In Good Taste

A Christmas Eve Appetizer Menu

Maris Callahan — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 17:36:34 +0000

A simple Christmas Eve appetizer menu with small plates, snacks, bites – and a cocktail! – that is also perfect for any holiday party. Growing up, my family celebrated Christmas and Hanukkah. My mom is Jewish and my dad lapsed Catholic, but my parents wanted my brother and I to experience the best of both winter holidays. I remember picking Hanukkah presents out from under the Christmas tree and, on the rare occasions that Hanukkah and Christmas intersected, feeling doubly lucky that Santa had visited our house. Our holidays were also pretty non-denominational. We didn’t go to church or synagogue and celebrations generally meant an abundance of good food. On Christmas Eve, we would always have appetizers instead of a more traditional holiday meal. For the past two years, this is a tradition that Brad and I have picked up with his family. If you’re celebrating Christmas Eve with small plates, bites or snacks, here are some of my favorite recipes to add to a Christmas Eve appetizer menu. Christmas Eve Appetizer Menu Ina Garten’s Roasted Shrimp Cocktail from Barefoot Contessa Goat Cheese Pistachio Stuffed Dates French Quarter Cheese Spread from Creative Culinary Baked Brie en Croute Miniature Crab Cakes from Epicurious Turkey […]

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Tips and Recipes to Host the Best Holiday Cookie Swap

Maris Callahan — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 18:00:41 +0000

Sound easy enough to pull off? We have everything you need to organize the best holiday cookie swap of the season, including a baker’s dozen cookie recipes from some of our favorite blogs. The Prep Guest List When planning your holiday cookie swap, remember that you’ll need to bake enough cookies so that everyone can take a few home. That means you might not want to invite thirty of your closest friends…unless they happen to be serious bakers. Shoot for up to ten friends who enjoy baking and who you think will all get along with one another. Cookie Rules The first rule of a holiday cookie swap is that no one talks about the holiday cookie swap. Or is that from the movie Fight Club? Either way, the holiday cookie swap rules are up to you, but you should definitely set some. Let guests know what the parameters are—such as, whether or not cookies should be made from scratch or if they should be holiday-themed. Don’t be afraid to delegate a little to ensure you don’t have three identical shortbreads. Typically, guests bake a dozen cookies for every attendee. But a half dozen would work if the party is large (say, more […]

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14 Insane Thanksgiving Side Dishes You Need to Make

Maris Callahan — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 18:55:54 +0000

Thanksgiving turkeys get a lot of hype, but really? It’s the side dishes that people look forward to all year. It’s the mashed potatoes, the stuffing, the corn casserole and the cranberry sauce that people look forward to all year. While some people are traditionalists when it comes to the big meal, others like to mix it up and add fresh new Thanksgiving side dishes to the dinner table each year. If you’re among those who are looking to spice up your menu this holiday season, here are 14 of the most indulgent and creative dishes you can make this year. 1. Poutine Stuffing with Sausage and Cheese Curds This poutine stuffing is a fun twist on a fall classic. Perfect for Thanksgiving, it’s packed full of pork sausage and cheese curds and topped with a delicious poutine gravy. 2. Caramelized Onion and Bacon Mashed Potatoes If you’re looking to take your ‘taters to the next level, caramelized onions and bacon will add sweet and salty flavors into these creamy and delicious bacon mashed potatoes. 3. Mushroom Goat Cheese Galette It takes a few hours to pull this savory mushroom goat cheese galette together, but when you taste the tangy goat cheese and […]

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9 Essentials to Know When Hosting Thanksgiving for the First Time

Maris Callahan — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 04:49:06 +0000

If you are hosting Thanksgiving for the first time this year, you’re probably wondering where to start. Hosting Thanksgiving for the first time is a big milestone whether you’re hosting three people or 30, especially if you’re taking over hosting duties from a family member who has established some long-standing traditions. The first time I cooked Thanksgiving dinner was for a “Friendsgiving” in college. It was also the first time I had ever dared venture into the body cavity of a turkey, and it certainly wasn’t the last. As much fun as it can be to cook the big meal, it’s also a daunting task. We asked readers for their best advice on hosting Thanksgiving for the first time and by keeping these tips and ideas in mind, you’ll be able to get the details out of the way so that you can enjoy the big day — and maybe even squeeze in a little time for a shower, too. Make a menu plan When you’re trying to pull off the orchestrated affair, planning ahead is key. When you’re planning your menu, go beyond bookmarking recipes and delegating side dishes. Make a special note of how long each dish takes to […]

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Fall-Themed Brunch Party & Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria

Maris Callahan — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 19:23:35 +0000

If you love to entertain, but want to do it within a conservative budget, a festive brunch party is a great way to play hostess without breaking the bank. With the holiday season approaching, a fall-themed brunch party is the best way to start a weekend day. I don’t consider brunch to be a B-list meal. In fact, if you do it right, weekend brunch can be the only meal you need to eat all day. You can eat sweet and savory foods together and you can drink cocktails before noon. What could be better? As we look ahead toward the holiday weekend, I’m going to hazard a guess at some point between now and the end of the year, you’ll spend a least one weekend morning skipping your usual “stay-in-bed-til-noon” routine in favor of preparing or attending a meal that is equal parts social and juuuust substantial enough to make you want to follow said meal with an immediate nap. The staples of any brunch party menu, whether you’re throwing the party or bringing a dish to a potluck, are pretty consistent: Something fresh, like a bright green salad with all of the seasonal fixings. In the fall, I like to toss mixed greens with walnuts, blue or […]

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