Planning your dinner menu for Christmas Day/Eve or New Year’s Eve? I’ve got you covered. Below are popular holiday recipes my readers have loved in the past plus a few new recipes this year. You’ll find everything listed by course: cocktails, appetizers, sides, main entrees, and desserts/after-dinner drinks. Happy holidays and enjoy!
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Your favorite bourbon infused with dried figs and vanilla beans. Perfect for an Old Fashioned or sipping on the rocks.
One of my all time favorite classic cocktails from the early 1900’s. Gin, maraschino liqueur (cherry), crème de violette, and fresh lemon juice.
The bourbon drinkers mojito. Fresh muddled lime, blackberries, and mint mixed with bourbon and topped with soda water.
A simple and refreshing pear martini made with pear vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup.
How to make the classic old fashioned drink the right way. Bourbon, bitters, simple syrup (sugar cube), and an orange peel.
A traditional cosmopolitan cocktail recipe made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice.
A celebratory champagne cocktail made with maraschino liqueur and fresh lemon juice.
A classic cocktail consisting of gin, champagne, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
Is there a better brunch cocktail than the bloody mary? This is an easy and delicious standard bloody mary recipe just waiting to be garnished.
Irish coffee made with coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and frothy whipped cream.
A fall-inspired Manhattan cocktail recipe made with bourbon, maple syrup, black walnut bitters, and orange peel.
The passion fruit martini is an intensely tropical cocktail made with fresh passion fruit juice, vanilla vodka, simple syrup, and fresh lime juice.
A holiday/fall-inspired red sangria made with Spanish red wine, green apples, oranges, Grand Mariner, maple syrup, fresh rosemary, and cinnamon.
Perfect for the holidays, the eggnog cocktail consists of chilled eggnog, Irish cream, and vanilla vodka.
The limoncello martini is a refreshing and citrusy cocktail made with limoncello, vodka, fresh lemon juice, and fresh rosemary.
The classic and refreshing Moscow mule cocktail consists of ginger beer, vodka, and fresh lime juice.
A simple and incredibly delicious buffalo chicken calzone made with crispy chicken, mozzarella cheese, and buffalo sauce.
Easy golden baked brie in puff pastry topped with honey and your favorite berry jam. Serve with crackers, apple, and pear.
A simple pear and pomegranate salad topped with bites of slow-roasted brown sugar pork belly. A delicious sweet and savory salad.
Fancy pizza made with fontina and pecorino cheese, sautéed red onions, butternut squash, bacon, and fresh rosemary.
Delicious baked oysters made with pancetta, butter, shallot, garlic, panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, and baby spinach.
Grilled chicken served with a tangy, Argentinian herb-based sauce made with fresh parsley, cilantro, garlic, olive oil, and spices.
My favorite app ever. Marinated flank steak skewers prepared in a homemade teriyaki marinade with a hazy New England Style IPA.
A simple guide to the essential meats, cheeses, and fruits needed to build the perfect charcuterie board for any occasion.
Sea scallops seared in a cast iron skillet with a lemon and herb butter sauce.
Fig pizza made with fig jam and topped with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula, and a balsamic reduction.
Orange cauliflower is made with an orange sticky sauce made from honey, fresh orange juice, sriracha, garlic, soy sauce, and ground ginger.
Baked lobster tails are basted with a simple garlic, lemon, and herb butter and topped with savory crushed Ritz crackers and Parmesan cheese.
The ultimate savory app. Bacon-wrapped scallops wrapped in bacon coated with brown sugar and paprika. Broiled for a caramelized, smokey finish.
A healthier spin on classic coconut shrimp. Thanks to an air fryer, they’re crispy, savory, a little sweet, and really easy to make right at home.
My cream cheese mashed potatoes are buttery, silky smooth, and creamy, and taste a lot like fancy steakhouse mashed potatoes.
Delicious and easy brussels sprouts roasted with bacon, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Baked French fries finished with Parmesan cheese and truffle oil.
Simple and delicious roasted fingerling potatoes, oven-fried in duck fat with parmesan and herbs.
Creamy, cheesy buffalo chicken mac and cheese made with sharp cheddar cheeses, crushed Texas toast croutons, shredded rotisserie chicken, and buffalo sauce.
Creamy butternut squash mac and cheese made with pureed butternut squash and sharp cheddar cheese. Topped with buttered panko and parmesan.
Perfectly roasted red potatoes with an ultra-tender inside and golden crisp exterior. Brushed with garlic butter for the ultimate finish.
Creamy chicken carbonara is inspired by a classic Italian pasta dish made with bacon, whisked egg, and hard cheese. It’s creamy, delicious, date-night worthy, and will rock your world.
Simple creamy gnocchi is a date-night worthy dish that takes about 25 minutes to pull together. A fancy, hearty weeknight tested dinner that is creamy, cheesy and delicious.
Pan-seared steak with a simple coffee rub delivers a dreamy crust and juicy inside.
Jumbo shells filled with ground sweet Italian sausage, ricotta and parmesan cheese, fresh basil, garlic, and an optional egg. Baked topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese until golden.
Pan-seared salmon topped with a creamy avocado and basil sauce.
Filet mignon covered with a thick red wine and balsamic sauce, inspired by Acqua Al 2 in Florence, Italy.
Pan-seared porterhouse steak prepared with homemade horseradish sauce, chimichurri sauce, and au poivre sauce.
Simple freshly steamed lobster served with melted butter and lemon wedges. Get ready for summer.
The simplest way to grill filet mignon without ruining it. Grilled to perfection in 10 minutes and topped with my favorite herb butter.
Ribeye seared in a cast iron skillet and topped with a blue cheese compound butter.
Simple lemon butter scallops served over my favorite risotto recipe made with shallots, mushrooms, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and a little white wine.
The perfect baked pork tenderloin seasoned with a blend of dry spices and roasted in the oven for the perfect juicy and tender inside.
Slow-cooked red wine braised short ribs served over creamy golden mashed potatoes. A rich and savory meal that’s perfect for cold winter nights.
The only filet mignon recipe you will ever need. Never grill steak again—the fail-proof method to cooking the perfect filet mignon.
Ribeye steak topped with chimichurri sauce—an herb-based sauce made with fresh parsley, cilantro, garlic, olive oil, and spices. Served with seasoned, crispy baked potato wedges.
Classic, crispy chicken Parmesan made in a cast iron skillet with fresh mozzarella.
Lamb seasoned with fresh rosemary and oregano and seared in a cognac butter sauce in a cast iron skillet.
Lamb chops seared to perfection in a cast iron skillet and drizzled with garlic and rosemary-infused drippings.
Pan-seared filet mignon wrapped in bacon and topped with herb butter. A simple and delicious date-night-worthy meal.
Homemade sweet potato gnocchi prepared in a buttery sauce with bacon, shallots, garlic, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, and rosemary.
Steak and Lobster. Seared NY strip steak served with baked and buttered lobster tails.
Easy and delicious chocolate peanut butter brownies baked with chocolate chips and topped with a rich layer of chocolate ganache and drizzle of peanut butter.
The perfect homemade limoncello recipe made with Everclear, organic lemons, and simple syrup.
The rich and delicious chocolate martini is made with vanilla vodka, dark Creme De Cocoa, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, and heavy cream.
The ultimate dessert cocktail made with vanilla vodka, coffee liqueur, instant espresso, and chocolate liqueur.
Super creamy, egg-free, cinnamon ice cream that comes together in 15 minutes (plus freezing), without an ice cream machine.
Irish coffee made with coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and frothy whipped cream.
A rich and simple dark chocolate cheesecake with a serious Oreo twist.
Crack brownies—delicious and rich dark chocolate brownies topped with melted dark chocolate Reese’s peanut butter cups and sprinkled with sea salt.
A delicious spin on simple crème brûlée made with ground cinnamon. The perfect date-night or celebration dessert.
Classic apple crisp is one of my favorite fall desserts. Served warm with vanilla ice cream, it’s the ultimate sweet, tart, and creamy dessert made in a cast iron skillet.
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