Perfect Pears

The new year is just a few days away, and to finish off this year I thought we’d take a look at some pear recipes (including some adult beverages to ring in the new year).

Breads and Breakfasts:

Pear and cinnamon breakfast bread

Pear and bran bread

Pear and chai breakfast cake

Dinner:

Tagine of lamb and pear

Pork with pear and parsnip mash

Sausage and pear stuffing

Autumn pear and pumpkin soup

Pork chops with pear chutney

Desserts:

Pear and almond tart

Caramel, pear and pudding cake

Pear dumplings

Pear galette

Forelle pears in parchment

Caramel pear terrine

Pear tart

Pear brown bettys

Spiced maple tart with poached pears

Rustic pear tart with saffron pastry

Five spice pear pie bars

Pear clafouti

Pear ginger crumble

Chocolate pear pouches

Other Pear Treats:

Pear butter

Pear sauce

Sugared pear chips

Drinks:

Pear and sparkling cider cocktails

Pear aperol spritz

Prickly pear aguas frescas

Pear and cranberry bellini

Champagne with pear liqueur

Asian pear cocktail

Peppery pear cocktail

How do you enjoy pears?

Decadent Christmas Cookie Decorations

Today as we’re getting ever closer to Christmas I thought we’d take a look at some fun ways to decorate whatever your favorite cookies are, whether they’re gingerbread, sugar or something else, and simple but fun ways to add a little something special to your Christmas cookie celebrations (and a couple other sweet treat ideas too).

Cookies:

Christmas tree forest

Penguin slice and bake cookies

Apple pie thumbprints

Gingerbread reindeer

White chocolate confetti cookies

Cake mix holiday cookies

Dipped shortbread cookies

Sugar cookie ornaments

Christmas meringues

Santa and tree cookies

Gingerbread people in gingerbread hot chocolate tubs

Holiday biscotti

Gingerbread man mug mates

Hanging stockings

Reindeer milk-n-cookies

Santa hat milk-n-cookies

Gingerbread milk-n-cookies

Almond and lemon biscotti dipped in white chocolate

Blue and white snowflakes

Heart shaped reindeer sugar cookies

Package cookies

Candy cane sugar cookies

Santa cutouts

Triangle Santa cookies

Bell shaped Mrs. Claus skirt

Round reindeer cookies

Bell shaped reindeer

Candy cane snowmen

Green and white icing wreath

Simple wreath with candy pieces and icing bow

3D gingerbread trees

Coffee cup cookie

Christmas cookie dunkers

Emjoi thumbprints

Black and white reindeer cookies

Snow globe cookies

Stick people gingerbread cookies

Snowflake cookies

3-D striped tree cookies

Shiny mitten cookies

Christmas star cookies

Christmas reindeer cookies

Holly leaf and cardinal cookie

“Merry” cookie

“Cheer” cookie

Red door inn gingerbread cookie

Gabled gingerbread cookie

Cape cod gingerbread cookie

Toy shop soldier cookie

Strand of Christmas lights sugar cookie

Trimmed Christmas tree cookie

Wreath Christmas cookie

Sweet Treats:

Dipped blondie sticks

Peppermint marshmallow snowmen

Reindeer brownies

Brownie trees

Gingerbread man cupcakes

Cherry mitten hand pies

What are your favorite decoration ideas?

Appetizers for Entertaining

Today I thought we’d take a look at some tasty treats and dips to get your next holiday gathering started.

Dip:

New Orleans barbecue shrimp dip

Creamy shrimp scampi dip

Swiss and bacon dip

Christmas queso

Creamy peppadew dip

Warm fennel and Parmesan dip

Herbed goat cheese spread

Edamame lemongrass hummus

Small bites:

Steak au poivre potatoes

Spinach and goat cheese tartlets

Swedish meatballs

BLT salad bites

Gougeres with Gruyère mornay and beer mustard

Chorizo bites with smoked paprika and piquillo pepper aioli

Shrimp and avocado salad on endive leaves

Bacon wrapped ginger shrimp

Ham and Gruyère thumbprints

Twice baked potatoes

Dirty deviled eggs

Smoked salmon zucchini bites

Gorgonzola thyme stuffed olives

Dilled onion cheese balls

Blue cheese and pine nut puffs

Mini party quiches

Cranberry sauced meatballs

Made for a crowd:

Butternut squash spinach tart

Sausage Parmesan palmiers

Asparagus and jack cheese frittata

Pizza wreath

Savory Christmas cheese bread

Gorgonzola flatbread with prosciutto and dates

Mini bagel pizzas

What are you planning for appetizers this Christmas season?

Celebrating with Christmas Cookies

Today we’re taking a look at a variety of Christmas cookies, including some alternatives if you’ve got allergies or diets and some regional favorites.

Traditional/Regional:

Buccellati cookies

Danish sugar pretzels

Basler Brunsli

Stollen bites

Rugelach pinwheels

Glazed bizcochito stars

Speculaas cookies

Lebkuchen cookies

Chrusciki leaves

Kourambiedex Greek cookies

Sweet Treats:

Cherry vanilla cream cheese spritz cookies

Chocolate crinkles

Eggnog cookies

Fruitcake drops

Hot cocoa cookies

Peppermint sticks

Shortbread cookies

Gingersnap cookies

Cranberry almond shortbreads

Browned butter pecan sandies

Chocolate hazelnut and caramel thumbprints

Mint chocolate trees

Star mint meringues

Classic Christmas sandies

Candy stripe cookie sticks

Cinnamon swirl cookies

Chewy coconut chocolate pinwheels

Pignoli cookies

Alternative/Healthy cookies:

Keto almond shortbreads

Gluten free hazenut vanilla shortbread

Gluten free jam macaroons

Flourless double chocolate pecan cookies

Gluten free cranberry white chocolate pecan cookies

Vegan Russian tea cakes

Vegan Pfeffernusse cookies

Paleo hot chocolate cookies with vanilla bean frosting

Paleo, vegan chocolate coconut truffles

Paleo reindeer bombs

Sugar free paleo pecan snowball cookies

What cookies are you baking this Christmas?

Celebrating Chanukah

Today we’re going to take a look at Chanukah (or Hanukkah) inspired crafts and recipes.

Crafts:

Menorah greeting card

Dreidel card and game

Embossed stars greeting card

Laced Star of David card

Stars and stripes card

Layered star card

Place cards

Hanukkah place mat

Charm napkin rings

Gelt napkins

Paper dreidel garland

Dreidel gift box

Scrapbook pages

Copper and concrete menorah

Star ornament wreath

Recipes:

Sides:

Dried fruit compote

Classic challah

Harvest apple challah

Honey challah with flax

Roast vegetable tsimmes with apricots

Potato-kasha knishes

Cauliflower curry latkes

Beet latkes

Oven fried latkes

Dinner:

Salmon with matzo crust

Salmon wellington

Beef brisket with dried fruit

Braised brisket with root vegetables

Sweet and sour short ribs

Short ribs with root vegetables

Roast chicken with wild rice dressing

Roast chicken with apricot stuffing

Dessert:

Sufganiyot

Puff pastry tart stars

Babka

Lemon coconut macaroons

Jelly donut holes

Fresh pear-pistachio cake

Chocolate marshmallow dreidels

Apple fritter rings

What are your favorite Hanukkah recipes?