“Jesus replied ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
-Matthew 22:37-40 NLT
My Lemon Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts are roasted, slightly crispy, soft, and have lots of great flavor. It’s a fresh vegetable side dish using lemon juice and zest, garlic cloves, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. You can kick up the heat a little by adding some red pepper chili flakes, but I love how these came out as is. Click here to find the full recipe!
2. Homemade Orange Cranberry Relish
This Orange Cranberry Relish is a vibrant, refreshing twist on classic cranberry sauce. Made with fresh cranberries, plenty of orange zest and juice, and just the right touch of natural sweetness. I’m using coconut sugar and maple syrup to make it sweeter to balance the tart and bright flavors beautifully. The citrus adds a burst of freshness while the cranberries keep it bold and festive. It comes together quickly and is perfect for holiday tables, spooned alongside your protein or stuffing. Even enjoy this as a spread or topping long after the celebrations are over. Click here to find the full recipe!
3. Sweet Potato Buttermilk Biscuits
These Sweet Potato Buttermilk Biscuits are soft, flaky, and lightly sweet with a beautiful golden color from roasted sweet potatoes. The buttermilk adds a gentle tang while keeping the biscuits soft, and the sweet potato brings warmth and a naturally sweet taste. These biscuits are perfect for breakfast, as your holiday rolls, or for Christmas breakfast. My Sweet Potato Buttermilk Biscuits feel both comforting and special, and they’re proof that simple, seasonal ingredients for great for a memorable holiday meal. Click here to find the full recipe!
4. Miso Garlic Butter Green Beans
A mouth-water green bean recipe is right here with these Miso Garlic Butter Green Beans. They’re a simple yet elevated side dish packed with a savory, umami-rich sauce. Fresh green beans are quickly blanched until tender, then tossed in a silky garlic butter infused with brown miso for depth. The result is a bright, buttery vegetable dish with just the right amount of richness. This side dish is easy when balancing a full holiday menu and needing a simple and fast vegetable idea. But it’s impressive enough to wow the crowd! Click here to find the full recipe.
5. Roasted Apple & Squash Fall Salad with Homemade Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Salads can often be overlooked when brought to the dinner table, especially when people are reaching for the more decadent and rich dishes first. Next thing you know, there’s no room on their plate for fresh greens! But when you make this Roasted Fall Apple & Squash Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette, it makes everyone want to save room on their plate for it.
The holiday season is a time for cozy, comforting flavors and vibrant textures. That’s why this salad is packed with sweet apples and spiced autumn squashes that are caramelized in the oven. Roasting these produce brings out their natural sweetness before being layered over a bed of mixed greens. The salad is finished with a homemade honey mustard vinaigrette that’s perfectly tangy, lightly sweet, and smooth. Try this hearty yet fresh salad that works beautifully for your Christmas table, especially for vegetarians. Click here to find the full recipe!
6. Crispy Shallot & Garlic Braised Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey Neck
These Crispy Shallot and Garlic Braised Collard Greens are a comforting, deeply flavorful side dish that brings a Southern classic to your holiday table. The collard greens are slowly braised until tender and silky, soaking up the flavor from the smoked turkey neck and chicken broth. It’s savory, well-seasoned, and irresistible, but we’re adding a little twist to it. Crispy golden shallots and garlic are layered on at the end, adding a crunchy contrast and rich aroma that elevates every bite. This dish is made with a lot of love, seasoning, and flavor. I high recommend that you bring this dish to your holiday tables. There’s nothing better than to show Christmas love with a hearty side dish like good ole’ collard greens. Click here to find the full recipe!
These Honey Buttermilk Biscuits are soft, fluffy, and irresistible! They have with the right touch of sweetness from the rich buttermilk and a drizzle of honey. They bake up tall and golden with buttery, flaky layers that practically melts in your mouth. Perfect for your Christmas breakfast or as a holiday dinner rolls. These biscuits use simple ingredients and an easy technique! Just make sure not to overwork the dough and to keep the butter cold as you’re cutting into the flour. And don’t worry, I explain the full technique and process in my recipe. Click here to find the full recipe!
8. Roasted Spice Carrots with Pecans and Honey Whipped Feta
My Roasted Spice Carrots with Pecans and Honey Whipped Feta brings a beautiful balance of earthy, sweet, and savory to your holiday menu. The carrots are tossed in warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, then roasted until tender and caramelized. The warming spices adds a depth to their natural sweetness. They’re finished with a creamy, tangy honey whipped feta that adds richness and contrast. Plus the lightly roasted pecans brings the whole dish together. Simple, elegant, and tasty it’s the theme for the holidays, and it’s what you get with this dish. Click here to find the full recipe!
9. Herb & Chicken Sausage Stuffing
Replace the box stuffing with my Herb & Chicken Sausage Stuffing that’s homemade and has a slight twist from the classic comfort dish. This recipe is made completely from scratch and packed with flavor using herbs like thyme, oregano, sage, parsley, and poultry seasoning. I’m taking this a step further by adding savory chicken sausage to the mix. I brown up ground chicken with seasoning then combine it with sautéed onions, celery, and garlic. Toss in the toasted bread cubes, fresh herbs, and a rich, well-seasoned broth. And this stuffing is amazing after baking in the oven, the flavors all infuse into each other. It comes out a golden top with a soft, fluffy center. This stuffing is deeply comforting, aromatic, and perfect for holiday meals or as a flavorful side any time of year. Click here to find the full recipe!
10. Maple Dijon Crusted Vegetables
I will admit there’s a good amount of vegetable dishes in this post! But for good reason, I strongly believe vegetables can be made delicious and spruced up for the holidays. Vegetables shouldn’t be boring and bland! That’s why I’m showing you how to take generic roasted veggies and elevating them.
These Maple Dijon Crusted Vegetables are a cozy, flavor-packed side dish that celebrates seasonal produce. A medley of roasted winter vegetables including brussel sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, sweet potato, and butternut squash. The veggies are roasted with olive oil until fork tender, but it doesn’t stop there. They’re finished with a buttery, crunchy cracker crust combined with maple syrup, dijon mustard, garlic, thyme, and melted butter. This topping add the flavor and richness back into roasted vegetables without overwhelming them.
Sprinkle the topping of the roasted vegetables and pop it back in the oven for a few more minutes and see how golden and crunchy it turns. The contrast of caramelized vegetables and crisp topping makes this dish feel elevated yet approachable for any picky eaters. Perfect for holiday tables when you want your vegetables to shine and not left without a second thought. Click here to find the full recipe!
This Cauliflower and Leek Gratin is rich, comforting, and full of layered flavor. You might even substitute or mistake this for a ooey, gooey macaroni and cheese. While this dish doesn’t taste exactly like macaroni and cheese, the creamy parmesan and leek sauce is still irresistible. Tender blanched cauliflower and gently sautéed leeks are folded into a creamy, cheesy sauce, then baked until bubbling and golden on top. The leeks add a little bite and balances the savory richness of the gratin, while the cauliflower stays soft but never mushy. This dish is both rustic and indulgent, which is great for any holiday setting. Bring this to your holiday table if you’re in the something warm, cheesy, and tasty. Click here to find the full recipe!
I keep staring at the sweet potato biscuits so I am obviously putting ingredients on my shopping list this week.
Haha, thank you! I hope that you enjoy it!