If you’re looking for some new (and delicious!) holiday recipes this year, you’ve come to the right place!
The holidays are just around the corner, and if you’re looking for new and different holiday recipes to wow your guests, read on to find delicious holiday recipes for all ages.
1. Three Yummy Charcuterie Boards
Let’s face it—sometimes you just need a snack while you’re waiting for the turkey to cook and while the football games are on TV. Something trendy happening in food right now are fresh takes on the charcuterie board.
A traditional charcuterie board has cured meats, cheeses, bread, crackers, and even dried fruits, nuts, and olives. These foods are often displayed in artful ways on a cutting board, and guests can then pick and choose which items they want to eat.
The great thing about the charcuterie board is that it can be a host to whatever finger foods you want—they can have a theme or just be full of foods you know your guests will love.
If you have health-conscious friends and family, create a charcuterie board full of fruits and vegetables. Cut up bite-sized pieces of apples, pears, oranges, grapes, pineapples, green peppers, celery, carrots, broccoli, or any other combination of fruits and vegetables for this healthy board. You can add a side of ranch for those who like to dip their vegetables, or some melted chocolate à la fondue for those who want something sweet on their fruit. You can also add in crackers or crostinis for an extra crunch. The options are limitless!
If you are looking for an alternative to dessert, why not try a dessert charcuterie board? Add in your favorite candies, cookies, pretzels and nuts (homemade or store bought), and let your guests pick and choose! Get the kids involved by having them help pick out the items to serve on this board, and letting them arrange the board before serving.Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad
Sometimes, finding an alternative to a traditional side salad is difficult. How about trying this bacon and Brussels sprout salad, full of flavor and in-season vegetables? All you need to do is cook up some bacon (add some maple syrup for extra fall flavor), thinly shave the Brussels sprouts, add some almonds for crunch, and top it off with parmesan cheese. You can even add in a citrus vinaigrette to balance out the flavors. This side only has about 300 calories per serving for those who are counting!
2. Dauphinoise Potatoes
If you are looking for a way to incorporate potatoes into the meal without going the traditional route of mashed, check out this French recipe loved by Julia Child herself. Dauphinoise potatoes are essentially a potato au gratin. To make, thinly slice potatoes and layer them in a dish, and top each layer with a mix of cream, garlic, butter, and cheese. Repeat this three to four times, depending on the size of your dish, and bake! Experiment with the type of cheese you like, and different herbs and spices to give this dish another level of flavor.
3. Warm Quinoa and Butternut Squash Dressing
Some of us just don’t like traditional dressing or stuffing, so check out this quinoa and butternut squash–based dressing. For this recipe, you just have to roast your vegetables (butternut squash and onions, along with garlic), cook the quinoa to your liking, then combine in a large bowl, adding in cranberries for tartness and pistachios for crunch. This dish is best served warm.
4. Pumpkin Brownie Bites
Ever feel too full after Thanksgiving meal for a slice of pie, but still want something to curb your sweet tooth? Enter pumpkin brownie bites! Take a simple brownie recipe (or a boxed brownie mix), add in some canned pumpkin, and bake away. They are just that simple! For added texture, you can add in walnuts or chocolate chips.
5. Caramel Apple Crisp Bars
Have an abundance of apples left over from a family trip to the apple orchard? Check out caramel apple crisp bars. This recipe calls for a simple brown sugar and flour crust, covered with thinly sliced apples topped with a creamy caramel sauce. Add extra caramel just before serving, or a dash of maple syrup to add another flavor dimension.
Happy holidays from the Metro East Dental family!
All of us at Metro East Dental wish you and yours a happy holiday season! If we haven’t seen you and your family in a while, call us now to schedule an appointment—we love to see you at least twice a year!
