(Family Functions) The holidays and all their celebration often mean full days of visiting family and friends, opening presents and enjoying moments with loved ones, even if much of that interaction takes place virtually this year. All the laughter and happiness are bound to make you hungry, and when you’re feeding the family all day, you need recipe ideas that are ready for the occasion.
Starting the big day with a full breakfast gets the festivities started on a high note, while the snacks help everyone wait for the main course, side dishes and of course dessert. Consider these tasty dishes to take your holiday gatherings to new heights from morning to night.
Visit Culinair.net to find more holiday meal ideas.
One great Turkey
Centering your holiday meal around a turkey cooked to golden perfection is the ideal way to serve a holiday meal. However, without proper preparation and execution, your bird may fall short. To ensure your Christmas dinner centerpiece lives up to expectations, follow these simple tips, from purchase to plate:
1. Buy the right bird. Finding a turkey that is just the right size for the expected company is the start of a successful gathering. A common rule of thumb is to buy 1 pound of turkey per person – so for a meal for 10 people, buy a 10 pound turkey. Remember, almost everyone loves leftovers, so you might consider buying a few pounds more than necessary.
2. Be patient. If you choose a frozen turkey, don’t rush the thawing process. Larger turkeys may take days to thaw properly.
3. Timing is everything. Finding the right amount of time for your turkey to spend in the oven is crucial, but not always the easiest thing to do. For an 8-12 pound bird, aim for 2.5-3.5 hours; 12-16 pounds for 3.5-4 hours; 16-20 pounds for 4-4.5 hours, and so on. The key is to bring the turkey to a temperature of 170 F.
4. Let it rest. Instead of taking the turkey out of the oven and carving it right away, let it rest for 20-30 minutes to allow the juices to soak into the meat and moisten it.
A simple and cheesy holiday appetizer
If you need a last-minute appetizer or want to impress your friends but don’t have time to spend hours making something, consider this easy-to-make, easy-to-eat cheesy treat.
This Cheeseball recipe calls for a handful of common household ingredients, such as cream cheese, cheddar cheese, vegetables and Worcestershire sauce, rolled together and chilled for a tasty dip served with crackers. For extra flavor, it’s made with Buddig Beef, which has been fueling traditions with its time-tested entrée for more than 75 years.
Find more holiday recipe ideas at buddig.com/recipes.
Cheese ball
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 10
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups (8 ounces) finely grated cheddar cheese
- 1 can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced black olives, drained
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped red pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 2 packages (4 ounces) Buddig Beef or Ham, chopped, divided
- 1 pack of assorted crackers
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and cheddar cheese with a mixer on medium speed until creamy.
- Mix black olives, green onion, red pepper, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and 60 grams of minced beef until well mixed.
- Form a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap.
- Let it cool for at least 2-3 hours to allow the flavors to blend.
- Just before serving, roll in the remaining chopped beef until completely coated.
- Serve with various crackers.
Gather loved ones with cookies
A true holiday celebration calls for sharing moments with loved ones and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Making a sweet dessert to end the festivities is a perfect way to get together in the kitchen and enjoy the moment with those who matter most.
These gingerbread cookies made with C&H sugar can be a signature holiday treat that kids can help with. Once they come out of the oven, ask the little ones to help decorate the festive and delicious cookies.
Visit chsugar.com to find recipes perfect for entertaining and celebrating with family all year long.
Gingerbread cookies
Recipe courtesy of
Bernice Baran
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 10-12 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup C&H® dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- royal icing
- In a large bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and molasses; mix until well incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Using the mixer on low speed, add the butter mixture until combined and dough forms.
- Divide the dough in half, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Flour clean work surface. Roll the dough 1/8-1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes with desired cookie cutters.
- Place the cookies on lined baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until set. Let cookies cool on baking sheets for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Cool completely.
- Decorate cookies with royal icing.
A memorable morning breakfast
Holiday mornings are iconic for the times we open presents together, share stories, and enjoy a meal. Skip the cereal and frozen foods for a spread like this Orange Eggs Benedict with a homemade hollandaise sauce.
With six servings, it’s perfect for a family breakfast to fill empty stomachs after a morning of gift giving. Plus, kids can join in on the fun by helping to make the hollandaise, which simply involves mixing a few ingredients together before pouring it over the finished dish.
Find more breakfast recipes at Culinair.net.
Orange Eggs Benedict
Servings: 6
Orange Hollandaise:
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 orange, juice only
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- water
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 8 eggs
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 6 French baguette slices, each 3/4 inch thick
- 6 thick slices of ham
- 1/2 cup orange marmalade
- orange peel, for garnish
- How to make Orange Hollandaise: In a small bowl, mix the egg yolks, orange juice, and salt until combined. While mixing, gradually add the melted butter to the egg mixture. Set aside.
- Add water to the skillet halfway up the sides. Add vinegar. Bring to the boil. Break eggs into water for poaching. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the whites are cooked and the yolks are still runny. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and let them drain on kitchen paper.
- Spread butter on one side of the bread slices. Place the bread in the frying pan and fry until golden brown. Add the ham to the same skillet and cook until browned on both sides.
- Spread the slices of bread with orange marmalade. Top each dish with a slice of cooked ham and a poached egg. Pour hollandaise over the eggs and garnish with orange zest.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images (Holiday Table)