Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2015 i Taste of Home

Last year at this time, I caught heck from some of you for admitting I don’t have a Christmas dinner tradition. A Taste of Home editor who doesn’t make dinner on Christmas, for Pete’s sake. What’s up with that? OK, fair enough. But I’m hoping to redeem myself here: I actually do cook for my family every Christmas—for breakfast. After a holiday eve of gift-giving and general merrymaking, there’s nothing we enjoy more than waking up to a table loaded with brunchy goodness, the centerpiece of which is always a toasty creation fresh from the oven. I like to change it up every year, and Taste of Home readers have provided me with many delicious options, from cheesy egg bakes to tender coffee cakes. This Christmas, I’m treating my tribe…

EAT SMART FAST FIX Quick Mushroom Barley Soup I paid my mother a surprise visit in Georgia several years ago, and when I walked in, she was preparing this soup. It was so fantastic that I asked for the recipe. I’ve been fixing it ever since. —EDIE IRWIN CORNWALL, NY START TO FINISH: 30 MIN. MAKES: 6 SERVINGS 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms ½ cup chopped carrot 1/3 cup chopped onion 2 cups water ¾ cup quick-cooking barley 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 3 cups whole milk 11/2 tsp. salt ½ tsp. pepper 1. In a saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms, carrot and onion; cook and stir 5 minutes. Add water and barley. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 12-15 minutes or…

Q: What inspires creations like your favorite drink turned dreamy dessert? A: When I recently spoke about cooking at a community center, I told them: It’s not so much about being a good cook as it is about using convenient ingredients and making something innovative with them. I love to find inspiration at restaurants. My son’s always embarrassed when I ask to take home a copy of the menu, but he reaps the benefits! HOLIDAY DESSERTS CONTEST GRAND PRIZE WINNER Enter Our Merriest Potluck Contest and Win $500 Put your Santa hat on. It’s time to make a list and check it twice for your garlicky cheese bread that’s a little bit naughty and your coffee-rubbed roast that’s a whole lot of nice. Spill how you sprinkle red-and-white candies on…

I grew up watching A Christmas Story on Christmas Day after we opened presents, and now it’s a tradition I’ve carried on with my family. I love making holiday-themed dishes, so I thought it was fitting to create a meat loaf recipe in honor of the movie. I started with the meat loaf recipe my mother learned from her mom, then gave it my own twist based on the dinner the Parker family sits down to in the film. With our 3-year-old, we’re going through a pickyeating stage. Sometimes he reminds me of Ralphie’s brother in the movie—there’s no licking the plate, but when he really likes a meal he manages to shovel in loads of food. My son even recites the movie’s famous quote, “You’ll shoot your eye out,…

This fall, our Culinary Specialists brought the Taste of Home Cooking School experience to thousands of home cooks with interactive demonstrations, cutting-edge techniques, and unexpected flavors. This holiday season, get a taste of the Cooking School with these great recipes! ALMOND CHICKEN & STRAWBERRY-BALSAMIC SAUCE GRILLED CHEESE & TOMATO SOUP BAKE SAUSAGE BRUNCH BRAID MAKE-AHEAD BREAKFAST BURRITOS HONEY MUSTARD POTATO GRATIN Get these recipes at TasteofHome.com/CSRecipes…

Thank you for joining the LIVE Taste of Home Cooking School during our Fall 2015 show season. We had a great time with you! The new Spring season starts up in March 2016—look for us in a town near you! At Every Show… LEARN NEW RECIPES! Like the yummy dish shown below that are easy enough to make at home! PICK UP NEW TECHNIQUES! Learn new cooking tips and techniques from our Culinary Specialist! GET A BAG OF GOODIES! Products, coupons and recipes from national and local sponsors. LEARN MORE AT: tasteofhome.com/CookingSchool Turkey Club Roulades —TASTE OF HOME TEST KITCHEN PREP: 20 MIN. COOK: 15 MIN. MAKES: 8 SERVINGS ¾ lb. fresh asparagus, trimmed 8 turkey breast cutlets (about 1 lb.) 1 Tbsp. Dijon-mayonnaise blend 8 slices deli ham 8…

MORE SOUP FOR YOU Find all the home-simmered classic soup recipes just begging for these fresh takes on toppings at tasteofhome.com/classicsoup 1 Tomato soup topped with mini grilled cheese sandwiches. I cut the sammies into pieces and throw them on. —JENNY MINNICK-STATES PENROSE, CO 2 I never understood shoestring potatoes until a stroke of genius inspired me to top my soup with them. —KERRY ROBERTS KEUVELAAR FOWLERVILLE, MI 3 For squash soups, I scatter on roasted pumpkin seeds and some fresh sage leaves quickly fried in a little olive oil. —KERI LARSON MINNEAPOLIS, MN 4 Posole, a homey Mexican soup, is even better topped with a crunchy and cool mix of chopped radishes, green onions, diced avocado and shredded Monterey Jack, then splashed with taco sauce and fresh lime juice.…

EAST SMART FAST FIX Grapefruit & Fennel Salad with Mint Vinaigrette When my dad shares his homegrown grapefruit with me, I toss it with onion, fennel and mint for a fantastic salad. —CATHERINE WILKINSON DEWEY, AZ START TO FINISH: 15 MIN. MAKES: 4 SERVINGS 1 medium red grapefruit 1 medium fennel bulb, halved and thinly sliced 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion VINAIGRETTE 3 Tbsp. fresh mint leaves 2 Tbsp. sherry vinegar 11/2 tsp. honey 1/8 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. coarsely ground pepper 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1. Segment grapefruit (see tip at right). Arrange fennel, grapefruit and onion on a serving platter. 2. Place mint, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper in a small food processor. Cover and process until mint is finely chopped, slowly adding oil in a steady…

White Seafood Lasagna Our Italian-American family makes this lasagna rich with shrimp, crab and scallops as part of the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes. PREP: 1 HOUR • BAKE: 40 MIN. + STANDING MAKES: 12 SERVINGS 9 uncooked lasagna noodles 1 Tbsp. butter 1 lb. uncooked shrimp (31-40 per lb.), peeled and deveined 1 lb. bay scallops 5 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 cup white wine 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 lb. fresh crabmeat CHEESE SAUCE 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 3 cups 2% milk 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper Dash ground nutmeg RICOTTA MIXTURE 1 carton (15 oz.) part-skim ricotta cheese 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 1…

When Petty Officer 1st Class Matt Shaw left his restaurant-chef career for a post in the United States Coast Guard, he soon learned that his cooking talent offered so much more than just a good meal. “Food service in the military means cooking to boost morale and ease the strain of being far from home,” says Matt, who’s stationed on the USCGC Steadfast, a lawenforcement vessel out of Warrenton, Oregon. “I serve the crew like family, creating nutritious meals and a comfortable atmosphere, trying to make a difference in their day.” He makes that family atmosphere even more special during the holidays by sharing one of his favorite traditions: a twist on his mom’s toffee brownie bars, which have been a classic on every Christmas cookie tray since his childhood.…

ALABAMA Karen King Bessemer Deborah Pennington Decatur Denise Beadle Dothan Charlotte McDaniel Jacksonville Lisa Allen Joppa Jan Harrell Robertsdale ALASKA Cindi DeClue Anchorage Cari Molinaro Wasilla ARIZONA Cathy Orban Chandler Cori Cooper Flagstaff Paul Williams Fort Mohave Lee Mason Gilbert Brittany Allyn Mesa Kellie Cook Mesa Karen Keefe Phoenix Sherri Jerzyk Tucson Linda Lambert Wittmann ARKANSAS Jeannie Mullen Farmington CALIFORNIA Melissa Tenhet Bakersfield Helen Nelander Boulder Creek Dustin Anderson Camarillo Marina Castle Canyon Country Aparna Joshi Cupertino Kallee Krong-McCreery Escondido Jenn Tidwell Fair Oaks Emily Stanton Los Osos Hannah Williams Malibu Stephanie Lockwood Santa Clara Terri Adams Santa Cruz Lauren Brien-Wooster South Lake Tahoe Tiffany Mitchell Susanville Lynne German Woodland Hills COLORADO Ann Bush Colorado City Margaret Brott Colorado Springs Janie Ganyard Colorado Springs Rachel Garcia Colorado Springs Crystal Jo…

TIED UP WITH STRING O Christmas Eats These food-inspired ornaments make your Christmas tree look good enough to eat. Here are a few of our favorite trimmings. 1. Cream Puff Glass Ornament $11 Bronner’s 2. Christmas Donut Ornament—Yummy Chocolate with Sprinkles $15 DanielleLondon, Etsy 3. Strawberry Jam Jar Glass Ornament $21 Bronner’s 4. Large Shiny Pickle Glass Ornament $8 Bronner’s 5. Pear Christmas Tree Ornaments $45 for 4 PickyChicky, Etsy 6. Personalized Fortune Cookie Ornament $15 TheOffbeatBear, Etsy 7. Pineapple Ornament $6 Target 8. Small Pretzel Glass Ornament $12 Bronner’s BUY IT! Get these and more fun finds in the Taste of Home store at rdstore.com/tasteofhome. COLOR WITH US! Round up your colored pencils and relax with Taste of Home’s new coloring book. All 31 beautiful illustrations are on perforated pages, so you can frame and hang that…

Classic Candy Cane Butter Cookies To make cookies that look like candy canes, color half the dough red, and get twisting. The canes go well with hot chocolate, too. —SHANNON ROUM TASTE OF HOME FOOD STYLIST PREP: 45 MIN. + CHILLING BAKE: 10 MIN./BATCH MAKES: 3 DOZEN 1 cup butter, softened 2/3 cup sugar ¼ tsp. salt 1 large egg yolk 2 tsp. vanilla extract 21/4 cups all-purpose flour ¼ tsp. red paste food coloring 1. In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla; gradually beat in flour. Divide dough in half; mix food coloring into one half. Roll each dough into a 6-in. square. Wrap each in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour or overnight. 2. Preheat oven to…

Cherry-Almond Coffee Cake Every Christmas morning, I bake a coffee cake that’s rich and creamy like a cheesecake. My family loves cherries on top, but make it yours with the fruit preserves you like best. —SUE TORN GERMANTOWN, WI PREP: 15 MIN. • BAKE: 50 MIN. + COOLING MAKES: 12 SERVINGS 21/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar, divided 3/4 cup cold butter, cubed 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt 1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream 2 large eggs, divided use 1 tsp. almond extract 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened 1 cup cherry preserves 1/2 cup sliced almonds 1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, mix flour and 3 cup sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup crumb mixture…

setting the scene Mix and match. Pull knickknacks, dishes, trinkets, tea towels—anything fun and festive—from around your home to decorate. It’s OK if they don’t all match! Pick complementary colors (like red and green), and embrace the mix of patterns and textures. String up garland. Crocheted dishcloths and trivets add a sweet punch of Christmas kitsch. Use a few mini clothespins to attach them to string, then deck out windows. 1 2 3 Whimsy Salt and Pepper Shakers $13, Polka Dot Mixing Bowls (set of 3) $106 and Cardinal Christmas Salt and Pepper Shakers $13, Tag 4 5 Joy Sign $12, and Threshold Plaid Chenille Throw $35, Target 6 North Pole Salad Plates $12, Kohl’s 7 Teatowel in North Pole Print $8, Now Designs BUY IT! Gift someone you love (or yourself) with these…

My Christmas Eve seafood lasagna came from my maternal grandmother, Maria DiMarzio, who hailed from Bari, Italy. My extended family all love it, so it’s often on the table for Sunday dinner celebrations, prepared with the super-fresh seafood available in my coastal town. And the family always shares this dish for the Feast of the Seven Fishes, the traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner. Family members gather here after church, changing into comfy clothes that they don’t mind cooking in. (When a bunch of Italians get together, the food will fly.) My two daughters bring their children. Jacob, Joey and Sidnie help in the kitchen, just as I “helped” my grandma, stirring in ingredients and serving at the table. This special dinner starts early, around 4 o’clock. First my Italian dinner…

5 INGREDIENTS Grandmother’s Toad in a Hole I have fond memories of my grandmother’s Yorkshire pudding wrapped around sausages. Now I make this puffy dish for my kids, who have nicknamed it “The Boat.” —SUSAN KIEBOAM STREETSBORO, OH PREP: 10 MIN. + STANDING • BAKE: 25 MIN. MAKES: 6 SERVINGS 3 large eggs 1 cup 2% milk 1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 pkg. (12 oz.) uncooked maple breakfast sausage links 3 tbsp. olive oil butter and maple syrup, optional 1. Preheat oven to 400°. In a small bowl, whisk eggs, milk and salt. Whisk flour into egg mixture until blended. Let stand 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cook sausage according to package directions; cut each sausage into three pieces. 2. Place oil in a 12-in. nonstick ovenproof skillet. Place…

“Evangeline Bradford’s chocolatepeppermint cookies deliver loads of Christmas cheer.” —@tasteof home CONTRIBUTOR GUIDELINES 1 Want to see your name in print? Send us your favorite recipe to share with other readers. It’s easy! Simply use the convenient form at tasteofhome.com/submit. 2 When sending recipes, please be specific with directions, measurements and sizes of cans, packages and pans. And please share a few words about the recipe and yourself. (For recipe contest entries, follow the directions on page 64.) 3 Please be patient. Because of the large volume of mail, it can take our small staff several months to review submissions. We may hold your material without informing you, but we will let you know if we publish something you submitted. Materials that won’t fit in Taste of Home may be considered…