Yes, Christmas is around the corner, so it’s best to start building that scrumptious menu for Santa and his Little Elves. After all, entertaining guests and spending time with loved ones is at the heart of the Yuletide Season. Whether someone is hosting a lavish Christmas dinner or a cozy holiday party, the suitable recipes that tickle the palate make for a truly memorable Christmas.
Of course, the food needs to be tasty and hearty. With this short guide, anyone can make a family-pleasing meal that puts everyone in a festive mood. Check out these four simple recipes that will make Christmas unforgettable. Let the cooking begin!
1. Christmas Lasagna
This veggie spinach lasagna is decked out in Christmas colors thanks to the green spinach and red tomatoes. It’ll put anyone in the holiday mood, even children annoyed at teachers who want them to write my essay over the short-term break. Rather enjoy this total crowd-pleaser.
The red sauce has a lot of zing thanks to immunity-building garlic, perfect for combatting the winter frost. It also comes with cheesy and creamy ricotta. No one can turn down a decadent slice that smells divine thanks to fresh thyme and lemon zest.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of marinara sauce (simmered with two cloves of minced garlic and Italian seasoning)
- 12 pre-boiled lasagna sheets
- 8 cups chopped spinach
- ½ lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped thyme
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
Saute the spinach in a skillet until wilted and reduced. Once cooled, squeeze out all the excess liquid. Prepare the cheese feeling by combining thyme, lemon zest, all the ricotta, ⅔ cup parmesan cheese, and 2 cups mozzarella cheese. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and assemble the lasagna.
Layer the noodles in a 9×13 in pan. Start by spreading a layer of marinara on the bottom. Then top one layer of noodles, half of the greens, a cup of marinara, and half of the cheese mixture. Repeat until you have three or four layers of noodles. At the top layer, pour the remaining red sauce and cover it with the remaining ¼ cup parmesan cheese and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
Cover the pan with foil and put it inside the oven for 40 minutes. Take out the foil and bake for another 10 minutes until bubbling and golden brown. Wait for this to set for about 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
2. Christmas Tree Pizza
Nothing spells Christmas like a beautiful tree. Now, anyone can make a festive holiday tree in their oven. Make this traditional Christmas pizza in the shape of an iconic Christmas tree and top it with various “ornaments” like mini-pepperoni and small sausages.
This is very easy, and kids love joining in the fun. You just have to morph store-bought pizza dough into the shape of a tree. Instead of using traditional red sauce, top it with pesto sauce to give a green tinge. This tasty dinner will put anyone in a holiday mood.
Ingredients:
- 1 ball of store-bought dough
- ½ cup basil pesto
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- Mini-pepperoni
- Sausage slices
- ½ red onion
- ½ small green pepper
- Dried basil
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Shape the pizza dough into a Christmas tree and put it on the baking pan. Thinly slice the red onion and make small cubes with the green pepper. Spread a layer of pesto on the pizza and sprinkle the cheese.
Now comes the fun part! First, decorate the pizza tree with ribbons of onions and bell peppers. Then add the ornaments called pepperoni and sausage. Finally, sprinkle with dried basil and pop in the oven for about 7 minutes. Bake until the cheese is melted, and enjoy.
3. Peppermint Popcorn
Christmas time means no school for the kids and more holiday breaks for the adults. The cold weather makes it tempting for anyone to stay in. Now is the best time to marathon holiday movies while bundled up toasty warm on the couch. And the best snack for doing this is sweet and savory peppermint popcorn.
Peppermint, with its red and white colors, is a traditional holiday treat. Mix it with salty, buttery popcorn to make a cozy, cold-weather snack. This recipe amplifies simple popcorn because of the medley of contrasting flavors.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound chopped white chocolate
- ¾ cup crushed peppermint candies (about 30 small candies)
- 10 cups popped popcorn
- Himalayan salt or sea salt
Instructions:
Prep baking sheets by lining them up with parchment paper. Then, melt the chocolate slowly in a microwave-safe bowl. Do it in 30-second increments and stir in between breaks. Once the mixture is smooth and creamy, stir in ½ cup of the chopped peppermints.
Work fast before the chocolate hardens. Gently fold in the cooked popcorn to combine it with the choco-peppermint mixture. Finally, place popcorn on the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle it with salt and leftover crushed peppermint. Those who are feeling fancy can add golden and silver sprinkles. Pop in the fridge until the chocolate is set (usually 20 minutes).
4. Holiday-riffic Eggnog
This recipe morphs a classic decadent drink into something more holiday-riffic. Christmas equates to cookies. Whether it’s store-bought, gifted by a dear friend, or homemade, one thing is sure. People need something where they can dip in those holiday cookies. And there’s no better treat than dunking those cookies in a glass of delicious peppermint eggnog.
Ingredients:
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- 1 cup rum
- Crushed peppermints
- Peppermint sticks
Instructions:
Whisk the yolks, salt, and ½ cup sugar in a bowl, and set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine milk and the remaining ½ cup sugar. Simmer this over medium heat. Once it goes to a gentle rolling boil, slowly but surely whisk the egg mixture while stirring constantly. The mixture should be foamy and slightly thick when done.
To ensure super smooth eggnog, strain the liquid using a fine-mesh sieve. Add in the extracts and rum for that extra flavor kick. Cool to room temperature and chill overnight. Serve in glasses with crushed peppermint on the rim. Add a peppermint stick for good measure!
Final Thoughts
Impress family and friends with these four unforgettable Christmas treats. Liven up the table with these fun and festive recipes that will be the star of the dinner table. So enjoy your holidays, and remember – food tastes better when it’s shared.
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