easy entertaining – 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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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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Easy Baba Ghanoush Recipe

Maris Callahan — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 06:00:15 +0000

Besides the fact that it’s fun to say, Baba ghanoush is actually quite fun to make, too. Baba ghanoush sounds like it would be overly complicated to make, but in reality, this easy baba ghanoush recipe is simply eggplant blended up with lemon juice, tahini, garlic and sea salt. While most recipes ask you to char the eggplant on a grill or over the flame of a gas stove, you can also use your broiler to achieve smoky flavor while saving time and energy. This tip proves to be especially useful, too, if you have neither a grill nor a gas stove, which is not uncommon for those of you cooking from your first or “starter” kitchen. Baba ghanoush, which resembled traditional hummus, is a Levantine dish of cooked eggplant mixed with onions, tomatoes, olive oil and various seasonings. You’ll find it in Middle Eastern cuisine but you’ll also find it in the supermarket next to the packaged prepared dips and spreads. What’s it taste like? It’s creamy, tastes way more decadent than it actually is and has a balance between slightly sweet notes and savory undertones from the lemon and tahini. It’s naturally vegan and gluten-free so you can serve it to pretty […]

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