As I get older, the meaning of Christmas is becoming more clear. When you're young, you tend to focus on the materialistic aspect of the holidays instead of cherishing time with loved ones. This year, my family has opted to skip on gift giving and pool our money together to rent a chalet in the village of Blue Mountain. Both my sister and I are yet to have kids, so we literally have zero little ones dancing around the Christmas tree waiting for Santa to arrive. We both want children, but all in good time. Given our family's situation, we found this year was ideal to spend money on the experience vs. presents. I want nothing more than to share this time with the people I love and really cherish this wonderful season all together while we're healthy. I imagine us really embracing the outdoors on our vacation; skiing, snowy walks, skating and pick-up hockey. I also can't wait to make and indulge in my fav holiday recipes, relax and recharge the batteries. My entire fam jam is heading up to Collingwood on the 23rd, even my little pup will be there. It's going to be quite magical. Our own personal hot tub at the chalet is a pretty sweet deal too! ;)
With the holidays fast approaching, its time to start preparing for those beautiful dinners with lots of home cooking. Below, I'm sharing with you holiday recipes that I'll be making this year! Hope you can whip up one of these dishes, desserts or cocktails, they're totally worth some time in the kitchen!
Oh and stay tuned...next week, the owner and founder of Fashion Truck Canada will share her fav recipes! Ash is quite skilled in the kitchen, so I cannot wait to see her list.
Savoury Dishes
Image via What's Gaby cooking
Are you familiar with What's Gaby Cooking? She's your everyday California girl that shares hundreds of delicious recipes, and let me tell you, they're amazing! At our family Christmases, we typically stick to the same stuffing that my Mom has made for decades, but when I saw this dish, I couldn't resist. Last year I decided to mix things up and make Gaby's Wild Mushroom Stuffing, it was to die for! I will definitely be making this stuffing again for Christmas dinner this year. It goes over well, even with the most traditional of guests.
Image via Cooking Classy
When it comes to my family Christmas, we spend a few days together. It's typically not just the one gathering which is always nice because no one is rushing out the door. With three nights back to back, everyone gets a chance to prepare a meal as a couple. Over the last five years, its become a tradition that I make a Christmas Eve fettuccine . The first year, I went right to Martha Stweart's website, but over time, I've added my own touches that have made the dish so decadent. I usually serve a Caesar salad and an individual shrimp cocktail to start. So yummy!
Fettuccine Alfredo
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
Pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper
Chopped fresh parsley
1 lb Fettuccine Pasta, uncooked
Directions
1. Cook pasta according to directions on package.
2. In a large saucepan combine cream and milk and bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
3. Once bubbling, cook mixture over medium low heat for 3 - 4 minutes, stirring constantly until mixture has thickened.
4. Reduce heat to low and sprinkle in cheese, salt and pepper. Cook until cheese is melted and blended.
5. Place cooked noodles into serving bowl. Pour mixture over pasta and toss evenly.
6. Sprinkle remaining parmesan cheese and parsley to garnish. Serve immediately.
Image via Rhyme & Reason
Bubbles are always my go-to this time of year. It's a great option for a toast and it pairs well with a lot of savoury foods, meats and cheeses. At Christmas, I love to go all out, everything gets an added touch, and my champagne is no different. Want a fun cocktail to whip up for Christmas or NYE? Check out my recipe below. A littler teaser...candy canes are involved, duh!
Image via Pinterest
Peppermint White Christmas
Ingredients
1 bottle of sparkling wine or champagne
White Creme De Cacao
1/3 cup crushed candy cane
1 candy cane
Directions
1. Dip rim of champagne flutes in a small dish of White Creme de Cacao and then roll in crushed candy cane.
2. Pour 1/3 of a glass of White Creme De Cacao and then fill with sparkling wine or champagne.
3. Garnish with candy cane and enjoy!
At a big family dinner, salads are a must! If you're looking for one that will start the night off with a bang, this Winter salad is super easy to make, nutritious and quite filling. Check out my recipe below, but feel free to tinker with certain ingredients that cater to what you like.
Winter Salad
Ingredients
2 cups walnuts or candied walnuts1/2 cup cranberries6 cups mixed greens
1 diced fresh fig
2 cups arugula
1/3 cup of pomegranate seeds
4 tbsp of fresh goat cheese
1/2 cup olive oil
1/43cup balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine mixed greens, arugula, walnuts, cranberries, pomegranate seeds, and fresh fig.
2. To make dressing, combine olive oil, balsamic dressing and salt & pepper. Pour over the salad mix and toss gently. Sprinkle goat cheese over salad and serve immediately.
Image via Pinterest
Good luck with holiday meal prep, feel free to make one of mine... but don't forget to comment on our Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages! I'd love to hear how they turn out. As I said above, Ashley will share her recipes next week, so make sure to check that out! Have a great weekend.
Kayla xoxo
Fashion truck team xoxo