Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2025 i Taste of Home

The most wonderful time of the year can be a whirlwind of activities, from cookie exchanges and open houses to formal dinners and casual breakfasts. But don’t be overwhelmed … season’s eatings is easy with Taste of Home! Our Holiday Cocktail Party contest (page 69) has the spirited beverages and tasty bites needed to have you mingling in style. Are you hosting a sit-down dinner this year? Turn to the “Festive Feast” feature (page 50) and impress guests with a special spread showcasing beef Wellington. After ringing in Father Time, a “New Year’s Brunch for a Bunch” (page 31) is just the thing to start off 2025. And don’t forget seasonal sweets. The cookies starring in “Merry & Bright Morsels” (page 40) are so irresistible that Santa won’t know which…

Loaf Pans The handles on our Test Kitchen-approved nonstick loaf pan make it easy to take in and out of the oven. Range Kleen Taste of Home 9x5-in. Metal Loaf Pan $18 tasteofhome.com/cookwithtoh Pan Liners Skip the aggravation of lining loaf pans with parchment. These reusable silicone liners pop right into the pans! Loaf Pan Lifters (set of 2) $20 shop.kingarthurbaking.com Flour Sifter For an even lighter texture to the fruitcake, consider sifting your flour before adding it to the batter. Stainless Steel Flour Sifter $12 crateandbarrel.com…

DRAW THE TREE On parchment paper, draw the outline of a Christmas tree. Cut out the pattern and set it on a board or platter (or the surface on which you plan to serve it). TOPPER & TRUNK Place a homemade or store-bought star cookie at the top of the tree and Chocolate-Dipped Phyllo Sticks at the bottom for the trunk. FILL IT IN Arrange groupings of Holiday Meringue Cookies, Slow-Cooker Candied Nuts, Homemade Gumdrops, fruits, cheeses, meats, crackers and olives as shown. BRANCH OUT Add cheese slices for points of tree. Rosemary sprigs remind us of pine branches on real Christmas trees and bring an intoxicating aroma to the kitchen. Evergreen Edibles To find the recipes on this board-as well as tips for assembling-hover your camera here.…

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE WALNUT-CHERRY BISCOTTI I love to combine flavors and spices from different cultures. These crunchy cookies have ground cinnamon, a classic flavor in Mexican chocolate. They are loaded with maraschino cherries and walnuts. —Nancy C. Evans, Phoenix, AZ Prep: 30 min. Bake: 50 min. + cooling Makes: about 2½ dozen 2¾ cups all-purpose flour2 cups sugar1 cup Dutch-processed cocoa1½ tsp. baking soda1½ tsp. ground cinnamon½ tsp. cayenne pepper6 large eggs, room temperature, divided use2 tsp. vanilla extract1½ cups chopped walnuts, toasted1 cup semisweet chocolate chips1 cup (about 6 oz.) maraschino cherries, drained and halved 1. Preheat oven to 325°. In a bowl, whisk first 6 ingredients. In another bowl, whisk 5 eggs and vanilla; stir into the dry ingredients. Stir in the walnuts, chocolate chips and cherries. Transfer to…

DISHING WITH Mark Neufang TOH Culinary Assistant This tasty cheesecake is just like an artist’s canvas! Use a gentle touch when swirling so as to not overdo the pretty design. However you swirl it, your guests will be impressed. Sturdy Springform Pan The embossed surface not only strengthens the pan, it increases airflow to ensure even baking. Range Kleen Taste of Home 9-in. Nonstick Metal Springform Baking Pan $23 tasteofhome.com/cookwithtoh Foiled Again! It’s always smart to wrap your pan in a layer of foil to prevent any leaks during the baking process. Take a Twirl Spoon dollops of the chocolate filling over the top of the cake. Then drag a butter knife or wooden skewer through both batters. Be careful not to touch the crust! “Use the flat bottom of a…

Winter Warmups When the temps outside drop, it’s time to turn up the heat in the kitchen with hot and hearty recipes the whole family will love. Simmer up a bowl of Turkey Vegetable Soup or Stephanie’s Slow Cooker Stew. For quick comfort, turn to Gnocchi with Spinach & Chicken Sausage or Skillet Mac & Cheese. Oven-baked entrees like Chili Cheese Dog Casserole, Smothered Burritos and Sloppy Joe Pizza really warm the soul! Best of the Best This brand-new collection serves up the comforting delights today’s home cooks rely on time and again. These are the five-star bites they’re consistently asked to prepare for snacks and weeknight dinners as well as parties and potlucks. Order yours today for only $10 plus free shipping. tasteofhomebooks.com/M2412 COMMUNITY COOK’S RECIPE REVIEW Sausage &…

“I loved this cranberry orange layer cake that my sister-in-law made one year. So now each Christmas I make two—one for my family and one to give away.” —Bakeable member Alysia Tsuyuki OUR FEBRUARY CHALLENGE: A CLUE FOR YOU! We’ll announce our February Bakeable Challenge recipe on Feb. 1, but until then, can you guess what it may be from these ingredients? Just a hint: It’s not a lofty goal to make this favorite store-bought treat. Come jump in on the fun! Hover your camera here to join Bakeable, Taste of Home’s community for everything you want to know about baking. You’ll get expert tips and a supportive group of creative bakers, and be the first to see our monthly challenge announcements!…

Pictured on page 21 Pan-Fried Scallops with White Wine Reduction I learned the art of reduction from a cooking class—and the flavor is simply fabulous! Despite the fancy title, this special-occasion entree is easy to prepare. —Katherine Robinson, Glenwood Springs, CO Takes: 30 min. • Makes: 8 servings 2 lbs. sea scallops1 tsp. salt¼ tsp. pepper2 Tbsp. olive oil WHITE WINE REDUCTION ½ cup white wine or chicken broth⅓ cup orange juice¼ cup finely chopped onion1 tsp. dried oregano1 tsp. Dijon mustard1 garlic clove, minced3 Tbsp. cold butter, cubed 1. Sprinkle scallops with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, saute the scallops in oil until firm and opaque. Remove and keep warm. 2. Add wine to the skillet, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Stir in orange juice,…

Beef Wellington with Madeira Sauce This impressive-looking yet easy-to-fix dish can easily be made ahead. Just pop the beef in the oven when your guests arrive. —Janaan Cunningham, Greendale, WI Prep: 45 min. + chilling Bake: 40 min. + standing Makes: 16 servings 1 beef tenderloin roast (4 to 5 lbs.) MADEIRA SAUCE 2 cans (10½ oz. each) condensed beef consomme, undiluted2 Tbsp. tomato paste½ tsp. beef bouillon granules2 Tbsp. butter, softened2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour½ cup Madeira wine FILLING 2 cups chopped fresh mushrooms4 shallots, chopped ¼ lb. sliced deli ham, chopped¼ cup minced fresh parsley1 pkg. (17.3 oz.) frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed2 Tbsp. 2% milk1 large egg, lightly beaten, optional 1. Preheat the oven to 475°. Place tenderloin in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan; fold ends under the…

STEP 1: TOSS INGREDIENTS WITH FLOUR In a small bowl, combine candied fruit, raisins, walnuts and flour. Doing so will prevent the ingredients from sinking to the bottom of the loaf. STEP 2: CREAM THE BUTTER AND SUGAR Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. STEP 3: ADD THE REMAINING FLOUR When the eggs are well incorporated into the butter mixture, beat in the remaining flour. Add it gradually so that the batter is smooth. STEP 4: FOLD IN THE FRUIT MIXTURE Add fruit mixture to the batter. Use a spatula to gently fold ingredients together. Be careful not to overmix; otherwise, the batter will deflate. STEP 5: ADD THE BATTER TO…

Eye Benefits Acorn squash is rich in beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that the body converts into vitamin A, an essential component for eye health. Vitamin A supports good vision, especially in low light, and helps prevent age-related eye conditions such as macular degeneration. Its high lutein and zeaxanthin content also protects the eyes from harmful blue light. Heart Disease Research shows that the carotenoids in acorn squash can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In fact, the squash has one of the best possible ratios of heart-healthy vitamins to calories. Plus, it’s abundant in potassium, which helps to maintain blood pressure, and fiber, which lowers cholesterol levels. Additionally, the magnesium in acorn squash supports healthy blood vessels. Digestive Health The fiber in acorn squash (about 9 grams per 1 cup…

Apple-Cranberry Grains I made some changes to my diet to lose weight. My kids are skeptical when it comes to healthy food, but they adore these wholesome grains. —Sherisse Dawe, Black Diamond, AB Prep: 10 min. • Cook: 4 hours Makes: 16 servings 2 medium apples, peeled and chopped1 cup sugar1 cup fresh cranberries½ cup wheat berries½ cup quinoa, rinsed½ cup oat bran½ cup medium pearl barley½ cup chopped walnuts½ cup packed brown sugar1½ to 2 tsp. ground cinnamon6 cups waterOptional toppings: Milk, sliced apples, dried cranberries and chopped walnuts In a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker, combine first 11 ingredients. Cook, covered, on low for 4-5 hours or until grains are tender. Serve with toppings as desired. ¾ CUP 180 cal., 3g fat (0 sat. fat), 0 chol., 3mg…

MAKEOVER TRADITIONAL CHEESECAKE This lightened-up dessert has all of the original’s delectable flavor. It’s sure to make any special event more festive. —Anne Addesso, Sheboygan, WI Prep: 40 min. • Bake: 1½ hours + chilling • Makes: 16 servings 1¾ cups graham cracker crumbs2 Tbsp. confectioners’ sugar¼ cup butter, melted FILLING 1 Tbsp. lemon juice1 Tbsp. vanilla extract2 cups 1% cottage cheese2 cups reduced-fat sour cream, divided2 pkg. (8 oz. each) reduced-fat cream cheese1¼ cups sugar2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour4 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten1 Tbsp. fat-free caramel ice cream topping2 Heath candy bars (1.4 oz. each), chopped 1. Place a 9-in. springform pan coated with cooking spray on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. 2. In a small bowl, combine…