Holidays/40 recipes

My mother and I made these cookies when I was little, many years ago, using the box of dry mincemeat. I have looked for years for the recipe, they are the best cookies ever!!!

A delicious kind of salad made with mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, flaked coconut and whipped topping.

An Eastern European pastry with a rich history and cultural significance. They are traditionally made from a simple dough consisting of cream cheese, butter, and flour, and filled with sweet fillings like jam, nuts, or cheese.

These cookies are buttery and flakey, love the walnut filling that gives the cookies just enough nuttiness and sweetness. Well balanced flavor, and cute little pockets, just can not have enough of them.

I have made a Thanksgiving goose every year for at least 15 years. I have steadily gained on making the perfect bird but I finally found the greatest recipe ever in Cook's Magazine. The divine part of this approach to cooking the goose is that it employs some of the eastern method of drying the skin which is used in Peking Duck. The skin simply drops all its fat and leaves a crispy, dry, delectable skin that folks fight over! No more rubbery, yucky goose skin full of fat!

Just like Santa, I have big orders to fill when it comes to the holidays. Everyone wants me to make them some.

This homemade cranberry sauce is better than anything you get from a can!

Perfectly cooked juicy pork tenderloin marinated in mustard and thyme served with a white wine cream sauce. This sauce is perfect for the pork and any sides such as steamed potatoes and carrots.

A delicious holiday drink made with apple cider, orange juice and a bit of brandy.

Spumoni cookies are a creative twist on the classic Italian dessert, featuring the same delightful combination of cherry, chocolate, and pistachio flavors.

After trying numerous green bean casseroles I was not a fan. This casserole changed my mind. Tender-crisp green beans that were actually green. Just the right amount of creamy coating loaded with mushroom flavor. And no canned tasteless fried onions. Delish!

Love these chocolaty and sweet mounds bars. They are easy to make, and always bring rave reviews back.

Along the coast of the Southern US eating Hoppin' John on New Year's Day is thought to bring a year filled with luck and prosperity. The beans symbolize coins or pennies. Sometimes a penny is added to the pot or can be left under the bowls of Hoppin' John. Greens such as Collards, chard or kale can be added and symbolize the color of money and are said to add to ones wealth in the new year. The day after New Year's Day the leftovers are called "Skippin' Jenny," and further demonstrates one's frugality. A common tradition in the south US is each person at the meal should leave three peas on their plate to ensure the New Year will be filled with Luck, Fortune and Romance. Another tradition holds that counting the number of peas in a serving predicts the amount of luck (or wealth) that will be collected over the next year.

This delicious sweet potato casserole impresses everyone. It's creamy but not too rich, it's sweet but not too heavy. The candied pecan topping adds the extra crunchiness and nuttiness, a great side dish to share on your Thanksgiving table.

There are ground pecans in the shell, there are chopped pecans in the maple-brown sugar filling, and there are maple candied pecans arranged on top. The sweetness comes from both dark brown sugar and maple syrup, and there are some chopped dried cherries and rum added into the filling as well. A classic pecan pie is twisted with a modern way to make it more delicious and appealing, and everyone will give you a big "wow".

These classic yet delicious rum balls are always one of holiday's favorites in many family. They are so easy to make and too yummy to stop addiction.