(see Super-Simple Recipes, below)
Appetizers
Cranberry-Stuffed Brie en Croute • Entertaining Canapé Platter • Crostini with Mint Pesto, Smoked Salmon & Goat Cheese • Eggplant Tapanade • Edamame Cups with Wasabi Caviar • Tempura Oysters with Asian Dipping Sauce • Spinach-Parmesan Bruschetta with Pesto Coated Shrimp • Asiago-Dill Pita Appetizers • Crispy Asian Crab Cakes • Pimento-Cheese with Creme Fraiche and Bacon • Spinach-Stuffed Mushrooms • Rabbit and Pork Belly Terrine with Roasted Pomegranate Cipollinis and Grapes • Wild Mushroom Paté • Swiss Chard Bundles with Smoked Mozzarella • Beef Tenderloin Canapés • Marinated Shrimp with Basil and Capers • Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus • Baked (or Grilled) Creole Oysters with Romano and Creole Sauce • Shaved Brussels Sprouts Crostini
Soups and Salads
Cioppino (Italian Fish Stew) • Bouillaibaisse • Oyster Stew • Lobster Bisque • Sweet Potato-Pear Soup • Southwest Butternut Squash and Apple Soup • Harvest Chili • Sherried Shrimp Bisque • Carrot-Ginger Soup with Tamari Almonds • Composed Salad with Pears, Pomegranate Seeds and Pistachios • Gingered Three Apple Salad • Green Beans with Goat Cheese and Toasted Pecans • Warm Lentil and Spinach Salad with Rosemary Vinaigrette •Shredded Brussels Sprouts, Manchego Cheese, Fried Shallots and Marcona Almonds
Savory Sides
Root Vegetable Gratin • Roasted Garlic Mashed Potato and Mushroom Casserole • Baked Apples stuffed with Orange-Scented Sweet Potatoes • Corn Pudding with Cheddar and Bacon • Roasted Brussels Sprouts with (optional) Chanterelle and Bacon Sauce • Acorn Squash stuffed with Wild Rice and Fruit • Pasta with Roasted Chestnuts, Bacon and Fried Sage Leaves • Roasted Autumn Vegetables with Bacon and Pears • Portabella Mushrooms stuffed with (reduced-fat) Mashed Potatoes • Sautéed Chard with Walnuts, Bacon and Shallots • Wild Rice Stuffing with Sausage, Apples & Fennel • Cornbread & Chorizo Stuffing • Cranberry Relish & Mushroom Gravy • Make-Ahead Gravy
The Main Event – Poultry (plus ideas on what to do with turkey leftovers)
Holiday Chicken Roulade • Duck Breasts with Raspberry Sauce • Roast Turkey with Lemons and Sage Butter • Roast Turkey Nirvana • Roasted Turkey Breast with Cranberry Jus • Roasted Autumn Vegetable Pie • Quinoa with Spaghetti Squash and Dill Almond Pesto • Smoky Turkey Tetrazzini • Turkey Cobb Salad
The Main Event – Other
Flank Steak Florentine • Herb-Crusted Standing Rib Roast with Red-Wine Mushroom Gravy • Filet Mignon with Cranberry-Zinfandel Sauce • Flank Steak Florentine • Pan-Seared Lamb Chops • Seared Scallops and Wild Mushroom Risotto with Truffle Flavors • Quince Stuffed with Savory Lamb • Beef Stewed in Wine with Bacon and Aromatics (a Crock-Pot recipe) • Rouladen (German Beef Rolls) • Braised Tofu over Bok Choy
Beverages & Desserts
Ginger-Molasses Bundt Cake with Lemon Curd • Starry Night Tort • Donna’s Egg Nog Custard • Goat Cheese Panna Cotta with Poached Pears and Maple-Bacon Syrup • Chocolate Poppyseed Cake • No-Cook Gluten-Free Brownies • Steve’s Yin Yang Cookies • Rose Street Sugar Cookies • Poached Pears with Honeyed Mascarpone • Sweet Potato Pecan Pie • Yogurt & Fig Cake • Chocolate Truffles with Bacon • Vicki’s Famous Peanut Brittle • Starstruck Ice Ring (for sparkling punch) • Holiday Sling Punch • Cranberry Cosmos • Bloody Mary Bar • The Pig’s Punch
“Super-Simple” Holiday Recipes
Fresh Figs with Honeyed Goat Cheese Spread • Gorgonzola-Pear Spread & Olive Cheese Nuggets • Standing Rib Roast • Roast Pork with Rosemary & Garlic • Turkey Cutlets with Apple Cider Sauce • Grilled Turkey Breast • Portabella Mushroom-Barley Soup • Turkey Soup • Maple-Glazed Butternut Squash & Apples • Balsamic Asparagus • Balsamic Red Cabbage • Super Simple Yellow and Green Bean Salad with Marcona Almonds • Zucchini & Yellow Squash Gratin • Lemony Melt-Away Bars • Fruit & Cheese Platter • Chocolate-Rum Mousse with Whipped Cream and Raspberries • Vicki’s Famous White and Dark Chocolate Bark
