Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2026 i Taste of Home

COLOSSAL HAS RAISED OVER $12.3 MILLION BENEFITING JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. I take chefs out on my Food Boat and showcase their passion. In my travels, I’ve learned that breaking bread is one of the best ways to appreciate other cultures. I’ve been fortunate to cook alongside incredible chefs, and their dishes have sparked my creativity. They inspire me to experiment in the kitchen, adding my own twist to the flavors I’ve encountered, and creating something new and exciting that still honors the traditions they’ve taught me. Charleston, SC, is considered home for me but I spend most of my days on the road throughout the Southeast as a meat salesman. My job puts me in the kitchen with plenty of amazing people throughout the Carolinas, Georgia,…

Let’s kick off this fun-filled season with a little magic! The winning treats in our “Christmas Cookie Exchange” feature (page 38) are guaranteed to garner recipe requests from friends and family. For colorful bites that steal the show (even if you don’t have snow), you’ll love the whimsical “Heartfelt Holiday Hoo-Rah” (page 44). Pressed for time? Our “Party in a Pinch” contest recipes (page 65) take the hassle out of entertaining and provide the answer to the age-old “What Can I Bring?” dish-to-pass dilemma. After the hectic holidays, you and your family want to slow down to soak up some couch-side cravings. Wake up tired taste buds with “Bundled-Up Breakfasts” (page 52) that transform morning meals into hand-held creations. “Cozy Up to Comfort” (page 58) has soul-soothing staples perfect for…

SLICED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH PECANS Saute ½ cup chopped onion in 2 tsp. butter until tender. Add 1 lb. thinly sliced fresh Brussels sprouts; saute for 2 minutes. Add ⅓ cup chicken broth, 1 Tbsp. sugar and ½ tsp. salt; cover and cook 5 minutes or until sprouts are tender, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with 3 Tbsp. toasted chopped pecans. Makes 6 servings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Rich in Nutrients Brussels sprouts are loaded with vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and manganese. These little cabbages deliver surprising nutritional value in each bite, helping support bone strength, blood clotting and energy production throughout the day. Heart Healthy High levels of fiber and antioxidants make Brussels sprouts excellent for cardiovascular wellness. Their anti-inflammatory compounds help reduce cholesterol and protect arteries, encouraging better…

Simple Saucy Potatoes These rich and creamy potatoes are simple to prepare for potlucks. The saucy side dish always gets rave reviews wherever I take it. —Gloria Schroeder, Ottawa Lake, MI Prep: 10 min. • Cook: 4 hours Makes: 12 servings 4 cans (14½ oz. each) sliced potatoes, drained2 cans (10¾ oz. each) condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted2 cups sour cream10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled, divided6 green onions, thinly slicedOptional: Chopped chives and coarse cracked pepper Place potatoes in a 3-qt. slow cooker. Combine the next 4 ingredients, reserving ⅓ cup bacon crumbles; pour mixture over potatoes and mix well. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours. Top with reserved bacon and, if desired, chopped chives and coarse cracked pepper. ¾ CUP 144 cal., 10g fat (6g…

Grand Prize Orange Snow Balls Orange snow balls can be put together in under 30 minutes. They are perfectly sweet, with just a hint of tart orange flavor. Everyone loves them, and I always get recipe requests when I bring them to a party. —Brooke Wofford, Travelers Rest, SC Takes: 15 min. • Makes: about 2½ dozen 1 pkg. (11 oz.) vanilla wafers⅔ cup chopped pecans½ cup butter, melted¼ cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed3 cups confectioners’ sugar, divided 1. Place vanilla wafers and pecans in a food processor; pulse until fine crumbs form. Add butter, concentrate and 1 cup sugar; pulse until mixture comes together. 2. Shape mixture into 1-in. balls; roll in remaining sugar. Store at room temperature. 1 PIECE 112 cal., 6g fat (2g sat. fat), 9mg…

Cozy Copycats Between all the entertaining and gift-giving, the holiday season can hit your wallet hard. Save money by skipping the takeout, drive-thru and delivery! Your family will fall for craveworthy restaurant knockoffs such as Copycat Chick-fil-A Nuggets, Panera Mac & Cheese, P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps and Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars. Top-Rated Dishes 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, weeknight dinners and parties. It’s just $10 (plus free shipping) and includes a complimentary copy of the Recipes We Grew Up With cookbook! Hover your camera over the QR code or visit tasteofhomebooks.com/MT2507EP. COMMUNITY COOK’S RECIPE REVIEW Gingerbread Scones Patricia Prescott USERNAME: @pattiejean on tasteofhome.com “I made these for a…

“I took the trending Dubai chocolate bar and turned it into a decadent Dubai Chocolate Tart.”—Bakeable member Neelam Periera “Over the years, I’ve made many types of bread but was intimidated by Japanese milk bread. So when it showed up as the monthly challenge, it felt like fate telling me to do it and I’m glad I did!”—Bakeable member Barb Weber 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!…

1. A Touch of Floral Drew Barrymore’s 6-qt. Wildflower Air Fryer $40 celiadias.com A pretty product rarely stops us in our tracks, but this Test Kitchenapproved air fryer is one of them! 2. Animal Attraction Animal Besties Insulated Food Container $35 uncommongoods.com Have your little ones enjoy lunch on the wild side with containers that keep foods hot or cold for hours. 3. Earth Friendly Bamboo Fiber & Coffee Grounds Compost Bin $35 worldmarket.com Recycle kitchen scraps in style with a compost bin made from BPA-free materials. 4. Daily Grind OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder $100 williams-sonoma.com Improve the taste of your morning brew with an appliance that uses pressure to grind, not chop. 5. The Bee’s Knees Hot Honey $15 drizzlehoney.com This raw honey is infused with spicy…

In October 2024, Ohio bakery owner Kelsey Shepard of Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes (instagram.com/kelseyelizabethcakes) invited her Instagram followers to Cleveland for a cookie exchange hosted by herself and Taste of Home. On Dec. 5, talented bakers from across the Midwest attended the party with their six dozen carefully crafted cookies in tow. While the guests mingled and munched, the hosts (aka judges) scouted out the tastiest, most beautiful cookies in the bunch. It was clear that every cookie was crafted with love, which made finalizing the winners a difficult job. (See the following pages for our four winning recipes.) Join Us Virtually! On Dec. 3, 2025, Kelsey and Taste of Home are doing it all again, and you’re invited to follow along with all the happenings on instagram.com/tasteofhome. Fire up those…

BREAKFAST LOAF I love to make this mile-high breakfast sandwich when we have company for the weekend. If you like, add some sliced mushrooms and olives. —Amy McCuan, Oakley, CA Prep: 15 min. Bake: 25 min. + standing Makes: 6 servings 6 large eggs¼ tsp. salt⅛ tsp. pepper1 Tbsp. butter1 round loaf (1 lb.) French bread6 oz. sliced deli ham, divided¾ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided½ medium sweet red pepper, thinly sliced1 medium tomato, thinly sliced 1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Whisk together eggs, salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Pour in egg mixture; cook and stir until the eggs are thickened and no liquid egg remains. Remove from the heat. 2. Cut one-fourth off top of…

BORN IN BROOKLYN AND RAISED IN WISCONSIN by a proud military man, Chef Monique Small grew up knowing what it meant to fight from the underdog’s corner. Hard work, discipline, and heart became her foundation—and today, those same values fuel her culinary journey in Florida as the force behind Chef Mo On The Go Meals LLC. Her menu fuses Caribbean soul with modern twists, creating bold and unforgettable dishes like her signature Drunken Wicked Wings and Drunken Flying Salmon. Chef Mo’s love affair with food began in her Granny Hilda’s kitchen, where the warm, intoxicating flavors of the Caribbean filled the air. Her uncle Derek, a Culinary Specialist in the U.S. Navy, helped turn that passion into a career by giving her the opportunity to cook at Great Lakes Naval…

STEP 1: HEAT THE CREAM Warm the cream in a small saucepan. To prevent burning, remove it from the heat as soon as bubbles form around the side of the pan. STEP 2: COMBINE EGGS AND SUGAR Place egg yolks in a large bowl and then add the sugar. Use a whisk to combine until blended together but not foamy. STEP 3: CREATE CUSTARD MIXTURE Use a whisk to slowly stir the hot cream into the egg yolk mixture; mix well. Add the vanilla and stir until combined. STEP 4: FILL RAMEKINS Place the ramekins in a baking pan large enough to hold them without touching. Pour the egg mixture into the ramekins. STEP 5: BAKE THE CUSTARDS Carefully add very hot water to the pan, making sure to not…

Why leave all the charcuterie fun to meat and cheese? This chocolate charcuterie board will fulfill a sweet tooth’s wildest (and most decadent) dreams! COOKIES Chocolate and cookies are a match made in heaven! Pirouettes, macaroons, wafer cookies, cannoli and Quadruple Chocolate Chunk Cookies will delight your family and friends. CANDIES Turtle Candies, peanut butter cups, chocolatecovered espresso beans and truffes are a sweet addition to this indulgent board. DIPS & DIPPERS Use fresh fruit, pretzel rods and graham crackers to dig into the caramel and chocolate sauces and the Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball. SNACKS Round out the board with snacks such as almonds and chocolate covered pretzels. Sweet Treats To find the recipes on this board—as well as tips for assembling—hover your camera here.…

Chicken Tortellini Soup This simple recipe is an Italian twist on chicken noodle soup. The tortellini and Italian herbs make it special. —Jean Atherly, Red Lodge, MT Takes: 30 min. Makes: 8 servings (about 2 qt.) 2 cans (14½ oz. each) chicken broth2 cups water¾ lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-in. cubes1½ cups frozen mixed vegetables1 pkg. (9 oz.) refrigerated cheese tortellini2 celery ribs, thinly sliced1 tsp. dried basil½ tsp. garlic salt½ tsp. dried oregano¼ tsp. pepper 1. In a large saucepan, bring broth and water to a boil; add chicken. Reduce heat; cook for 10 minutes. 2. Add the remaining ingredients; cook for 10-15 minutes longer or until chicken is no longer pink and vegetables are tender. 1 CUP 170 cal., 4g fat (2g sat. fat), 37mg…

Texas Sheet Cake Cookies These moist and chewy cookies are slathered with crackly chocolate icing. —Tracy Pesho, North Royalton, OH Prep: 20 min. Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling Makes: 18 servings 2 large eggs, room temperature1 pkg. (15¼ oz.) chocolate cake mix⅓ cup canola oil FROSTING ½ cup butter2 Tbsp. baking cocoa3 Tbsp. whole milk2½ cups confectioners’ sugarSea salt, optional 1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk eggs. Add cake mix and oil until combined. 2. Drop or scoop by tablespoonfuls into parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until edges are set, 7-8 minutes. Let stand on cookie sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling racks. 3. Meanwhile, for the frosting, in a small saucepan, combine butter, cocoa and milk. Cook over medium heat until butter has melted,…

Busy nights mean you need to get supper on the table fast! Next time, skip the drive-thru and frozen dinners and grab your brand-new copy of Easy Everyday Cooking 2025. This genius cookbook features ultra-quick recipes that go from ingredients to finished dish in a flash—some in just half an hour! So, you can prepare hearty feasts…all with time (and money) left to spare! REG. $39.98 ONLY $10 + FREE SHIPPING …plus, get a FREE BONUS COOKBOOK BUSY COOKS WILL LOVE… 350+ FAST, FUSS-FREE RECIPES & TIPS 30-DAY MEAL PLANNER QUICK & EASY 30-MINUTE MEALS Buy It Now at… tasteofhomebooks.com/EE2502SA Scan to order online…

DISHING WITH Danielle Kasprzak TOH Culinary Assistant These cookies are great year-round for any occasion as you can substitute the filling with different kinds of nuts, chocolate or dried fruits. Precision Cutting Pastry Wheel The durable stainless steel wheels glide through dough with ease. Dual-Head Pastry Wheel $7 cuisinart.com Rugelach The crisp texture of these crescent-shaped cookies makes them a terrific treat to serve alongside a steaming mug of hot chocolate or coffee. —Becky Phillips, Chippewa Falls, WI Prep: 40 min. + chilling Bake: 25 min./batch • Makes: 4 dozen 1 cup butter, softened1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened2 cups all-purpose flour½ tsp. salt FILLING 1 cup sugar2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon½ cup butter, melted, divided½ cup finely chopped pecans 1. In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese…