Christmas Count Down – T’was 2 Weeks Before Christmas

Christmas berries and cones on a white table cloth with a cup of tea in the corner.

Check out these menu ideas for large or small Holiday gatherings. Take your pick so you can finalize your shopping list.

Holiday Turkey 13 Ways
Whole turkey or breast?  Brined or not? Roasted? Deep Fried? Grilled? Instant Pot? Smoked?  Easy or Expert? Food Bloggers around the world have you covered!
Check out this recipe
Riesling Brined Turkey
Chateaubriand With Mushroom Sauce
Looking for an alternative to turkey for you Holiday Meal? It doesn’t get any more elegant than Chateaubriand!
Check out this recipe
Chateaubriand tenderloin on a platter with mushroom sauce surrounded by green beans and broccoli.
Cornish Hens With Orange Apricot Glaze
If you are having a small gathering for the Holidays you may be looking for an alternative to a 20 lb turkey. These Cornish Hens with Orange Apricot Glaze are so rich and savoury! Perfect for a small gathering!
Check out this recipe
Table setting Cornish hens, stuffed with Root Vegetable casserole and baked squash.
Holiday Side Dishes
These delicious Holiday Side Dishes all complement turkey beautifully. Some are make ahead which is always a bonus when you have a large holiday meal to prepare.  Others you can do some of the steps ahead of time and finish off the day of your dinner.
Check out this recipe
root-vegetable-timbales
Christmas Brownies with Brandy Custard Sauce
These Christmas Brownies with Brandy Custard Sauce are an easy modern day take on Christmas Pudding with Hard Sauce.
Check out this recipe
Round brownie cake on a pedestal, with sifted icing sugar and sugared cranberries for garnish
Amaretto Pear Trifle
This delicious Amaretto Pear Trifle is perfect for winter and large enough to feed your holiday crowd and have leftovers! It uses Italian Panettone Fruit Cake and amaretti cookies in your base.
Check out this recipe
trifle in a glass bowl with whipped cream and cherries on top
Meringue Christmas Tree
This Meringue Christmas Tree always gets oohs and ahhs at the table. The meringue layers will keep 2 weeks in an air tight container so you can whip the cream and assemble the day you plan to serve it. Operative word is air tight…. And.. it is gluten free!
Check out this recipe
Meringue Christmas Tree

Count Down to Christmas- T’was 4 Weeks Before Christmas

collage of Cranberry curd, Chocolate covered orange peel and Christmas Pudding Toffy Sauce

Enjoy dozens of ideas for make ahead appetizers, sweets, gifts and meal items. Get going and get a jump on the season!

Chocolate Cranberry Semifreddo
Half ice cream, half mousse this delicious frozen dessert can be made well ahead of time. It will only take a few minutes to dust with cocoa and top with cranberries just before serving. Did you know in a Fine Cooking Poll Semifreddo won over ice cream and gelato for all its charms?
Check out this recipe
Loaf shaped chocolate semifreddo decorated with cocao powder and sugared cranberries.
More Than Two Dozen Gift Ideas From the Kitchen
More than two dozen delicious gift ideas from your kitchen – from candy and cookies, to hot sauce, to easy preserves and even beef jerky!
Check out this recipe
Collage of Candied nuts, chocolate covered orange peels and bourbon fudge.
13 Make Ahead Holiday Appetizers
Here is a collection of appetizers worthy of holiday entertaining that you can make ahead.  Who doesn’t want to get a head of the game?  All of these recipes lend themselves to being made ahead and storing for a day or 2 or freezing and reheating.
Check out this recipe
Collage of appetizers like meat balls, grape appetizer tree and savoury cookies.
German Vanilla Crescents (Vanillekipferl)
These German Vanilla Crescents are aChristmas tradition. The almond and vanilla make these like shortbread on steroids!
Check out this recipe
German Vanilla Crescents dusted with vanilla sugar on baking sheet
Tourtière Maison
From Madame Benoit herself – these meat pies are a timeless French Canadian Christmas tradition. You can bake them weeks ahead of time, freeze them and they reheat beautifully.
Check out this recipe
Tourtière Maison
Chocolate Salami
Chocolate ‘Salami’ may seem odd to North Americans but it is very common in Europe. No Bake, make ahead and I bet you can’t stop at one slice!
Check out this recipe
Chocolate log cut into slices with Christmas ornaments around the serving dish.
Bread Machine Christmas Stollen
Once you try this Classic Christmas Stollen you may never want store bought again! Using your bread machine on the dough cycle makes it easy to make! It makes 2 large or 4 regular size loaves. It will keep well wrapped in a cool place up to a week and freezes well for several weeks. Doesn’t that make you want to get baking?
Check out this recipe
Classic Christmas Stollen
LCBO Vintages Release Nov 27 2021 -Wine Picks <$35
The LCBO Vintages Release Nov 27 2021 is a great chance to start stocking up for the holidays.

You can choose from a few different Sparklings.

Check out 2 Chateauneuf du Pape ‘wannabe’s punching way above their price point.

Looking for an impressive gift? Check out an outstanding Ontario Sparkling and Chardonnay.
Check out this recipe
People toasting over a holiday table with the title LCBO Vintages Release Nov 27 2021.
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