Well, it's been a while since we've done one of these recipe exchanges, and there's no time like the present to get one started.
Here are a few of the recipes we make in our family during the holiday season. Some for Thanksgiving, some for Christmas, and sometimes for other special occasions. I have plenty more I could provide but I'll start with these to give a nice variety of flavors.
Pumpkin Soup with Spicy Chipotle Cream
Servings: 8
Ingredients
2 15 oz cans pure pumpkin
4 cups chicken broth
4 tsp brown sugar
2 medium onions, chopped
6 gloves garlic, chopped
4 tbsp butter
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tsp ground chipotle chili powder
2 cinnamon sticks
3/4 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
1 tbsp ground coriander
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
pinch of nutmeg
Directions
In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium high heat.
Add in onions, garlic, ginger, sugar and cinnamon sticks. Cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
Stir in pumpkin, broth, coriander, paprika, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat, remove cinnamon sticks, and pour soup into a blender. Puree until smooth. If you have an immersion blender you can use that right in the saucepan
Return soup to sauce pan and keep on low heat until ready to serve.
In a small bowl, combine yogurt and chipotle powder.
Divide soup evenly into 8 bowls. Place about 2 tbsp of the yogurt into the center of each bowl of soup, and gently swirl into soup using a toothpick.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Servings: 8
Ingredients
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
2 tablespoons orange juice
3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix 3 tablespoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon orange zest together in small bowl until thoroughly combined; set aside.
Lay two 24 by 12 inch sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil perpendicular to each other inside rimmed baking sheet. Place sweet potatoes in center of foil and sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Fold opposite sides of foil toward each other and crimp edges to seal tightly. Put baking sheet in oven and bake until sweet potatoes are tender, about 60 minutes. Remove baking sheet from oven and heat broiler.
Carefully open 1 end of foil pouch, taking care to avoid escaping steam, and pour potatoes and accumulated liquid into food processor. Add butter, cream, orange juice, salt, cinnamon, remaining 1/2 teaspoon orange zest, pepper, and cayenne and process until completely smooth, 30 to 60 seconds, scraping down bowl as needed.
Transfer potato puree to 2-quart souffle dish and sprinkle evenly with reserved sugar-zest mixture. Broil sweet potatoes until topping is lightly browned and bubbling, 2 to 4 minutes. Serve.
Potato and Celery Root Mash
Ingredients
3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 pound celery root, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
Kosher salt
Black pepper
1 1/2 cups half and half
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Directions
Place the potatoes and celery root in separate large pots and add enough cold water to cover. Bring to a boil and add 2 teaspoons salt. Reduce heat and simmer until the vegetables are very tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Drain and return the vegetables to the pot. Optional: you can put them through a ricer or food mill for a smoother consistency.
Add the half and half, butter, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and mash to the desired consistency. Sprinkle with the chives and serve
Glazed Carrots
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1.5 pounds carrots
3 tbsp unsalted butter
heavy pinch kosher salt
12 oz ginger ale (good quality, not Canada Dry or similar)
1 tsp chili powder
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves
Directions
Braised Carrots and Celery Root with Apple
Servings: 8 to 12
Ingredients
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 shallots, minced
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups apple cider (not carbonated)
12 sprigs fresh thyme
4 bay leaves
Salt and pepper
3 pounds celery root, peeled, halved if medium or quartered if large, and sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 pounds carrots, peeled and sliced on bias 1/4 inch thick
2 Fuji or honeycrisp apple, cored and cut into 1/4-inch dice
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 teaspoons minced fresh marjoram
Directions
Melt 2 tablespoon butter in large Dutch oven over high heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and just beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add broth, cider, thyme sprigs, bay leaves, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; bring to simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Add celery root, stir to combine, and return to simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Add carrots and cook until vegetables are tender, 10 to 14 minutes.
Remove pot from heat. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves and stir in apple. Push vegetable mixture to sides of pot. Add mustard and remaining 4 tablespoons butter to center and whisk into cooking liquid. Stir to coat vegetable mixture with sauce, transfer to serving dish, sprinkle with marjoram, and serve.
.
Some of these can be made ahead and easily reheated, while some are best served immediately after being made.
Best candidates to make ahead:
Pumpkin Soup - Gently reheat and add the chipotle cream swirl right before serving
Potato and Celery Root Mash - Just reheat gently and add the chives right before serving
Sweet Potato Casserole - Just don't add the topping yet. Gently reheat it and then add the topping and broil it (or use a brulee torch if you have one)
The braised carrots with celery root and apple also reheats well, the flavors blend even more, but the texture does change a bit - it's somewhat personal preference whether it's considered better or not.
The glazed carrots will definitely be best when served immediately after cooking.
So there you have it: some of our favorite recipes. I could also post the recipe for the pumpkin pie that MrsIanRogue always makes, and it's seriously the best one I've ever had.
Other holiday dishes we make that I can provide recipes for:
Cranberry Pork Roast
Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Bacon
Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake (we make this for Christmas morning)
Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips (and various optional mix-ins)
We're going to be trying a few other recipes this season, we'll see if they come out well enough to be worth posting.
Loading comments...