Holiday recipe review????

what did you make? what hit? what missed?

I made two cookies recipes from Bon Appetit

chewy almond raspberry sandwich cookies

these are GREAT if you like almond cookies, but they are SWEET. the cookies were so sweet I did not bother with the jam or powdered sugar, b/c for me if would have been too much. next time I am swapping out the jam for bittersweet chocolate filling. but everyone loved them just the way they were.

I think though that next time I may also drop the dough instead of piping it. they didn't come out nearly as wide as they should have. but all in all, especially b/c they were so easy, a definite definite new standard for me.

double chocolate peppermint crunch

these were DELICIOUS and look lovely (even without the peppermint topping) and the perfect size and "look" for a lovely holiday gift!!!

potato mushroom gruyere gratin

I don't think it gets much better than potatoes boiled in cream. b/c of time constraints, I had to ditch the mushrooms, but I substituted with some swiss chard. dh said it was the best dish of the night. and it was supremely easy. I will definitely be making this again.

breakfast biscuit sandwich
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/breakfast-biscuit-sandwiches
when I saw this recipe I knew then that we had to have ham for christmas eve so that I could make this for christmas morning.

the biscuit batter is pretty easy to make and is so...luscious. the biscuits cook beautifuly, have a nice salty crust and hold up to my yolky egg sandwich flawlessly. a hit with everyone!!!

I also make an overnight french toast, but substituted the recipe with panettone. it both hit big and missed big (even with the chef herself)

I knew from the outset I probably wouldn't like it b/c I barely let my bread touch the custard when I make french toast. I like it dry. this was very soft. the flavors were so ON though. if you like custardy things and like the flavor of panettone, make this. my husband and my uncle's wife DOGGED it. so did my son. even my uncle, who like me, cannot take the mush, really liked the taste of it.

so, this was the new stuff I did. I am hosting NYE as well, so if you could be so kind as to review your stuff, I would be eternally grateful!!

Message edited 12/28/2010 11:23:57 AM.

Re: Holiday recipe review????

savory items:

breakfast casserole

everyone loved it. i should have made two. what i would change is the way i cooked the potatoes. next time, i'll pay closer attention. i felt they were a bit "smokey" and i didn't care for it. next time i'll make two of these

sweet items:

pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

got the recipe here. everyone loved them. i want to try a batch with NO chocolate chips. i loved the spice/pumpkin taste. they were lovely with a cup of tea. i was surprised that the kids loved them so much

monkey bread

i used the pillsbury recipe. i had to cook it MUCH longer than the recipe states, but the kids loved it! would make again!

hot chocolate on a stick

omg! they are yummy but too rich for me to have more than half of one. the kids loved them!! this will be made again!!

Re: Holiday recipe review????

DH and I made the following on Xmas Eve...these were all hits since my family raved about them all!

1) Baked clams- a pain to get them open...that was the worst thing about making them!
2) Fried calamari-DH made this..super easy to make!
3) Baccala in sauce-DH made this...easy as well.
4) Shrimp oreganato-I made this....came out soooo good!!!
5) Filet sole-I made...came out good.
6) Linguini with clam sauce-yummy!


That's it..so happy everyone liked our dinner since it was our first time hosting!

Re: Holiday recipe review????

Big Hits...

Easy stuff really

Whipped Potatoes...I heat cream and butter together and then add to the lumpy whipped potatoes and then whip them to fluffiness. Heating the cream and butter is suppose to make the silky and "light".

Grilled Lamb Chops with a Champagne-Fig Apricot reduction. I don't eat Lamb but everyone was raving about them.

Re: Holiday recipe review????