It’s time. Are your pencils sharpened? Are your cookbooks out? Somehow, when it comes to menu planning and the big day-of game plan, I still need to take pen(cil) to paper to get the very special celebration meals organized. But then I turn to the internet, apps, cookbooks and my favourite magazines–to search for inspiration more than recipes, really. Do I want dinner to be fancy, cozy, rich…bold? Does it need to appeal to specific tastes? Kids? Do I need to make absolutely at least 82% of it ahead if I want to spend even 2 seconds putting eye makeup on the day of, before guest arrive? Usually the answer is yes. To all of it. And that’s why the most important meals of the year require some thought. I’m sure you’re planning your big feast right now, or maybe planning your contribution to a collaborative big feast. So here are some menus, recipes and simple ideas too, to help.
Have fun!
two (meat-free!) menus
i
risotto-stuffed chard bundles
domino potatoes
brussels sprouts with fried shallots and almonds
cauliflower in a leek, cream sauce
sauternes cake
ii
mushroom and farro pie
porcini-fried rapini
caramalized corn
garlic and browned butter mashed potatoes
caramel flan
but what about to start?
- small bites to enjoy with sparkling wine, beer or sparkling water with clementine slices
make-ahead sri lankan “short eats” like cutlets or vadais
or elevate the “everyday” snacks:
marinated chevre or warm spiced olives
to sip:
celebratory punch, any of these cocktails…
and perhaps at the end…to-die-for hot chocolate (which you could spike!)
sweet things:
even with dessert taken care of, sometimes it’s just not the holidays without cookies. beyond the expected, you can plan for a platter or festive but sophisticated cookies like poppyseed hamantashen… pretty palmiers… or choose any of these.
happy holiday dinner! xo