A roundup of Holiday Food Ideas to take a little stress from the holiday preparations.
The holidays are a very busy time of the year for SO many reasons. Therefore, it’s nice to have some quick ideas to help save time in the kitchen. Below are a few of the things I do to make life a little bit more relaxing and fun without sacrificing the comfort of good food. Hope you enjoy this roundup of Holiday Food Ideas.
Breakfast
Quick breads are nice to have around for a fast breakfast or for when you just want something quick and light. No refrigeration is needed, so all you have to do is cut a slice and eat. Even if you like your bread warm, just heat a slice on a cast iron skillet for a couple of minutes and it will taste like it just came out of the oven.
My favorite quick bread is this tried and true Cranberry Bread. It’s nice having a loaf around for both breakfast and afternoon tea.
Everyone needs to feel a little spoiled during the holidays and breakfast crepes help to do that. One batch of crepe batter makes about 15 crepes. That’s at least three breakfasts for the two of us. On a morning when I have a little extra time, I’ll cook up the crepes and make an elegant breakfast or brunch like these Apple Pecan Crepes with Cheddar Cheese. The rest of the crepes get put in a plastic bag with a paper towel and refrigerated. For a quick breakfast, I’ll whip some maple syrup with a little Greek yogurt, warm a few crepes in a skillet, and slice a banana or chop up a persimmon. A couple of warm crepes are folded onto a plate, topped with the fruit, and drizzled with the maple yogurt. A delightful breakfast in less than 15 minutes.
You could also just bypass the crepes and throw together this Persimmon Cranberry Parfait. This breakfast takes about 10 minutes to throw together.
Snacks
Snacks are always important to have around. They stave off hunger when supper is running late and feed those who can never get enough to eat no matter how much you feed him them. Two very healthy snacks that are quick and easy to prepare and that last 3 to 4 days (but probably won’t) are these Sweet and Spicy Pepitas and Apple, Raisin and Walnut Snacks.
Apple, Raisin and Walnut Snack
Soups
One can never go wrong with soup. I like to cook up a big pot of soup and keep it refrigerated for lunches. Just scoop some soup into a bowl and heat in the microwave. Lunch is ready!
Once cooked, most soups can be refrigerated and kept for 4 to 5 days. However, when I’m making a soup for this purpose, I avoid soups that have rice, noodles, or posole. These ingredients absorb a lot of the liquid and break down after a day or two.
Here are two soups that keep quite well in the refrigerator for a few days and that just get better with time.
Green Chile Chicken and Mushroom Soup
Entrees
It’s the holidays, but you’re still having to work. You come home and make a batch of cookies for the office party and now it’s suppertime. The kitchen is already dirty from the cookies and all you want to do is throw something together and put up your feet. At times like this, the perfect dish is this Capellini with Lemon, Garlic and Egg. It’s a family favorite and is SO easy to make!
If you don’t feel like pasta, throw together a salad with a little protein and vegetables that you have available. This Spicy Bean Salad is a hearty vegetarian salad that Bobby and I eat year round.
And once your refrigerator starts getting full of leftovers, don’t forget about this Chicken Pot Pie.
Side Dishes
I have to admit that side dishes are usually an afterthought. For the holidays, it’s always about the entree and the desserts. So my side dishes need to be easy, yet very tasty, and complementary with the rest of the meal. Bourbon carrots fit that criteria to a “T”. Once the carrots have cooked in the bourbon, I add whatever seasoning will go nice with the rest of the meal. There isn’t an easier or tastier side dish than this.
Speaking of cooking with bourbon…How about sweet potatoes, brown butter and bourbon? Honestly, this could be the entree.
For those of you who like serving a fruit as a side, let me suggest these Spiked Poached Pears. A combination of sweet and savory, and a light side for a heavier entree. They could also be served with a touch of whipping cream or ice cream for a relatively light dessert.
At Day’s End
Now for a sweet little ending to a busy day….Cuddle up with your loved one in front of the fire, and sip on these Fiery Chocolate Shots. What an elegant way to end a very busy day.
What are some of your Holiday Food Ideas to save time in the kitchen during the holidays?
Two things. Yes to bourbon. And those crepes? Yes to them too! š
I couldn’t leave a comment on this post during the holidays…. but all these food ideas sound so good right now. I can definitely indulge myself with your delicious food. š Dieting? Nah… my new year resolution is to exercise (so I can eat). =P
You asked me about my remodeling – taking time to figure out the floor plan for the first floor and finally met a structural engineer last week. Hope to get started soon!
Thanks Nami! Yep, a New Years resolution of dieting went out the window years ago. Wow, looks like you’re making progress on the remodel. Sounds like a huge project! Good luck and am looking forward to tracking it’s progress once you get started.
Love the round up of these delicious recipes!!Love the cranberry bread and your lovely soups!I was away to the UK for our holiday and had a great time š Hope you had a good one too!Happy new year MJ!!
I pretty much love everything in this round-up! People are in such a hurry, having quick recipe ideas is perfect! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! I am excited to get back to blog love, I’m so behind on blogs. Have a very Happy New Year! Hugs, Terra
I was so exhausted and busy with presents and food shopping, I have somehow missed this beautiful and inspiring post. They bring so many wonderful food memories… Thank you so much, MJ!
I love all these recipes especially the fruit ones. I’ve always been a fan of cranberry bread and especially love the sound of the persimmon parfait and spiked pears. Such a great lineup for anytime. Happy Holidays!
Thanks vicki! I love the fruit ones as well. š
MJ you are making me so hungry with this delicious round up. Lots of delicious dishes that I know my boys will love. Sharing!!! Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holiday!
Thanks so much Bam! I love helping you to feed those growing boys of yours. š
I love this post! Awesome simple recipes for the busiest time of the year, and it should be time to relax with family instead of labouring over the stove.
Happy Holidays MJ!
Delicious! Love each and every single dish you suggested here from the baked to the beverage.
i guess i can use this recipes throughout the year….
Absolutely!!! Thanks for stopping by Dedy!
What a great post, MJ, so chockfull of great ideas and dishes. Your photos each look so appealing, though, as you might have guessed, the pasta w/ egg dish really caught my eye. Have never served a fried egg atop pasta but, now that I’ve seen it done, it won’t be long before I give it a try. Thanks for the inspiration.
Really – you’ve never had an egg on top of pasta? I guess that’s not an Italian thing. I do hope you like it when you try it. Bobby and I love a runny egg on pasta. YUM! š Thanks for your comments!
Those pears look so elegant and tasty! The hot chocolate looks delicious! I love all these holiday food ideas.
Thanks so much Amy. You picked out two really good ones!
Beautiful meals and ideas! So classy as alwasy, MJ! Thank you for a lovely 2014 of awesome inspiration!
And a big thank you to you Diana for your continued support!! Hope you and yours have an absolutely wonderful holiday season!
Whoa Baby, I pinned several of these excellent suggests. But I gotta tell ya I want gaga over the crepes. Man oh Man I would eat those for every meal.
Thanks Carol! Oh…the crepes are my favorite!
I always end up making banana bread and you’ve kicked me up the backside into making something different this year. Family get here tomorrow and they’ll want breakfast before New Year’s Eve. š
Thanks Maureen! It’s usually a toss up between the cranberry and a banana bread, but I usually end up going to the cranberry bread because it’s healthier and I do love it! š
You’re right — I always need quick ideas at this time of the year. And you’ve provided a bunch! I really need to try your Fiery Chocolate Shots. š I hope you and Bobby have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Years!
Thanks so much John! You’ll love those Fiery Chocolate shots! š Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season as well!
YUM – what a wonderful roundup – love the idea of a quick bread with a home full of guests! And that Andouille and Black Bean Soup sounds insanely delicious!
Thanks Shashi! The quick breads are my favorite to have around. Make breakfast and tea time so much easier. š And yes, the soup is delicious!
Thnaks for this great ideas, nice to have specially when you want to do something quick, something to add to what you already have prepared for Christmas dinner
You are most welcome Raymund! Hope you have a wonderful holiday and thanks for your continue support!