I absolutely love this time of year – everyone’s spirits soar. It’s a great time to regroup with friends whether it’s a formal holiday event or just entertaining at home.
I have a few go to recipes on my website Goodtaste.tv that I rely on when I’m entertaining during the holidays – dishes that are tried and true winners with guests. I wanted to share a few of those with you, and I’ll provide you the links.
A couple of those recipes come from the international acclaimed cooking divas Les Dames d’Escoffier. Their cookbook Cooking with Les Dames d’Escoffier-At Home with the Women Who Shape the Way We Eat and Drink, by the way, is fabulous and would make a great holiday gift. Houston food stylist Julie Hettiger is the artist who makes the dishes in the book look so fabulous and Culinary Institute LeNotre’s Marie LeNotre was on the Les Dames team that created the delicious recipes.
Les Dames Hummus Three Ways is super easy, and the nice part is you get three separate ‘dips’ for your guests to munch on.
Another winner in the book is their Italian style braised short rib with cheesy rosemary polenta- a savory sensation that is fork tender. This is one of those dishes you can make the day before, and it even tastes better.
For an incredibly delicious twist on a slow-cooked favorite, try Olivette’s Braised Pork Shank with Anasazi Beans – it is delicious and topped with a gremolata flavored with candied orange, lemon, garlic and delightful bits of fried pork belly. The Houstonian’s executive chef, Neal Cox, is the creative genius behind that tasty dish.
Another super, super easy crowd pleaser is HEB Cooking Connection’s EZ Holiday Bruschetta. The simple part is that you can buy the garlic bread that’s ready to pop into the oven (look for the foil wrappers in the baker) and then add your yummy mozzarella and spices on top.
Entertaining a crowd and want a super simple entree maybe even something buffet style? Pasta is always a hit. Central Market shared a couple of their delicious pasta sauces that you can whip up in no time – a no cook puttanesca sauce and a delicious herbed pesto sauce.
If you want to keep with the Italian theme, PBS star Lidia Bastianich shared one of her focaccia recipes with me. This one has artichokes, sundried tomatoes and capers – delish!
Save room for dessert with this seasonal Eggnog Tiramisu…you may never want to try the original again after a bite of this! Be sure to get this kids involved in the cooking process on this one…it’s a lot of fun!
I’ve got all kinds of great holiday ideas on my website Goodtaste.tv including holiday wine suggestions. While you’re there be sure to sign up for my newsletter. If you have a recipe you’d like me to share with my viewers, let me know. Happy Holidays!!
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