With December comes the strings of bright lights, cold wintery nights, joy and of course, the holiday parties. Whether you are in charge of hosting a gathering for your family and friends or of bringing a dish or two to a potluck dinner, here is a list of top holiday dishes that are sure to impress the holiday party crowd.
1. Sunday Prime Rib: From the Food Network queen herself, Ina Garten, this beautiful rib roast recipe will be the star of the holiday dinner spread, accompanied by the homemade mustard horseradish sauce. Though it requires a bit more hands-on approach while the rib roast is in the oven, the reactions from your fellow holiday guests will be worth the extra effort. See recipe here: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/sunday-rib-roast-recipe-1941847.
2. City Ham: If you are leaning towards a more traditional Christmas dinner feel, check out this glazed ham recipe from Alton Brown. This recipe is on the longer side so make sure to ensure you have plenty of time to prepare this main dish. It also calls for city ham which is a brined ham packaged in a plastic bag that is marked “ready to cook/ ready to serve”. For best results, look for city hams that are labeled “ham in natural juices.” The brown sugar and ginger snap crust on the ham will make your guests want seconds and thirds. See recipe here: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/city-ham-recipe-2013153.
3. Maple Glazed Ginger Brussel Sprouts: If cooking a main dish is not your calling, consider preparing this simple four ingredient, 5 minute Brussel sprouts dish. Brussel sprouts are high in fiber, Vitamin K and C as well as high in potassium. The maple syrup brings out major holiday vibes while the ginger adds a dimension to the flavor. See recipe here: https://foodheavenmadeeasy.com/brussel-sprouts-4-ways/.
4. Cranberry Sauce Glazed Meatballs: If you have an extra can of cranberry sauce left over from Thanksgiving, this is the perfect recipe to use it up in. Make the meatballs from scratch or pick up a bag of premade meatballs to speed up the process, throw together the sauce ingredients and place in a slow cooker or large sauce pan to simmer for an hour before serving. Use fancy toothpicks to dress up the dish for the party. See recipe here: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/15206/cocktail-meatballs/.
5. Eggplant Parmesan with Crisp Bread Crumb Topping: For a vegetarian feast, this eggplant parmesan dish will wow the holiday dinner guests. The dish is warm and comforting with its crisp topping that adds texture. Lay out the eggplant slices in a beautiful design to dress up the dish. You can also make the dish ahead of time and refrigerate for up to a day and then bake in time for the dinner. See recipe here: https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/eggplant-parmesan-with-crisp-bread-crumb-topping.
6. Sugar cookies and Milk for Santa: And no holiday get-together or party can be complete without preparing for the day Santa arrives with all the gifts for the people on his “Nice” list. Make sure you’re on his list by checking out these awesome and varied cookie recipes. Substitute dairy milk for almond or soy milk, if you so wish. See cookie recipes here: https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/christmas/g2577/cookies-for-santa/.