Sweet Potato Casserole aka Nutty Butty Yam Bake
My sweet sister-in-law introduced us to a sweet potato casserole that is an annual favorite for the whole family. It bursts with flavors from all the spices! But what I really love is that the recipe card collects a little bit of sweet remnants of the delicious ingredients over the past 35 years.
—Lori A. Welch
Baked Turkey and Dressing
My birthday is right around Thanksgiving. It’s no wonder, then, that I love baked turkey and dressing (not to be confused with stuffing)! My mom’s cornbread dressing, complete with butter, the juice from the turkey and all her TLC is simply the best!
—Tremene Triplett
Mom’s Christmas Cookies
I’m always looking forward to Christmas time the most, for my mom’s extra-thin, perfectly crunchy Christmas cookies. They’ve been a family tradition for as long as I can remember, and every year we all fight over the last few. The nostalgia of eating them as kids is something I cherish, and I know it’s a tradition we’ll continue with our own kids, year after year.
— Promise Hope
Apple Pie
My husband, John, makes a delicious homemade apple pie! He’s been making it for probably six years now. He even makes a lattice crust, so it looks pretty in addition to being delicious. His secret is adding spices to the melted butter before pouring the sauce over the sliced apples. Seriously the best apple pie! We make it during the holidays and also for my brother’s birthday. He wanted apple pie for his 20th birthday, which turned out to be the last birthday he celebrated on Earth, so now we make it every year to remember him, too.
— Melissa Kreidel Ried
Green Bean Casserole & Stuffing
We just got married this May and are hosting both sides of our family for Thanksgiving this year, around 25 people! I can’t wait to incorporate my old family traditions of green bean casserole and stuffing- but updated recipes that use fresh, homemade ingredients only!
—Ryan & Beth Causier Bordash
Prime Rib
Last Christmas Eve, my wife and I spent hours cruising around Winter Garden and Oakland Park on our golf cart with our Husky, Ellie, admiring the Christmas lights. When we finally made it home around 10:00 p.m., we cooked prime rib and all the sides together. Even though it turned into a late night, we had an incredible time. And we plan on doing it again this year.
— Matt Kester
Standing Rib Roast
I love the time it takes to make it, the thrill of if it’s cooked properly, the anticipation- and the beauty of the presentation when it’s done. I grew up eating it but I love cooking it more. I mostly love hosting and cooking for my family and it is the centerpiece of a great holiday meal.
—Tracey Wiu
Sweet Potato Pie
I started baking sweet potato pie for my grandpa as a kid and have been making it ever since. Back then, it was close to inedible, yet he ate it with a smile on his face. Over time, I’ve perfected the recipe and nothing feels better than that sly grin when I bring him a slice.
—Tarin Scarbrough
Homemade Tamales
Being from Texas, my traditional holiday food choices are a little different than most. While people have memories of gathering around the table to eat a roasted turkey or baked ham, my fondest holiday food tradition always falls to homemade tamales. My go to tamale is pork and hatch chili washed down with an ice cold Shiner!
—Todd Waldrum
Weihnachtsstollen
I had friends in Germany who would send me Weihnachtsstollen. It’s a pastry made out of marzipan and raisins, sprinkled with powdered sugar. Throughout the years, I’ve learned to toast it and put butter on it, and it is absolutely delicious. You only see it at Christmas time.
—Steve Brown
Sweet Potato Casserole
My grandma’s sweet potato casserole. For me, it’s the only side that really matters and has always been my favorite. My sister and I decided to take over serving Thanksgiving dinner (our grandma deserved a break) and that was the one dish I took over.
—Jennifer Ballard
Chinese Take Out
We have Chinese takeout on Christmas Eve every year while we watch It’s a Wonderful Life.
—Dana Anderson
Pizza
My work really stays busy in the holiday season, and I don’t always have time fora huge meal. Years ago, I ordered a pizza instead of cooking and it has now become a holiday staple. Christmas isn’t Christmas for me without a pizza pie.
—Paul Collins
Chicken Tortilla Soup
I love making this chicken tortilla soup for holiday pot lucks. It’s super easy in the slow cooker and the fresh lime and cilantro paired with tortilla strips and your fave hot sauce kicks it up a notch.
—Ann Adams
Key Lime Cheesecake
Key lime cheesecake with a wild berry topping and graham cracker crust is a family favorite. Hey! We’re in Florida- that’s how we roll. Been making it for years and it’s such a holiday treat.
— Jay Slowinski
