Holiday Central
Recipes, menus, gifts, and entertaining tips
Roxanne WebberCHOOSE YOUR RECIPES
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MAIN DISHES
»SIDE DISHES
DESSERTS
APPETIZERS
HOLIDAY SURVIVAL
Cooking and entertaining tips
COOKING TIPS
DRINKING TIPS
ENTERTAINING TIPS AND ETIQUETTE
- » How to Seat
Dinner Guests
- » Party Preparation Tips
- » How to Eat More
- » More Tips on How to Eat More
- » How to Keep Guests Out of the Kitchen
- » How to Host a Turkey-Free Thanksgiving
- » Who’s Entitled to Thanksgiving Leftovers?
- » How to Talk to Boring Relatives
- » What to Do If You Ruin the Turkey
- » How to Give Uncheesy Thanks
- » What to Do When Relatives Drink Too Much and Say Embarrassing Things
- » How to Loosen Your Pants
HOLIDAY RECIPES
Mix and match these recipes for your ideal holiday menu
Get creative with your holiday menu. Start with our wealth of holiday recipes—pick your protein, your starch, your veggies, and your sweet. Or go maverick: three starches, two desserts?
It’s up to you.
CREATE YOUR OWN HOLIDAY MENU
MAIN DISHES
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TURKEY AND OTHER POULTRY
- » Roast Turkey with Mushroom Sauce
- » Truffle-Roasted Chicken
- » Turkey Two Ways (Roasted Breast and Legs Confit)
- » Roast Turkey with Creamy Herbed Gravy
- » Fried Turkey with Southern Rub
- » Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
- » Baked Chicken and Artichoke Casserole
- » Turkey Pot Pie
- » Bacon-Wrapped Turkey with Pear Cider Gravy
- » Roasted Rosemary and Lemon Chicken
- » Braised Chicken with Prunes, Olives, and Capers
- » Garlicky Roasted Chicken with Garlic Jus on Garlic Toast
- » Chicken Basquaise
- » Five-Spice Roasted Chicken
LAMB
- » Roast Leg of Lamb in an Herb Crust
- » Roasted Rack of Lamb
- » Tunisian Lamb and Quince Stew
- » Lamb Chops with Olive-and-Herb Crust
BEEF AND BISON
PORK
- » Pork Tenderloin with Spicy Apricot Glaze
- » Apple-Stuffed Pork Chops with Cider Sauce
- » Pear Pork
- » Double-Smoked Ham
- » Braised Fresh “Bacon”
- » Red-Cooked Pork
- » Orange-Maple-Glazed Pork Chops
SEAFOOD
- » Salmon en Croûte
- » Baked Snapper with Tomatoes and Olives (Pesce al Forno con Pomodori e Olive Neri)
- » Pan-Roasted Halibut with Caper Vinaigrette
- » Whole Roasted Fish Basquaise
- » Sole in Saor
VEGETARIAN
- » Bubbe’s Luchen Kugel
- » Roasted Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Stuffing
- » Mushroom and Fennel Bread Pudding
- » Savory Onion and Leek Tart
- » Savory Egg Pudding
- » Roasted Delicata Squash Salad
- » Winter Greens Lasagne
- » Smoked Cheddar Soufflé
- » Celery Root and Squash Gratin with Walnut-Thyme Streusel
- » Broccoli, Mushroom, and Gouda Quiche
- » Butternut Squash Lasagne
- » Chestnut Gnocchi with Robiola Cheese Sauce
- » Cacio e Pepe Pasta
- » Herbed Spätzle
SIDE DISHES
GRAVY, RELISH, AND SAUCES
- » Bourbon-Cream Gravy
- » Cranberry and Citrus Sauce
- » Cranberry “Spread”
- » Turnip and Pear Purée
- » Christmas Compote with Spiced Rioja
STUFFING
- » “Dirty Matzoh” Dressing
- » “Brown Bread Stuffing with Chestnuts, Apples, and Sausage”
- » Cornbread and Oyster Stuffing
VEGETABLES
- » Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Parmigiano-Reggiano
- » Roasted Onions Agrodolce
- » Jerusalem Artichokes with Crispy Prosciutto
- » Rutabaga with Mustard and Scallions
- » Green Bean Casserole Redux
- » Citrus Collards with Raisins
- » Jerusalem Artichokes with Walnut and Dill
- » Bacon and Hazelnut Leeks
- » Mustard-Braised Spiced Cabbage
- » Mediterranean Braised Chard
- » Green Beans with Shallots
- » Braised Leeks
- » Molasses and Ginger-Glazed Carrots
- » Creamed Spinach
- » Cornbread, Pecan, and Salt Pork Stuffed Onions
- » Acorn Squash with Red Onion and Currants
- » Spinach with Raisins and Pine Nuts
- » Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts and Double-Smoked Bacon
- » Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Fried Capers
- » Herbed Beets with Fennel
- » Green Beans with Smoked Bacon
BREAD, POTATOES, AND GRATINS
- » Cheddar Biscuits
- » Parker House Rolls
- » Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Potatoes
- » Mashed Potato Cakes
- » Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Ginger, Cardamom, and Honey
- » Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
- » Salt-Pack Pertaiters
- » Classic Mashed Potatoes
- » Mashed Reds
- » Candied Yams
- » Potato Parsnip Gratin
- » Gratin of Potatoes with Sweet Onion and Thyme
- » Endive and Fennel Gratin with Almonds
SOUPS
- » Winter Greens Soup
- » Ozoni Soup
- » Apple-Chestnut Soup with Parsley Croutons
- » Gingered Chicken Noodle Soup
- » New England Clam Chowder
- » Mushroom Soup
- » Onion Soup Les Halles
- » Salt Cod and Clam Stew
SALADS
DESSERTS
Cookies and Bars
- » Nutty White Chocolate Blondies
- » Shortbread Lemon Bars
- » Snickerdoodles
- » Pistachio White Chocolate Cherry Crisps
- » Fudgy Toffee Pecan Cookies
- » Metropolitan Granola Cookies
- » Zen Bars
- » Mississippi Praline Macaroons
- » Hazelnut-Anise Cookies
- » Oatzravaganza Cookies
- » Nutty Chocolate Peanut Butter Chews
- » Crackly Sugar Cookies
- » Peanut Butter-Chocolate Fudge
- » Bubbe’s Sugar Cookies
- » Pistachio Mexican Wedding Cakes
- » Whole Wheat Sablés
- » Gingerbread Cookies
- » Crisp Chocolate Chip Cookies
- » Pistachio Shortbread
- » Double Chocolate–Caramel Cookies
- » Sticky Peanut Cookie Bars
- » Meyer Lemon and Black Pepper Cookies
- » Coconut-Date Icebox Cookies
- » Mexican Chocolate Icebox Cookies
- » Charles Chocolates Pecan Brownies
- » Icebox Sugar Cookies
- » CHOW’s Intense Brownies
- » Honey Nougat
- » Chocolate Almond Nut Jobs
- » Mendiants
- » Super-Sized Ginger Chewies
- » Pumpkin Butterscotch-Chip Cookies
- » Peanut-Covered Peanut Butter Cookie Slabs
- » Pumpkin Pie with Spiced Crust
- » Brown Butterscotch Pie
- » Chocolate Pecan Pie
- » Spiked Apple Galette
- » Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
- » Vanilla Bean Pound Cake
- » Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes
- » Fresh Ginger Cake
- » Candied Grapefruit Zest
- » Chocolate-Whiskey Cake with Fluthered Cream
- » Apple Crisp with Oatmeal Streusel
- » Apple Tarts with Apple Ice
CAKES, PIES, AND MORE
ICE CREAMS
APPETIZERS
SNACKS
DIPS
- » Watercress-Walnut Dip
- » Garlicky Kale and Spinach Dip
- » Savory Cannellini Bean Spread
- » Artichoke and Crab Dip
- » Red Lentil Pâté
- » Roasted Eggplant and Walnut Dip
- » Eggplant with Pomegranate Dip (Nazkhatun)
FLATBREADS, CROSTINI, AND MORE
- » Chorizo and Olive Flatbread
- » Mini Tapenade and Manchego Sandwiches
- » Lox Flatbread
- » Welsh Rarebit Bites
- » Smoked Duck Pizza with Hoisin
- » Eggplant and Hummus Pita Crisps
- » Smoked Trout Crostini
- » Rajas Quesadillas
- » Rice Crackers with Goat Cheese and Edamame
- » Petite Camembert Sandwiches with Leeks and Cremini
- » Serrano Ham and Membrillo Crostini
Finger Food
- » Chicken Skewers with Dukkah Crust
- » Mongolian Beef Kebabs with Chile Jam
- » Smoked Paprika Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp
- » Lamb Meatballs with Lemon-Cumin Yogurt
- » Marinated Mushrooms
- » Marinated Bocconcini
- » Ecuadoran Shrimp Cocktail (Cóctel de Camarones)
- » Potato-Turnip Duck-Fat Latkes
- » Momofuku Chicken Wings
- » Snapper Ceviche with Chiles and Herbs
- » Spiced Lamb Riblets
- » Oysters with Mignonette Granité
- » Roasted Shrimp with Romesco Sauce
- » Sesame Shrimp with Cilantro-Lime Sauce
- » Endive with Figs, Blue Cheese, and Pecans
- » Smoked Chile Mussels
- » Pepper-Roasted Cauliflower
- » Fried Chickpeas with Sage
- » Polenta Fries with Fontina Fondue
COCKTAILS
NONALCOHOLIC
- » Autumn Chiller
- » Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- » Puritan’s Pride
- » Real Deal Hot Chocolate
- » Virgin Bellini
- » Chai
- » Hot Honey Lemonade
- » Mulled Apple Cider
- » Hot Cocoa
ALCOHOLIC
- » Pear, Poire
- » Mulled Wine
- » Artillery Punch
- » Blood Orange Sparkler
- » Chai Rum Not-Nog
- » Asian Iced Tea
- » French 75
- » Money Green Champagne
- » Thanksgiving Sparkler
- » Full Moon Punch
- » Basil and Rye
- » Black Pepper Martini
- » Kumquat Caipirinha
- » The Jersey Lightning
- » Spiked Wassail
- » Mexican 75
- » Bombay Government Punch
- » Round Robin
- » Vieux Carré
- » Apple Brandy Hot Toddy
- » Filthy Martini
- » Death in the P.M.
- » Lo Scintillante
- » The Corsican
- » Martinique
- » Bichon Frisé
- » Elderflower Royale
- » Sophisticate
- » Elderflower Sidecar
- » Angel’s Share
- » Girasol
- » The Chunnel
- » Solstice Punch
- » Canelazo
- » Peninsular War
- » Cranberry Culprit
- » 1621
- » Calvados-Tarragon Hot Chocolate
- » Five-Spice Hot Chocolate
- » La Pinela
- » Añejo Manhattan
- » Le Petit Hiboux
- » Gettin’ Groggy with It (GGWI)
- » Spritz
- » Aperition
- » Hoop La
- » Quaker Shaker
- » Grapefruit Spike
- » Smoky Bloody Mary
- » Ginger Bloody Mary
- » Bloody Bull
- » Bitter Widow
- » Clear Ginger Cosmopolitan
- » Casino
- » Cartini
- » V&P
BREAKFAST OR BRUNCH
EGGS AND POTATOES
- » Wilted Greens with Balsamic Fried Eggs
- » Egg-White Frittata with Shrimp, Tomato, and Spinach
- » Eggs Florentinesque
- » Red Flannel Hash
- » Chile-Cilantro Hash Browns
BAKED GOODS
PANCAKES, WAFFLES, AND FRENCH TOAST