The Cookies Santa Really Wants
Here are some tried-and-true cookies and crackers that are always perfect with a glass of milk. Or a little whipped cream. Now dash away, dash away and start baking.
Feast of 7 Chickens: How, When & Why
How: easily. When: four hours of active preparation time, Christmas morning or the day before. Why: you get a delicious, aromatic, beautiful and wildly impressive 7-course meal. That's Cheaper and Healthier than almost any alternative. Per person: less than $10, 650 calories, and a Glycemic Load of 10. Really.
Feast of the Seven Fishes
I always thought the traditional Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes was a very cool idea for a festive meal. So this year I'm planning a very cool menu that you can easily knock off in two well-planned hours. So your Christmas Eve day will be a Slower Happier holiday.
Meat Splurge: Rib Roast for Christmas
If it's meat that makes you merry, 'tis the season. For that over-the-top prime rib roast. Deeply delicious. A sight to behold. A time to practice moderation. Watch that portion size. And maybe go for a run.
Brussels sprouts: glazed, smoky, timely
Just in time for next Tuesday: National Maple Syrup Day. And just in time for holiday feasting. A spectacularly flavorful green cruciferous vegetable dish for your Christmas spread. A little sweetness from maple syrup and cider. A shot of smoky, salty and rich from smoked bacon or ham.
Rooting for Winter Ratatouille
I should have done this sooner. Very delicious, cheap and easy. Somewhere between a warm salad and a vegetable stew. A winter version of something I love all summer. A meal in itself. Or a light, bright, lively and warm course that goes with everything.
Vegetable-Stuffed Cabbage
Once you get the knack of it, rolling things in a cabbage leaf is an easy Way to a delicious, warm, satisfying meal with big doses of Vitamins C and K and powerful antioxidants.
Grilled Carrots, Sweet & Sour
A vegetarian dish that's got it all. Crunchy, crispy, creamy. Slighly sweet and sour. Aromatic and beautiful. Near-zero Glycemic Load. And easy.
Soulful Soup from Tuscany: Ribollita
When it gets really cold, it's time to make ribollita, a deeply delicious and satisfying potful of Tuscan kale soup, something between a rich vegetable soup and a vegetable stew. A complete and soulful meal in a bowl.