Holidays recipes

Turkey nachos layer seasoned refried beans, cumin-spiced turkey with green chilies, and melted Monterey Jack over crisp corn chips. A clever way to use leftover holiday turkey.

Pumpkin pecan cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, spiced pumpkin filling, and a brown sugar pecan streusel topping. A fall dessert that combines two holiday favorites in one.

Deep-fried cranberry jelly fritters with a light, crispy batter. Canned cranberry jelly gets cut into strips, dredged, battered, and fried golden. A quirky, crowd-pleasing holiday snack.

Green beans with mushrooms is a buttery, six-ingredient side dish. Fresh green beans simmered until tender, then tossed with butter-sauteed mushrooms for a humble holiday classic.

Slow-cooked cranberry cherry relish with raisins, whole orange, lemon, brown sugar, and warm spices. Yields 6 cups of thick, fruity condiment for holiday meals and cheese plates.

Port wine jelly made with port, fresh grape juice, sugar, and liquid pectin. A jewel-toned preserve that pairs with cheese boards, roasted meats, and holiday gift giving.

Pecan graham toffee: graham crackers topped with a quick boiled butter-brown-sugar toffee and pecans, baked into crisp, candy-like praline bark. An easy, addictive holiday treat.

See's-style chocolate walnut fudge made with chocolate chips, marshmallow cream, butter, and walnuts. Old-fashioned holiday candy with a foolproof boiled-sugar method. No candy thermometer required.

Cranberry star mold: a retro raspberry gelatin dessert folded with whipped cream, pineapple, and orange sections, chilled in a star mold. A classic holiday side or light dessert.

Traditional Ukrainian fish in aspic (studynyna rybiacha): whole fish poached in aromatic stock, layered with carrot rounds, and set in shimmering gelatin. A stunning cold appetizer for holidays.

Melomakarona are classic Greek Christmas cookies, olive oil dough spiced with orange zest and cognac, soaked in honey-cinnamon syrup, then sprinkled with toasted almonds. Holiday tradition perfected.

Chestnut meringues with chopped marrons glaces folded through crisp, snowy French meringue, dusted with cocoa. A delicate, old-world European cookie for tea trays and holiday gift tins.

Oysters Tyler: baked oysters on the half shell topped with a crabmeat, scallion, and Parmesan patty. A Gulf Coast seafood appetizer for holiday tables or oyster-bar feasts.

A velvety cream soup loaded with turkey, potatoes, celery, and creamed corn, seasoned with paprika and ginger. Ladle it into big bowls with crusty rolls for a warming post-holiday meal.

Overnight souffle layers buttered bread, mushrooms, onions, bacon, Anaheim chilies, dill, and cheddar between an egg-cream-Dijon custard, then chills overnight and bakes into a puffy strata. The make-ahead brunch hero for holiday mornings.

This is a favorite dish of my family's, especially on holidays like Easter and Christmas. Most people cringe at the idea of eating a cow's tongue, but actually the meat is very tender, and even if you have to close your eyes and plug your nose to try it, please do. I guarantee it won't be what you expect!