Menu Ideas for Special Holiday Meals
Will you be hosting a holiday meal at your home this year? Whether you're cooking for your immediate family or a large group of friends or relatives, it's only natural to want any holiday meal occasion that you host to be memorable.
When planning the menu for a holiday dinner or party, it's a good idea to include some tried and true favorites as well as a few unique dishes. By seeking out new recipes to serve with the traditional dishes that people expect on holiday occasions you're sure to create a few new holiday traditions of your own!
Try a few of these interesting recipe ideas to serve instead of – or along with – traditional holiday dishes like turkey, ham, cranberry sauce, and green bean casseroles!
Salad and Appetizer Recipes
Cold Salad Recipes -- Prepare a few tasty cold salads that can safely be served buffet style. A few of the best options include Broccoli & Bleu Cheese Salad, Traditional Ambrosia, and Cucumber & Onion Salad. You'll find preparation instructions for these – and other cold salads – in this hub.
Pickled Vegetables -- Pickled carrots and pickled squash are a great addition to a family holiday spread, and can be enjoyed as appetizers or side dishes.
Gelatin Salad Recipes -- Create tasty gelatin salads like the ones you probably enjoyed at special family meals when you were a child.
Main Dish Menu Ideas
Cornish Game Hens -- If you want to create an elegant holiday meal occasion, continue preparing Cornish game hens as your main course.
Spicy Boiled Shrimp -- Jazz up your holiday meal with seasoned shrimp served hot or cold.
Seafood Gumbo Recipe -- Start your own tradition – one shared by many Southern families – by preparing a huge pot of homemade seafood gumbo to serve on holiday meal occasions.
Holiday Side Dish Suggestions
Acorn and Butternut Squash Recipe -- A colorful and delicious winter squash casseroles are a perfect complement for cold weather holiday meals.
Cabbage and Cheese Casserole -- A tasty cabbage and cheese casserole is a great side dish for any special occasion meal.
Italian Eggplant -- Prepare this simple and elegant Italian eggplant recipes to lend an international flair to your next holiday gathering.
Potato Casserole Recipes -- No holiday meal occasion is complete without at least one potato dish.
Delicious & Unexpected Dessert Options
Mango Dessert Recipes -- A delicious tropical fruit salad or homemade mango sorbet can be the perfect refreshing dessert for the end of a holiday meal.
Peach Gelato Recipe -- Try your hand at making this easy, no cooking required recipe for homemade peach Gelato for a fresh and fruity dessert perfect for any special occasion.
