend this one. It was fun to make and fun to eat!

And that’s it, my 2018 holiday recipe compilation. I hope you find this one-stop-shop of recipe links helpful as you make your final preparations for the holidays.

I will be taking a two week hiatus from posting to enjoy the holidays as well. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and I’ll touch base right before the New Year.  Here’s looking forward to what we can accomplish in the kitchen in 2019!

 

Party Appetizers

youbetchcanmakethis 2 Comments

Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner and that means family gatherings and parties with friends. And if you’re like me whether serving a meal or simply a wine and appetizer affair there’s always a need to have in your arsenal some simple, impressive appetizers. So I’ve created for you a one stop shop blog with seven of my favorite appetizers.  These appetizers will brighten up any of your holiday get-togethers. All you need do is click on the individual picture(s) of the one(s) you like and it will direct you back to the blog I wrote about it that includes a printable recipe. It couldn’t be easier.

I specifically picked these appetizers out of the many in my recipe index for a few reasons. First they are incredibly easy to make. That is key as the holidays are busy enough as it is. Second I picked them for how they look. As I’ve stated over and over in my blogs you eat first with your eyes. I wanted these appetizers to have that holiday wow factor. And last I wanted them to be easy for your guests to put on a plate and eat.

Let me take you through my choices in the picture above by starting with the upper left corner of the collage. First is my tangy bacon cheddar yogurt dip. Next to it are my hard salami roll ups with olive garnish. In the center row left is my salted caramel cheese ball. Next is my Christmas creamy spinach and red pepper dip followed by my no bake pizza bites. Last on the bottom left is my vegetable pizza and finally my basic bruschetta. Make any or all of these and your party will be a hit. So let’s take each one individually…

TANGY BACON CHEDDAR YOGURT DIP:

I like this appetizer for a few reasons. First you have the option of making it as spicy as you like. Hot or mild it is absolutely delicious. Second if you use precooked bacon making this dip is even easier. Third I found that people really go for the veggies straws instead of the traditional crackers. It’s fun, tasty and easy to eat making it a great party appetizer.

HARD SALAMI ROLL UPS WITH OLIVE GARNISH:

I found this appetizer to be very popular not only because it’s tasty but also because of its pop in your mouth and go factor. All you have to do it grab it by its decorative pick and put it in your mouth. You don’t even need a plate for this one. You can just walk by and grab it. For the holidays you can add a little pzazz by using holiday themed picks. Any way you serve it, this appetizer will quickly disappear.

SALTED CARAMEL CHEESE BALL:

This one is a show stopper and a crowd pleaser! This appetizer touts the killer combo of granny smith apples, caramel sauce, cheese, lemon juice and nuts. And if that isn’t enough, drizzling caramel sauce over it takes this cheese ball over the top. Also, this can be made ahead of time so you don’t have to fiddle around with it the day of your party. And last but certainly not least, this can be served as an appetizer or dessert. You can’t go wrong with this one.

CREAMY SPINACH AND RED PEPPER DIP:

I will admit up front I got this recipe from another site. I acknowledge that in my blog and include a link to the recipe. I normally don’t do this but it was such a hit when I served it I just had to share. I also like it because it features the colors of Christmas. So if you’re looking to inject the color of the holidays not only in your decorations but also in your food, this is the recipe for you. Oh, and one last thing, it tastes divine!

NO BAKE PIZZA BITES:

This is one of my personal favorites. You can’t beat a simple to assemble appetizer that tastes like you’re eating a piece of pizza. You can be somewhat flexible in the ingredients you use (I used a basil and pepper feta cheese instead of just adding mozzarella cheese and fresh basil) and the results were fabulous. I’ve found that this particular appetizer is very popular with the younger set. It can be assembled in no time and you’ll be amazed at how flavorful it is!

VEGETABLE PIZZA:

Earlier this year when I first posted this recipe I got a lot of comments. People mostly said that they use to make this appetizer “back in the day” but have not made it in a long time and were not sure why. But how can you resist making something that looks as good as this and tastes even better. I also found this is a great way to use up some of stuff lying around in your refrigerator. This is another appetizer that allows your guests to just pick up a piece and go. But I guarantee you one thing. They will be back for more!

BASIC BRUSCHETTA:

And last but certainly not least my basic bruschetta. We tend to eat a lot over the holidays and that can lead to feeling full and bloated. This appetizer is different. It is refreshing, light and filled with simple clean ingredients your guests will love while not feeling stuffed. This is definitely an appetizer you should consider.

And there you have it – some of my favorite appetizer recipes just in time for your holiday get-togethers. I also have other appetizer recipes that you can find under my recipe index tab on the top of this page. I hope you make one or all of these during the holidays and as always, I would love to know what you think of them.

 

Readers Favorite Recipes…

youbetchcanmakethis 2 Comments

My cooking and baking life is on a short hiatus. We’ve decided that we are going to tile our kitchen (it originally had an engineered wood floor surface that we hated) and remove the carpeting in our living room, dining room, den and hallways and put down hardwood floors. I’ve wanted these changes ever since we moved into our condo and am really excited that its finally happening, but the projects have upended our usual way of living. Right now my appliances are in the living room and dining area so that the tile can be laid underneath their footprints in the kitchen.

My beloved stove is smack dab in the middle of the living room. Perched on top is my husband’s knee pads and various other items (see picture below)…

So as you can imagine it will make it challenging to keep up my goal of one new recipe posted every week. But have no fear. Now is a perfect time to do another compilation post.

I love these kinds of posts as they are sort of a one-stop-shop of recipes that over time have proven to be my readers favorites. And quite often recipes that I think will not be very popular surprise me and get tons of hits on my blog. That’s why these days I never second guess my recipes. You just never know what will be a hit and what will only get a lukewarm response.

So here are some of my more recent reader favorites. I’ll write a short blurb about each but just click not he picture and it will take you directly to the post and recipe. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

  1. BAKED EGGPLANT FRIES: I knew this one would be a winner right out of the box as people are always looking for that french fry crunch without the french fry fat and calories. I’d never worked with eggplant before and was pleasantly surprised at how easy these were to make and how tasty they were. Even the biggest veggie hater in your household will love these.

2. VEGETABLE PIZZA: I was surprised at how this recipe waxed nostalgic for so many people. I got lots of comments like “Oh I used to make this years ago. I stopped and I don’t remember why.” People also started sharing various iterations of how they used to make this based on their tastes and vegetable preferences. This is such a colorful fun recipe and it’s a great way to clean out the vegetable bin in your refrigerator. I brought this to a community gathering and it was gone in 15 minutes. This recipe may be a blast from the past but it certainly can still be a hit today.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

3. BROCCOLI CHEDDAR SOUP: When I first posted this recipe I had never made this type of homemade soup before. The only soup I ever made was my mother’s chicken soup recipe. I was surprised at how easy this was to make and how good it was. You could make a meal out of this, a salad and some crusty bread. A great dinner for a cool evening. I love this soup and have made it often.

Lithuanian Kugelis

4. LITHUANIAN KUGELIS: No one is happier than me that this recipe is so popular. I am of Lithuanian (and Polish) decent and this was my grandmother’s recipe. She would make kugelis for every holiday meal and it was gobbled up quickly. Be careful, though… it is an artery clogging recipe. But if you eat in moderation this is something you can definitely have every once in a while. In the old days it was a way to fill the bellies of the family without spending a lot of money. Today it’s just something super decadent and delicious.

5. EASY TANGY CUCUMBER SALAD: Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best. This recipe is definitely not rocket science but it’s a great accompaniment to almost any meal. Just a few simple ingredients coupled with a little time to let them all get thoroughly acquainted and you’ve got yourself something delightful and fresh. A former student of mine told me that her kids shy away from salads and vegetables but gobbled this up. This is a great recipe to have in your hip pocket.

6. DELI STYLE TUNA SALAD: If someone would have told me that this recipe would be one of the top 5 recipes searched for on my blog I would’ve laughed at them. But it continues to be a hit even after a couple of years. In this blog I reveal what I believe to be some of the secrets for making deli style tuna fish. Serve with some soup and baked waffle fries and you’ve got a killer meal!

Cheesecake With Fresh Strawberry Sauce

7. CHEESECAKE WITH FRESH STRAWBERRY SAUCE: I’ve made no bones about the fact that when writing this blog early on I was heavily influenced by Food Network shows. I’ve become less enamored with them over the years as they’ve really moved away from the format that I so enjoyed. But I still watch a few of them at times, namely Ina Garten, Ree Drummond and Trisha Yearwood. This particular recipe was included in one of Trisha Yearwood’s shows and it turned out perfectly the first time I made it (how often does that happen). This recipe gets a ton of hits and my stats go through the roof when they replay the segment that includes this recipe on the Food Network. Regardless it is one of my readers favorites and I guarantee it will be one of yours!

8.  PRIME RIB ROAST: If you were anything like me you dreaded making one of these babies for a special meal because this hunk of roast is just so darn expensive you don’t want to ruin it. But in my blog I de-mystify making prime rib. Just follow a few simple steps and it will turn out perfect first time, every time. This recipe is especially popular around the holidays but gets regular traffic throughout the year – definitely a recipe you should have in your arsenal.

9. HONEY BBQ PULLED CHICKEN SANDWICHES: The first time I made this recipe was for a Super Bowl party. It was a big hit. And a great recipe to make for a party as you make this in the slow cooker. The most work you have to do is remove the chicken in and shred it. The rest is done by the slow cooker. I like recipes like these because they don’t require a lot of work or supervision which gives you more time to spend with your guests. My readers must think so too as this recipe gets a lot of hits. I know you’ll like this one for it’s simplicity as well as its great flavor.

Cheesy Potato and Green Onion Casserole

10. CHEESY POTATO AND GREEN ONION CASSEROLE: I developed this recipe because I was getting tired of the using boxed varieties similar to this. Have you ever read the ingredients on those boxes? After about the fifth ingredient I could not pronounce I decided to create a potato side dish made out of fresh ingredients. With the help of a mandolin slicer this recipe becomes something quick and easy to prepare. And talk about delicious. I’ll never go back to the boxed varieties again.

11. GRILLED ROSEMARY GARLIC LAMB CHOPS: And ending this particular compilation is an all time favorite recipe of mine. I just love grilled lamp chops. They are so easy to do on the grill and serve them with a little mint jelly and you’ve got something special. Years ago it was harder to find lamb chops in you local grocery store but now you see them everywhere. We get our lamb chops at Costco. They do nice cuts and the price is the best as well. If you’ve never tried lamb you simply have to. This is one of my favorite summer meals and I hope it will become one of yours too!

Well that’s it – my readers favorites. I’m not sure I will be posting a new recipe next week as construction in the kitchen is taking longer than planned (and having been married to a private contractor I’ve come to expect that). But if not, I might share a few other recipes from my collection that are worth re-blogging. Hope you enjoy these, and if you try any or all of them, let me know what you think.

 

 

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My Best Holiday Appetizers…

youbetchcanmakethis 5 Comments

Yahoo – the holidays are here. And with them come the parties and the food, and the singing and the making merry and bright. And you can’t deny food is definitely a key part of making holiday gatherings memorable.

I’ve been doing this blog for several years now and have posted a wide variety of recipes. Undoubtedly some of the more popular ones I’ve posted are the appetizers. And what’s a holiday party without appetizers. So this blog is dedicated to putting in one place all of my most popular appetizer recipes. Make one or make them all but I guarantee you anyone one of them will be a hit at your holiday parties.

CREAM CHEESE, BACON, SPINACH AND SCALLION PINWHEELS

This recipe is perhaps on of the most popular recipes I’ve ever posted. I almost didn’t post it because it’s so rudimentary I thought people would think I was selling out. Much to my surprise it was and continues to be a big hit. The most difficult part of making this recipe is choosing your favorite kind of tortilla. The rest is so easy you won’t believe. A former colleague of mine called the recipe “red neck sushi”. Call it what you like, it’s fabulous and will always be a hit!

Cream Cheese, Bacon, Spinach and Scallion Pinwheels.

SALTED CARAMEL CHEESE BALL

Lately I’ve experimented with making cheese balls. Once again I was certain cheese ball recipes would not be popular with my readers. I was wrong. Seems like people still like them. A friend told me one of her husband’s favorite sayings is “the party does not end until the cheese ball is gone”. This particular recipe is special as it can double as an appetizer or a dessert. And the drizzle of caramel sauce on the top gives it a special festive touch for any holiday party.

Salted Caramel Cheese Ball

THE BEST EVER MEATBALLS

When I say BEST EVER, I mean BEST EVER! The recipe was actually an accident. I found a recipe for meatballs that called for vegetable flakes. In my naiveté I used red pepper flakes, because after all a red pepper is a vegetable, right? (those were the days when I was mostly lost in the kitchen). Well, the rest was history. I’ve been making this recipe for years and it has been passed down to family and friends many times over. I know you’ll just love these meatballs and they will be a big hit at your holiday party!

The Best Ever Meatballs

HOLIDAY CRAB DIP

This particular recipe is my holiday staple. It’s so special and so flavorful it dresses up any holiday gathering. I’ve actually had people ask me to pack leftovers of this one. I’ve also used leftovers to make a quick sandwich.  Just toast up some bread and away you go. I guarantee you will enjoy this one.

Holiday Crab Dip

SPINACH ARTICHOKE RED PEPPER DIP

I love this particular recipe not only because it tastes so good but it looks so festive when put in a bread bowl. Remember you eat first with your eyes, and my serving suggestion for this one plays right into that. This is a great vegetable dipper recipe that will keep them coming back for little bites over and over again. I served this one for New Year’s Eve last year and it was a huge hit!

Spinach Artichoke Red Pepper Dip

CANDIED PECANS

I had never made candied pecans until last year. I guess I thought they’d be hard to make. Boy was I wrong. And they are so yummy, you’ll wonder why you never made them before. These are good not only as an appetizer but also as a gift. Just put some in a mason jar and add a festive bow and you have a great gift. You simply have to try this one.

Candied Pecans

CHEESE BALL

My last recipe is another cheese ball. This is a savory cheese ball and has killer flavor. I brought it to a pot luck at work and it got devoured in no time. The key to this one is letting the ingredients meld overnight. What I like about this cheese ball is that it looks so professional but is so easy to make. It will be a hit at a holiday party or any gathering  you have during the year. Enjoy!

Cheese Ball

I hope you’ve found this appetizer compilation helpful. Make any of them, make all of them. They are all fabulous!

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My 3 Most Popular Recipes…

youbetchcanmakethis 8 Comments

Lately I have been getting more traffic on my blog and I am very happy about that. And it’s always interesting to see what recipes people all over the world are looking at. Over the years there have been a few that consistently get the most number of hits. It’s amazing how many people gravitate to these recipes. So instead of posting a new recipe today, I’ve decided to do a compilation post  of  my top 3 “highest clicked on” recipes.

Looking at my stats over the years, I’d have to say there is a virtual tie for first place. It actually depends on the time of year. One of them gets significantly high clicks around the Christmas holidays or any other holidays during the year where people tend to plan parties. I’ll focus on that one first.

The funny thing about this particular recipe is I almost didn’t post it. I thought it was too simple and rudimentary and not something a lot of people would be interested in. Boy was I wrong. From day one this recipe got a ton of hits and when it comes to party times throughout the year the hits can go through the roof. I have to admit it is a pretty tasty appetizer. You’ve got to try my Cream Cheese, Spinach, Bacon and Scallion Pinwheels.

Cream Cheese, Spinach, Bacon and Scallion Pinwheels.

The other recipe that ties for first place on my “hit” list is a recipe that takes a relatively inexpensive fish and creates a dish that is simple but elegant and oh so flavorful. Once again I never anticipated this recipe to be so popular but it consistently gets multiple hits every day of the week. It’s my recipe for Pan Fried Cod With Lemon Butter Sauce.

I think more people are looking for ways to add fish their diets and this recipe takes an inexpensive fish like cod and makes it taste like a million bucks. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback that this recipe not only creates divinely tasting cod but it’s also an easy, elegant serve. You can’t beat that. Try it and tell me what you think!

Pan Fried Cod With Lemon Butter Sauce

And last but certainly not least is my Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread. This recipe, I kid you not, is to die for. It is one of the best ways to take oversized zucchinis that we all get from time to time  and are not really good to serve as a vegetable and use them to make the most fabulous zucchini bread you will ever taste.

What I especially love about this recipe is the bread is not overly sweet. You use a combination of honey and brown sugar to sweeten the batter. The zucchini provides an unbelievable moistness and the combination of cocoa powder, chocolate chips and a little espresso powder creates a chocoholics fantasy.

This recipe gets a ton of hits this time of year when home gardeners have more zucchini than they can handle. This is the best zucchini bread recipe I’ve ever made bar none and if you try it I know you will say the same thing. Enjoy my recipe for Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread!

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

And there you have it – the stars of my blog. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of other recipes that get lots of hits – it’s just that these three seem to have been stars from the day they were first published.

Coming soon I’m going to publish a recipe for mustard herbed salmon with roasted butternut squash, but today let’s just enjoy the stars of You Betcha Can Make This!

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Holiday Recipe Compilation…

youbetchcanmakethis 4 Comments

Whether you want to admit it or not, the holidays are upon us. And if you’re like me, I’m always doing research on different recipes to make for the holidays. That takes a lot of time. So in an effort to save you time searching through this blog for holiday recipes, I’m compiling some of my favorites for you. From sweet to savory and even including a home made holiday potpourri, this blog can serve as your clearinghouse for many of the holiday recipes I’ve chronicled in the past.

17 Favorite Holiday Recipes From You Betcha Can Make This!

All you need to do is click on the caption underneath the pictures and it will link you to the corresponding blog entry and recipe. I’m also including a few thoughts about each of them as many of them have been tried and true holiday recipes over the years. I hope you enjoy this little holiday gift from my house to yours.

SWEET RECIPES:

In my mind, this cake is the perfect holiday recipe. It’s easy to make, colorful and ever so delicious.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. This is my all time favorite Christmas cookie!!  You will need to  be on the look out for cinnamon chips. I can only find them in the stores over the holidays. You may want to buy a couple of extra bags and freeze them in case you want to make these during the year.

This is my second all time favorite Christmas cookie recipe! This cookie has three kinds of chocolate and has the consistency of a brownie. What more can you ask for?

They are also fun to decorate and look very fancy with not a lot of work. I’ve made this particular recipe for years and these cookies never stay around for very long. You simply have to try these.

As you’ll see, I love to bake with cranberries over the holidays. This cookie combines cranberries, oatmeal and white chocolate chips. A killer combo! They are absolutely yummy.

I don’t think I need to say much about these bars. The picture says it all. And I’ll clue you in, they taste as good as they look!

This one is my husband’s favorite! Once again, they look very fancy but in actuality they are very easy to make!

A festive cookie that is not only delicious but boasts the colors of the season.

I just made these for the first time last week and they will definitely become part of my holiday baking repertoire. And whenever you combine cranberries with oranges and walnuts, how can you miss?

These are very easy to make. I make them all year round. They turn out perfectly every single time.

These bars are absolute butterscotch decadence. Make sure you hide a few because let me tell you, they won’t last for long!

SAVORY RECIPES:

This is a quick and easy appetizer that boasts the colors of Christmas. It is one of my holiday go-to make ahead appetizer recipes.

It took me years to figure out how to make a perfect roast turkey. I finally nailed it!

I used to love my mother’s stuffing but sadly I never got the recipe from her. I’ve experimented with various versions and finally put together a recipe only second best to mom’s!

I absolutely love this recipe and make it all year long! It is the perfect side dish for a holiday meal.

I’m not a big fan of brussels sprouts but my husband loves them. I finally put together a recipe that even I enjoy!

Making home made cranberry sauce is so easy. Don’t buy the canned stuff. This is so much better!

HOLIDAY POTPOURRI:

Forget the scented candles. Make you own home made potpourri and simmer it on the stove for hours of wonderful smells in your kitchen!

There are a wealth of recipes on this blog and one might argue any or all of them are fit for the holidays. What I’ve included here are my favorites but I encourage you to check out my recipe index for many more great recipes.

Here’s to the start of a wonderful holiday season. I truly hope you enjoy these recipes!