5 Easy Recipes to Try this Holiday Season

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    ith the holidays just around the corner, you all must be busy planning how to make them cheerful and happening. There are ample holiday activities to check out in Calgary 2022, while you can make special plans ahead of the holidays, and decide to cook something delicious for the celebrations or gatherings. From pinwheels to Christmas cookies, you’ll want to make these recipes all month long.

    It’s time to transform your pantry ingredients into gift-worthy dishes. In this blog, we have included some easy holiday recipes which you can add to your list.

    Here is a list of recipes that you can make this holiday season.  

    Cauliflower Salad with Yogurt Sauce and Pomegranate  

    Image by Greg Dupree

    A bowl full of healthy ingredients with a yogurt sauce is perfect to go when you want to have salad as a side dish. This is prepared with cauliflower, toasted nuts, pomegranate arils, and lemon-and-garlic-laced yogurt.

    Recipe by Reem Kassis

    Take canola oil or any other oil you use to a depth of 1 inch into a big skillet. Heat it on a medium-high flame until thermometer is at350°F. Fry in batches. Make sure the cauliflower turns golden brown. Remove from the oil by using a slotted spoon and place it on the paper towels to drain, season immediately after with salt. 

    Keeping cauliflower aside, take a medium bowl and mix yogurt, lemon juice, and garlic. Season the yogurt mixture with a 1/2 teaspoon salt. Chill at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour and then take out the crushed garlic before using. Place it in a serving tray or a platter, pour yogurt mixture over the top. Garnish with herbs and greens, mixed nuts, and pomegranate arils.

    Chile Crisp-Glazed Bacon Bites

    Image by Victor Protasio

    This party snack of meaty bites prepared with freshly dried chiles, ginger, and garlic is not just easy to cook, rather it’s an easy version of the popular Chinese condiment. The cooking time is less than 45 minutes and works well as a starting dish for your appetizers.

    Recipe by by Justin Chapple

    Before starting it, wear your kitchen gloves, remove the stems and seeds from the chiles. Put your chiles to a grinder and grind until finely chopped but not more than 15 seconds. Mix salt, peanut, chiles, cumin, Szechuan peppercorns, black pepper, and star anise in a large heatproof bowl; place a fine wire-mesh strainer over the bowl. 

    Heat the oil and add shallots, garlic, and ginger. Cook and stir it often, until golden and crisp for about 5 to 6 minutes. Immediately pour the mixture through a strainer set over a bowl with chiles. Spread strained solids on paper towels to drain. Let it cool for about 30 minutes and then stir into a chile-oil mixture in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate it for 8 hours or overnight. 

    Preheat your oven to 325°F. Place the aluminum foil on your baking sheet. Arrange bacon cubes on the tray and bake it until the fat has rendered but the bacon is not yet crisp and it takes about 45 to 55 minutes. Meanwhile, take out your chile crisp mixture from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. Now transfer your bacon cubes to a large bowl and discard drippings. Remove and discard star anise from the chile crisp. Add 1/4 cup chile crisp to bacon and toss it to coat properly. Add additional chile crisp to taste. Serve warm with food picks.

    Stuffed Peppers

    Image by Bretty crocker kitchens

    This recipe is always a saver. Why are we saying this? Because it only takes 15 minutes to cook and when your friends are arriving on a short notice to celebrate the weekend night then stuffed peppers can save you, instead of ordering food from outside.

    Recipe by Betty Crocker Kitchens

    Set your oven to 350°F and then remove the top of pepper. After, remove seeds and membranes and then rinse it. If you want your peppers to stand straight then you can cut thin slices from the bottom of each pepper. In a 4-quart Dutch oven, add enough water to cover peppers. Bring it to boil and add the peppers. Cook it for 2 minutes and then drain. 

    Take a 10-inch skillet, add beef and onion and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes. Stirring occasionally, until the beef turns brown. Stir in rice, salt, garlic, and 1 cup of the tomato sauce and cook until it’s hot. Let your peppers stand straight in an ungreased square glass baking dish and pour the remaining tomato sauce on it. Cover it with foil and bake for 10 minutes. After this process, uncover it and bake it for another 15 minutes or till the peppers are tender. Serve it by sprinkling some cheese on it. Here you go! Your stuffed peppers are ready without any hassle. 

    Classic Roasted Root Vegetables

    Image by timolina on freepik

    If you're looking for a healthy meal that's rich in vitamins and minerals to serve to your guests, look no further than roasted root vegetables!

    Recipe by Food Network

    Take 2 baking trays and preheat the baking dishes in the oven which should be set to 425 degrees F. Cut all the root vegetables into 1 ½- inch pieces. Cut the onion pieces into cubes and then add everything to the bowl. Mix it well with garlic, olive oil, add salt, and also season with pepper.

    Carefully remove the baking trays from the oven, brush it with olive oil. Divide the vegetables in two pans; spread them evenly so that they don't steam while roasting. Roast the vegetables until they turn golden brown. Occasionally stir the vegetables while they roast. This should take about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Garnish fresh herbs or oil after plating and serve.

    Coquito

    Image by racool studio on freepik

    Meal without a drink is incomplete. Coquito or little coconut is a traditional Spanish drink which can be prepared in many ways. It is a creamy rum punch from Puerto Rico which is typically served during Christmas and throughout the winter holidays. It can be prepared with or without eggs, in this recipe we'll be preparing it without eggs.

    Recipe by Food & Wine

    Take cream of coconut, evaporated milk, condensed milk, and coconut milk and whisk it together. Set aside after combining. Make sure you use a heatproof bowl for whisking. Now in a separate pot, boil 3 cups of water over medium-high flame. Add cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, and ginger to the water. Remove from heat and let it steep at room temperature, uncovered, until mixture is aromatic, which should take about 15 minutes. Take a fine wire-mesh strainer and pour the spice mix into the milk mixture. Combine the spice mix to the milks and whisk to combine. Finally, add vanilla. Let stand at room temperature until completely cooled.

    Additionally, you can add rum to the Coquito. Pour it in a bottle and refrigerate until completely chilled. This is something you can prepare in advance and serve it when you have guests. 

    Final Thoughts 

    Now that you know five easy and finger-licking recipes to cook this holiday season, impress your guests without wasting much time in the kitchen and spending more time with them.

    ABM College wishes you all Happy Holidays!

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