Favorite Holiday Recipes
Welcome to our Favorite Holiday Recipes page! Here, you’ll find a collection of holiday dishes that bring warmth, joy, and tradition. From festive appetizers to indulgent desserts, these recipes are inspired by family gatherings, seasonal flavors, and a love for sharing good food.
Appetizers and Salads
Fig and Wine Focaccia Bread
Recently, I decided to incorporate figs into my wine focaccia bread recipe, and it turned out to be a delicious success. In this recipe, figs are placed on top of the focaccia and lightly sprinkled with a pinch of sugar before baking. The result is a savory bread with sweet, slightly caramelized figs—a luscious mix of flavors that delights the palate.
Tomato Shallot Confit with Whipped Ricotta
Our Saturday ritual consists of a walk to our local farmers’ market, and coffee and breakfast at a favorite restaurant. I often find that the farmers’ market dictates our menu for the week, with the lush fruits and veggies in season inspiring me. This Tomato Shallot Confit with Whipped Ricotta is no exception.
Asparagus Salad with Butter Leaf Lettuce, Brie, and Soft-Boiled Eggs
Salads are a mainstay of my diet, offering versatility and freshness that fit any meal. I savor a bowl of fresh greens and veggies not just for afternoon or dinner fare but for brunch and, occasionally, breakfast. This Roasted Asparagus with Butter Leaf Lettuce, Brie, and Soft-Boiled Eggs strikes a balance between elegance and heartiness, perfect whether serving an intimate group or a hungry crowd.
Fresh and Easy French Potato and Peapod Salad
This French-style potato salad is delicious on its own, served on a bed of greens, or used as a side dish with a protein. The crisp pea pods give it a fresh flavor, and the dressing is filled with bright-tasting herbs and mustard.
Marinated Feta and Tzatziki: A Taste of Greece
We were lucky to squeeze in a quick trip to Greece just before the lockdowns began. During our visit, we explored all the wonderful nooks and crannies of Athens and indulged in incredible Mediterranean food, including authentic marinated feta and creamy tzatziki. Bring a little of Greece home with these Marinated Feta and Tzatziki recipes.
Provencal Asparagus Tart
There is something about French Provencal food that really speaks to me. Haute Provence cuisine is a much lighter and simpler style of cooking verses Haute Cuisine, which is what a lot of people associate with French cooking. Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of...
Roasted Pepper, Artichoke and Cannellini Bean Salad
Life at my day job as a Realtor has been roller-coaster of changes by the hour since our town has gone into lock-down mode. I had a conversation with a friend that personified all that is and will be so challenging during this period. We are all concerned about...
Arugula, Sweet Potato and Quinoa Salad
This is a nutrient dense salad made with spicy arugula, sweet potato, quinoa (a complete vegan protein), and dried cranberries. I like to serve it on individual plates but you can also toss all of the ingredients into a large bowl and serve it family style.
Roasted Squash, Red Onion and Pomegranate Salad
The quiet was as soft as could be, with only the occasional sound of the kitty's paws padding along the wood floors, so it was a perfect morning to spend a little extra time curled up in bed with the fireplace and a steaming latte warming me up. Outside, the snow was...
Soup
Cream of Tomato Soup: A Comforting and Delicious Classic
Indulging in the warmth of a comforting bowl of homemade Cream of Tomato Soup is so satisfying. Paired with a grilled cheese sandwich, this Italian-style delight transforms into an American culinary classic. The ease of preparation and its hearty and delicious nature make this version a go-to dish in my kitchen.
Picante Pinto Bean Soup: Nutritious Vegetarian Fare
A quick and easy Picante Pinto Bean Soup. It’s healthy and hearty, and can be served vegan, with cheese and sour cream, or over rice.
Smoky Cream of Tomato Soup
As the light changes and fall arrives, so does my craving for a little comfort food. Something to eat while we watch a movie with the fireplace warming us. I love these cozy nights when a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese taste so yummy. Smoky Cream of Tomato...
Creamy Zucchini and Potato Soup
Seventy degrees one day and the next, we have two feet of snow, but it's not a problem as we have no place to go. One day seems to blend into another and I'm forgetting which day of the week it is. I'm also being super lazy about taking care of things around the...
Southwest Butternut Squash Soup
November has been a historic and wild month for us Americans. The political scene has made for an emotional rollercoaster and a myriad of distractions. Now that the election is over, I hope for peace, kindness, inclusion, compassion and for love to prevail. As John...
Provincial Tomato and Canellini Bean Bisque
Rustic and provincial dishes are very appealing to me. I enjoy the rough edges and textures. This tomato soup has all the right elements; smooth, with bits of chunky vegetables and cheese covered croutons to soak up some of the delicious bisque. I can imagine being...
Corn Chowder
Corn Chowder is an easy and delicious soup with many options. Spice it up by adding some roasted or canned chili peppers (Poblanos are amazing), or add clams or bacon if you'd like to amp up the flavor. Vichyssoise Corn Chowder Author: Eva Marie Recipe...
Rocky Mountain Chili {Vegetarian/Vegan/Gluten-free}
Just before Superbowl Sunday rolls around, I always make a big pot of vegetarian chili for my husband and me and whomever else maybe joining us. It is the perfect dish to make ahead of time, and then reheat when needed. We make a habit of skiing Superbowl Sunday...
Entrees
Vegan Spaghetti Squash With Spinach Basil Sauce
How wonderful it is that nature provided us with spaghetti squash, an unprocessed, gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free option to pasta. I’m in Portugal, where I love all the organic fresh produce I find at our local farmers’ market. I took advantage of the abundance of squash to make an easy and healthy meal. Vegan Spaghetti Squash With Spinach Basil Sauce is a delightful combination that delivers a delicious and nutritious dish.
Lemon and Caper Cauliflower Steaks
Cauliflower is a little like tofu, it's a convincing imitator that can be prepared in ways that are usually saved for proteins, like fish or meat. Since the flavor is mild and it has so much texture, you can easily swap it out for animal proteins and have a healthy...
Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon
I would toil away late into the evening in the back of my little store, in the kitchen with an apartment electric oven and limited supplies. After my long day, and after all of my customers had left, I would clean up, sweep the floors and then begin preparations for...
Vegetarian Mushroom Stroganoff
A wonderful warm and delicious vegetarian mushroom stroganoff recipe with a splash of white wine. I've made this with olive oil instead of butter, and a smaller amount of sour cream than most stroganoff recipes. Vegetarian Mushroom Stroganoff This is a dish that...
Sautéed Shiitake Mushrooms with Polenta
Sometimes people seem so perplexed when they find out I'm a vegetarian. "What do you eat?" I get asked all the time, and the answer seems so obvious to me - no animals. It is a personal decision I made when I was a child, and it stuck, but it has never been a...
Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Sometimes you want something warm, creamy and comforting in your belly, don’t you? I do. Pasta shells stuffed with spinach and ricotta, topped with a tangy tomato sauce is the perfect meal for such cravings. I make a Simple Tomato Sauce, but if you want to keep things...
Apple-Fennel Tart
I wish I could tell you this Apple-Fennel Tart was my original idea, but it was inspired by something I tasted at a friend's house some time ago. The unique combination of flavors was different and delicious, so I tucked the idea away for future use. The memory...
Tamales with Roasted Vegetables
Every year around this time I try to come up with a new holiday recipe that can serve as a vegetarian entrée or a side dish. This year I made a Mexican Nogada sauce, which originated in my family’s hometown of Puebla, Mexico, and paired it with corn and cheese tamales...
Eggplant Romesco
As I walk through the farmers’ market, still a little foggy and not quite awake, the beauty of the flowers, fruits and vegetables, the crisp fresh air and the smell of the food trucks preparing an array of dishes, rouses my senses. I find the displays of vivid colors...
Sides
Spinach Risotto with Mushrooms Recipe – A Cozy Fall Comfort Food
We’re looking forward to more cooler days, fall colors, and cherished family gatherings over the next few months. We’re also indulging in simple yet substantial warming meals. One such dish is this Spinach Risotto. Topped off with garlicky mushrooms and a perfectly soft-boiled egg, it transforms into a complete and utterly satisfying meal that’s easy to prepare.
Apple and Mango Chutney Stuffing
Since I am a vegetarian, I'm always charged with making the meat-free dishes for Thanksgiving. I love stuffing and gravy, so I make vegetarian versions of both. Here is a simple recipe for a really delicious vegetarian stuffing that I used to make when I was a...
Cranberry – Apple Chutney
Cranberry–Apple Chutney with its sweet, tart and slightly savory flavors, is delicious as a Thanksgiving side dish, heavenly in a cranberry-apple baked brie, tasty as a condiment served with any poultry dish, and a great addition to a turkey, chicken, or grilled cheese sandwich.
Lemon Jewel Couscous
Looking for a side dish with bright and fresh flavors? This Lemon Jewel Couscous is great hot, cold, and at room temperature. It can be served as a side dish or as a wonderful vegetarian or vegan entrée, when plated on a bed of greens, such as arugula. In the warmer...
Sautéed Shiitake Mushrooms with Polenta
Sometimes people seem so perplexed when they find out I'm a vegetarian. "What do you eat?" I get asked all the time, and the answer seems so obvious to me - no animals. It is a personal decision I made when I was a child, and it stuck, but it has never been a...
Red Onion Marmalade
Who would have thought that simmering red onions, sugar, vinegar, and a couple of herbs could produce such a lovely compote that lends itself so beautifully to just about any savory dish? This Red Onion Marmalade is one of my favorite condiments. I use it on fried or...
Potato Asparagus Salad
A delicious and healthy potato and asparagus salad with a great mix of veggies, fresh herbs and a savory vinaigrette spiked with some lemon zest to give it a little pop of unexpected citrus.
Stuffed Poblano Peppers
I often joke with friends about what a pain it can be to entertain in Boulder. It seems everybody has some dietary need or preference. While I realize that allergies and food sensitivities are a very real thing that can be life threatening, in Boulder, it is a bit...
Olive Oil and Salt Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Beets
The weather has been a bit funky here and I can't figure out what to wear or eat because one minute it is eighty degrees and the next minute it is cold and rainy. Part of me is looking forward to the fall and all that comes with it, but there is the other part of me...
Desserts and Baked Goods
Fig and Wine Focaccia Bread
Recently, I decided to incorporate figs into my wine focaccia bread recipe, and it turned out to be a delicious success. In this recipe, figs are placed on top of the focaccia and lightly sprinkled with a pinch of sugar before baking. The result is a savory bread with sweet, slightly caramelized figs—a luscious mix of flavors that delights the palate.
Gluten-Free Spice Cake
Many of us have a sweet tooth, but we’re also aware that excessive sugar isn’t healthy. I believe in a balanced approach to life where desserts are occasional indulgences, not daily sustenance. Lately, I’ve been craving a sweet treat with fall flavors. One of my favorite autumn desserts is my Norwegian Apple Cake, but I also wanted a gluten-free, low-glycemic option in my repertoire. After some experimentation, I came up with this delicious Gluten-Free Spice Cake.
My Favorite Cinnamon Buns
We are in Norway for the holidays, my mother's homeland. While you rarely see them with frosting as you do in the States, Norwegians take cinnamon buns seriously. They are everywhere, with their deliciously hard-to-resist aroma wafting out of coffee shops and...
The Land of Trolls and Apple Cake
A delicious traditional Norwegian Apple Cake recipe from my mother’s homeland. The land of trolls, fjords, and apple cake.
Elegant Red Wine Poached Pears: A Simple and Beautiful Dessert
Whole red wine poached pears are a simple and beautiful dessert. In this recipe, we steep the pears in a syrup made of wine, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla, infusing them with the flavors of the season while keeping them light. Depending on how long the pears...
Cinnamon Apple Crisp
Sitting on our deck, I’m watching a gaggle of wild turkeys in front of me scratching the dirt and pecking at dried-out grass fronds. They are a nervous bunch. Four of the twenty birds are caught in our fenced yard, and in a panic. Ric goes to open the gate and shoo...
Apple-Cherry Pie
There is something comforting about the smell of an apple pie baking. The butter, cinnamon, apples, and sugar create a delicious blend of aromas that can make any space feel like home. Adding sweet cherries to make an Apple-Cherry Pie happened by chance, but it is now a delicious family favorite.
Tomato and Wine Focaccia Bread
Bakery Life and My Tomato and Wine Focaccia Bread Every day from April through October, my mornings began at six. I’d quickly dress and head to my charming little shop and catering business on Fishers Island. My friend Kristen, a dedicated mother of three adorable...
Butterscotch Pudding with Chocolate Ganache
Butterscotch is for many a nostalgic flavor harkening back to our childhoods and small boxes of packaged puddings our parents would make. It's a flavor that has had a recent comeback, and for good reason – it's delicious! Super rich and creamy, this is not the...