Are you ready for the holiday season? We’re getting ready for more family time, twinkling lights and the yummy meals that come along with seasonal festivities. The holidays start in your kitchen and we are bringing you 5 recipes to try this holiday season. Whether you’re used to cooking up a storm, or you’re looking for some basic recipes, we’ve got you covered. Check these recipes out and see what you want to try!
Green Bean Casserole with Onion Rings
Green bean casserole is a classic holiday dish for most families, so try with a twist by topping it with onion rings! This recipe comes from Delish and we are dying to try!
Ingredients for the green beans:
- 1 1/2 lb. green beans, halved crosswise
- kosher salt
- 7 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
- 1 medium yellow onion, sliced into rings
- 8 oz. button mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
- Black pepper
- 5 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 3 c. whole milk
Ingredients for the onion rings:
- 1/2 c. cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1 c. all-purpose flour, divided
- 3/4 c. chilled club soda
- 1 medium onion, sliced into 1/2-inch thick rings
- Vegetable oil for frying
Directions:
- Make Green Beans: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook green beans in a large pot of boiling salted water until bright green, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to an ice bath to cool, then drain.
- Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add mushrooms, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring often, until brown and tender, 5 minutes more. Transfer onions and mushrooms to a large bowl, add green beans, and toss to combine.
- Melt remaining 5 tablespoons butter in same large pot. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and bring to a simmer. Cook until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes; season with salt.
- Pour sauce over green beans and mushrooms and toss to combine. Transfer to a 3-quart baking dish and cover with foil. Bake until warmed through and bubbling around the edges, about 20 minutes.
- Make Onion Rings: Meanwhile, whisk cornstarch, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cayenne, and ½ cup flour in a large bowl.
- Add club soda and whisk until smooth. Place remaining ½ cup flour in a separate bowl, add onions, and toss to coat.
- Fit a large heavy-bottomed pot with a deep-fry thermometer and heat oil to 350 degrees F. Working in batches, dip onion rings into batter and carefully lower into oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pot. Fry, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Transfer to a wire rack set on a baking sheet and season with salt. Repeat with remaining onions.
- Top warm green bean casserole with onion rings just before serving.
Harissa and Maple Roasted Carrots
If you’re looking for new sides to try this year, or if you have vegetarian guests coming to dinner, you should try this yummy recipe for harissa and maple roasted carrots courtesy of Epicurious.
Ingredients:
- 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon harissa paste
- 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
- Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
- 1 freshly ground pepper
- 2 1/2 pounds small rainbow carrots, scrubbed, tops trimmed to about 1/2″, halved
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced, seeds removed
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450°. Whisk garlic, oil, maple syrup, harissa, and cumin seeds in a small bowl; season garlic mixture with salt and pepper.
- Toss carrots and lemon with garlic mixture in a large roasting pan to coat; season with salt and pepper. Roast, tossing occasionally, until carrots are tender and lemons are caramelized, 35–40 minutes.
- Do ahead: Carrots can be roasted 6 hours ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Bring to room temperature or reheat slightly before serving.
Holiday Party Punch
When you’re having a big group over, check out this recipe for holiday party punch courtesy of Food Network.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups cranberry juice
- 1 bottle sparkling cider
- 1 liter ginger ale
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, about 2 lemons
- 12 ounces vodka, optional
- 1 orange, sliced
Directions:
- In a large bowl, over ice combine all of the liquid ingredients. Float the orange slices on top, for garnish and serve.
Old Fashioned Gingerbread Men
The kiddos will love decorating these old fashioned gingerbread men with you! The recipe comes from Real Simple and it is both straightforward and delicious!
Ingredients:
- 5 to 5 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
- Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a large bowl; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium until smooth.
- Add the molasses and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture 1 cup at a time, blending until smooth. The dough should gather into a semi-firm mass. (If it’s not firm, add another 1/4 to 1/2 cup flour, but not enough to make it crumbly.)
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide in half. Flatten into disks and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 1 week.
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- On a floured surface, roll each disk to 1/8 inch thick. Use gingerbread-man cutters to make shapes. Transfer them to a large, parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Decorate, if desired. Bake until firm to the touch, about 12 minutes. Cool slightly before transferring to a rack.
Sweet Potatoes with Apple Butter
If you like sweet potatoes you need to try this recipe for sweet potatoes and apple butter from Food and Wine.
Ingredients:
- 4 pounds sweet potatoes
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- Salt
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Pierce the sweet potatoes all over with a fork and place on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until very tender.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and transfer to a large bowl. Mash with a potato masher until creamy, then mash in the butter and apple butter. Season with salt and serve.
There you have it! These are 5 holiday recipes you need to try this season. What are you going to make in your kitchen? What are your holiday favorites? Let us know in the comment section below and share your favorites with us. Stay tuned to our blog for more great content and subscribe to our email newsletters.
