Home cooking and the holidays go hand in hand. While every family has a different idea of what constitutes a proper holiday meal, most can agree that food is the linchpin of any holiday gathering.
In the spirit of the holidays, I’ve asked my colleagues to share their favorite homemade recipes. So if you’re in a bind over what to bring to the celebration, or just trying to distract relatives by shifting the conversation to “these delicious homemade cookies” you brought, these recipes are for you!
[No Bake] Christmas Wreath Cookies
Shared by Alyssa Erickson, Vendor Sales
“This is one of my favorite recipes and one that my mom and I can never NOT make. It’s simple, but oh so delicious! These cookies are not too sweet, and you will definitely be taking two as the Christmas cookie tray gets passed around!”
Sweet Potato Casserole
Shared by Kevin Otte, Head of Office (San Francisco) and Carrie Roberts, Client Sales
Carrie says, “Nothing says the holidays to me more than my grandmother’s sweet potato casserole. Of course, having a mom from NC and growing up in VA, pecans (pee-cans, pick-ons, pee-cons, pick-ans, whatever toots your fancy) aren’t optional in this recipe. But really… what could be better? It’s essentially a dessert that disguises itself as a side!”
Kevin says, “Despite sweet potato casserole’s association to Thanksgiving day, I always cook this dish for Christmas dinner too. My dad taught me how to make this dish when I was 10, and from that point on, I considered myself an expert. Even if you’re a novice in the kitchen, the taste of this casserole will have everyone clamoring for the last bite.”
Carrie’s recipe:
Kevin’s recipe:
Rosemary and Toasted Caraway Shortbread
Shared by Kayla Adams, Vendor Sales
“Oh baby, this is gooood! I love the idea of marrying savory with sweet. I actually stumbled on this recipe in Bon Appetite magazine a couple years ago and have made it every Thanksgiving and Christmas since. This is one of those recipes where your end product actually looks like the photo in the magazine – it’s an amazing feeling that rarely happens.”
Beef Short Ribs
Shared by Drew Nordstrom, Vendor Sales
“In my family, we typically do La Vigilia, the Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve; then, a heartier, more comforting dinner on Christmas Day. This dish I’ve made a couple times, and it goes over really well. It’s a riff off of a dish we cooked at Restaurant Passione in Montclair, NJ, where I worked as a line cook in high school.”
Cinnamon Diamond Cookies
Shared by Kealy O’Donnell, Vendor Sales
“My favorite holiday treat is my mom’s Cinnamon Diamonds, which she only makes during Christmas. Cinnamon Diamonds are part cookie, part bar that have a slightly crunchy crust of cinnamon, sugar and chopped walnuts on top. Growing up, my mom would make them to give away as gifts to neighbors, friends, and family. Although they’re very easy to make, no matter how many times I make them, mine never come close to being as good as my mom’s.”
Buckeyes
Shared by Alex Lorton, Co-founder
“For the past 125 years, Ohioans have cheered their Ohio State Buckeyes on to victory on the gridiron as the weather turns cold each fall. As family and friends gather together for the games and for the winter holidays, this spirit carries through to the food we eat. Buckeye candies have been a staple at every Thanksgiving and Christmas for as long as I can remember. To me, they are a symbol of home and a connection to all my fellow Ohioans.”
Cuban Black Beans
Shared by Tess O’Brien, Vendor Sales
“My grandmother brought her three young daughters to Miami after the Cuban revolution. They were only able to bring one suitcase for the four of them, and nestled in my grandfather’s journals was the family black bean recipe. While my grandmother can barely use a microwave, her daughters have made these beans for every holiday since.”
But let’s be real: it’s not a holiday gathering without the adult beverages (and a relative getting drunk and saying something inappropriate)!
Gløgg (Danish Mulled Wine)
Shared by Sally Ekman, Community Manager
“I spent four (very cold) months living in Denmark. While the holiday lights were cheery, the one thing that truly warmed up those long, dark nights was drinking gløgg with friends.”
Have a wonderful and delicious holiday season from your friends at Cater2.me!
