New Year's Recipes
Jack’s Favorite Bloody Mary
A pitcher-full of outstanding Bloody Marys is easy to make and infinitely tastier than store-bought mixes. Bloody Maria, Dirty Mary, and Virgin Mary variations are included and are customizable by the glass. For added fun, offer a make-your-own garnish station! An olive loaded Bloody Mary with a crisp stalk of celery and a generous amount…
Slovak Kolache (Cold Doughs)
Think of these cookies as a smaller version of a danish, with a heavenly cream cheese pastry and dollop of your favorite jam. Until recently, I had never heard of a kolache. For those who may be in a similar boat, kolache (pronounced kuh-‘laa-chee) comes from the Czech and Slovak word koláčky, meaning little cake…
Salmon Verde
This stunning meal comes together quickly on a single baking sheet and is brimming with fresh flavor and wholesome appeal. Minimal ingredients and low effort, it’s equally perfect for busy weeknights and easy entertaining. The vibrant color palette is this easy meal’s first attention grabber. My husband thinks it looks Christmas-y, while a friend claimed…
Sangria Spritz
Enjoy the fruity, sweet-tart flavor of classic sangria in this light, refreshing, 3-ingredient spritz – and then customize according to season with your favorite fruit garnishes. The concept of a spritz dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans; it is believed that wine was often diluted with water to keep people from becoming…
Cold Pan Seared Steak
Perfectly cooked steaks with a gorgeous crust and tender, juicy insides are easy to achieve with this unorthodox method. No smoky, splattered mess on your stovetop either! Steak night isn’t a weekly occurrence in our house – although the guys likely wish it were! So, when steaks are on the menu, they should really…
Easy Lemon Pie
Fresh, cool, and creamy lemon filling balances perfectly with a graham cracker crust (easily adapted to gluten-free!) in this easy-to-make pie that will brighten anyone’s day! Don’t get me wrong, we love chocolate in all its glory. But some members of my family are sensitive to caffeine, so much so that they have a strict…
Butterscotch Rum Ripple Cake
Butterscotch Rum Ripple Cake reinvents the classic pound cake with the addition of caramel-like swirled layers and an irresistible glaze. This recipe goes WAY back. As a newlywed, my husband, Jack, and I drove to Philadelphia to see his niece, Judy, perform in a play. She was in elementary school and had a part…
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Chorizo and Manchego
Chorizo sausage and Manchego cheese give roasted Brussels sprouts a Spanish-style upgrade for a crowd-pleasing tapas or hearty side dish. The loaded sprouts are hearty enough that sometimes I even serve them as a main dish with a salad or side of rice. I first enjoyed a dish that was similar…
Spanish Tapas Board
Elevate your charcuterie game with this epic Spanish tapas board, which comes together easily, looks stunning, and is loaded with savory bites. Perfect for any occasion, from New Year’s celebrations and game days to girls’ nights and book clubs. Optional extras will make it a meal. Charcuterie boards are popular for good reason. They…
Baked Coconut Shrimp
Crisp, golden, and served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce, baked coconut shrimp are perfect as an appetizer or entrée and may be prepped a few hours in advance. Crunchy on the outside and tender in the middle, these crisp, golden shrimp are baked instead of fried and will vanish off an…
Spanish-Style Marinated Olives
An impressive appetizer recipe that takes five minutes to prep and adds something special to any cocktail hour, cheese board, or antipasto platter. Irresistibly snack-worthy and giftable too! For many of us, olives plucked straight from the jar are incredibly satisfying. They are salty, meaty, and even deliver a dose of monounsaturated fats, fiber,…
Cinnamon Honey Butter
This copycat version of Texas Roadhouse restaurant’s popular cinnamon honey butter recipe is a delightful spread for rolls, bagels, toast, muffins, cornbread, and sweet potatoes. Makes a lovely addition to a food gift too. Every year, Cindy, a former coworker of my husband, experiments with a variety of new recipes for her annual holiday…
