From Nana’s Famous Egg Dish to Spicy Sangria and Bourbon Pecan Pie, here are our favorite holiday recipes that we enjoy every Christmas!
Hello friends!! Tis the season for festive eating and drinking. As Christmas approaches, I am increasingly looking forward to making our favorite holiday recipes and enjoying the holidays with family.
While most of the time, I aim to eat nourishing recipes with greens, protein, and fresh, healthy ingredients (like these). thermal cooking recipes), I like to live from the 80/20 perspective, leaving plenty of space for special treats. I also believe in enjoying vacations, special food, and time together without worrying too much about what I eat.
Year after year, we make a point of including several traditional recipes among the meal offerings. For example, it is a tradition to have Alton Brown’s Overnight Cinnamon Rolls Christmas morning opening presents. Making these comforting and delicious holiday recipes is one of our favorite ways to make breakfast, lunch, or dinner even more special. So, with that in mind, I thought I’d share our favorite holiday recipes, from brunch casseroles to spicy sangria and Ina’s rib roast. Let’s dig!
Our favorite holiday recipes
Nana’s famous egg dish
This egg casserole is perfect for any brunch or holiday celebrations. It freezes beautifully to make ahead and is delicious with pico de gallo salsa.
The famous Grammie de Madre recipe
Oh, you have to try the famous Grammie de Madre recipe! It’s the perfect holiday dessert: a delicious cookie bar that will satisfy even those with a sweet tooth. Trust me, after one bite you will ask for the recipe.
Green beans with goat cheese, almonds and cranberries
These green beans are bright and fresh, with creamy goat cheese, orange zest, crunchy slivered almonds and sweet cranberries. The recipe is gluten-free and only takes 15 minutes from start to finish.
The Ultimate Fall and Winter Salad
This salad is a fall dream come true. It features butternut squash, spicy arugula, tangy vinaigrette, chicken, pumpkin seeds and goat cheese. It’s perfect for any Christmas get-together or party and makes a veggie-filled side dish. My vegetarian friends can easily omit the chicken and it’s just as delicious without it.
The best raw chocolate tart
This raw chocolate tart, made with cashews and cocoa and an almond and coconut crust, is a decadent gluten-free dessert that requires no baking!
Holiday Spice Sangria
Holiday Spice Sangria! It is prepared before any holiday evening and the flavors improve over the course of a few days. It’s perfect for parties because it’s a fun twist on the usual bottle of wine.
Mulled wine from Ina Garten
Warm up with a pot of Ina Garten’s mulled wine recipe, a blend of apple cider and red wine infused with cinnamon, clove, and orange.
Ina’s Sunday Rib Roast
Ina’s Sunday Rib Roast with Mustard and Horseradish is often our centerpiece at a Christmas party. It’s a crowd favorite.
Ina’s Pecan, Chocolate and Bourbon Pie
Another favorite from Ina. Chocolate, bourbon and pecans – what’s not to love? I’ve done it twice already this year and plan to do it again on Saturday. I just use the frozen gluten free crust from Whole Foods.
Our Christmas weekend menu
This is what our menu will look like this year:
Christmas Eve
Dinner at my father’s house is always a feast of delicious food and treats. We usually enjoy some sort of Mexican food buffet, with tamales, enchiladas, beans and rice, and an assortment of desserts. My aunt usually makes eggnog and it is SO good.
Christmas Day is here. We have breakfast and open presents, then everyone goes home to relax/take a nap, then come back for dinner, desserts and cocktails.
Here is our usual menu:
Christmas brunch:
- Nana’s Egg Casserole
- Alton Brown Cinnamon Rolls
- Bacon or ham (I haven’t decided yet)
- Tamales and beans (from madre!)
- Coffee and mimosas
Dinner on Christmas Day:
- Cheese board and artichoke dip with crackers
- Mediterranean Chopped Salad
- Smoked Turkey on the Traeger
- Stuffing and sauce
- Beef fillet with horseradish sauce
- Potatoes with cheese (madre)
- Fresh sourdough
- Bourbon Pecan Pie + Dessert Platter (tons of different cookies and candies)
- Mulled wine, eggnog and champagne
This should be a very good and very tasty party ahead 😉
I would love to know what you have on your holiday menu this year!! Brussels sprouts, cheese ball, fun appetizers, Yule log? Share your favorite vacation in the comments below!
xo
Gina
You can also enjoy:
