It’s 10 days until Christmas, or 9, I never quite know how to calculate that!? Any way you look at it, it’s quickly approaching!
I’ve been working hard to schedule new recipes so I can take a few weeks off over the holidays. Please schedule some downtime, too. I am looking forward to baking and not worrying about photographing it, to lazy mornings by the fire, long walks, maybe a snowball fight or two, and hanging out with family and friends.
This week is all about Christmas main dishes, with new recipes that will have you drooling! My favorite Christmas side dishes, what I love and sales, a FREEBIE for your baked goodies, and, of course, some Advent inspiration.
Be sure to use the Table of Contents below to discover what interests you most, or grab a cup of Christmas Chai and slowly browse and read it all! Oh how I appreciate all of you! I hope you know that!
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What I’m Making’ & Bakin’ | Christmas Main Dish
What do you typically make for Christmas dinner? Our family is divided; we usually do turkey and ham — but this year, I am trying something new with this tender, juicy, and super quick Beef Tenderloin! When I tested the recipe, my family went bonkers! So I hope you love it too!
But have no fear; I have recipes for turkey, ham, the best Italian braised short ribs, and a fabulous pork tenderloin — something for everyone! I am still lacking something in the shellfish department; maybe next year! What do you eat for Christmas dinner? Pop down to the comments and let me know!
Easy Beef Tenderloin with Gorgonzola Sauce (Ina Garten)
4-ingredient beef tenderloin by Ina Garten makes an incredibly tender filet of beef topped with a creamy gorgonzola sauce.
Juicy inside, crispy outside and ready in about 30 minutes!
Best Easy Honey Baked Ham Recipe (not dry!)
Learn how to cook spiral Ham without drying it out, it is easier than you might think. My copycat Honey baked ham recipe is a perfectly moist spiral ham. With a honey sugar crust, most of the work is done in your crock pot.
Best Juicy Marinated Pork Tenderloin (Air Fryer)
Have you ever made pork tenderloin in the air fryer? It only takes 25 minutes and uses fresh ingredients! A pork tenderloin with a sweet and savory cranberry orange chutney; perfect for a holiday meal or a Sunday dinner.
Comfort food at it’s best!
Bourbon Glazed Ham (Coca Cola Ham Recipe)
Bourbon Glazed Ham is an oven baked ham with just a few easy ingredients for an incredibly flavorful and simple ham glaze! A beautiful recipe for your special holiday meals!
Best Roasted Air Fryer Turkey Breast Recipe (Boneless or Bone-In)
You can have this easy Roasted Air Fryer Turkey Breast on the table in less than an hour. Loaded with flavor, juicy and tender every time. Use boneless or bone-in turkey breast.
Simple Tender Tasty Turkey
Simple to make, delicious flavor! A classic roasted turkey, with an herbed butter rub, our favorite turkey!
Best Italian Braised Short Ribs Recipe
These tender Italian Braised Short Ribs are exquisite, and perfect for a chilly fall or winter day! Both elegant and amazingly simple; for Sunday dinner or a special occasion.
Slow braised Italian short ribs in a rich, herb and vegetable infused red wine beef gravy. This is a slow cooked meal done in your Dutch Oven.
Heavenly Tried & True Christmas Sides
Many side dishes that are so popular at Thanksgiving are also super popular for Christmas, so be sure to check out my best make ahead side dishes post!
When I think of Christmas sides, I think of amazing vegetables, cheesy potatoes, decadent dinner rolls. Here are my favorites below:
Casseroles & Potatoes
Many of these recipes are easily adapted or are already gluten-free (GF).
- Corn Pudding Casserole is by far my most popular post for any holiday! Easily adapt to be GF! Annie said, “Delicious! Hubby loves Thanksgiving and looks forward to it for weeks. This year, he asked me to add corn casserole to the menu. I had a hard time finding a recipe without Jiffy cornbread mix, so I was thrilled when I stumbled across this. I followed the recipe exactly and it was a huge hit with everyone. I imagine Prince Charming will request this for Christmas dinner, too, so I printed it and stuck it in my recipe file. Thank you so much.“
- Coming in at a close second is this easy Potatoes au Gratin (GF).
- Last year I created a no-canned cream soup version of green bean casserole! It’s a HUGE winner – (adapt to be GF). Here’s what Ramona on Pinterest said; Amazing!!! The best GBC I’ve ever had! The family can’t get enough of this casserole! I mix in water chestnuts and sprinkle slivered almonds on top before baking to add a little more crunch.”
- Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe with Corn Flakes aka Funeral Potatoes!! (easily adapt to be GF)
- Or try my loaded hashbrown potato casserole made in the crockpot (GF).
- The Pioneer Woman’s Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes or these super easy Instant Pot Rustic Mashed potatoes with Boursin cheese (both GF).
- Keep the oven free with these Air Fryer Whole Sweet Potatoes (GF).
- My favorite holiday praline yam recipe! (GF).
- And last, but not least, try these amazing garlic Hasselback potatoes (GF).
Vegetables
Most of these veggie dishes are gluten-free (GF) and low-carb (LC).
- Maureen said, “These have to be the best way I have ever made Brussels sprouts. The flavor is out of this world. Thanks for a great recipe.” GF
- Tarragon Glazed Carrots (Instant Pot or Stovetop) — my favorite way to eat carrots! GF
- Popular and super simple Crispy Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli
- This swoon-worthy cauliflower broccoli casserole gratin. Keep the breadcrumbs off to make it GF & LC.
- Our favorite way to enjoy broccoli fancy-like! Broccoli au gratin! GF & LC
- Try this simple air fryer asparagus or this cheesy asparagus GF & LC
- Southern Green Beans with Bacon — a stovetop, delicious green bean dish! GF
Bread and Rolls
- Linda says, “I have made two batches so far. Both perfect. My grandson loves! Many thanks for recipe. A keeper!” Make these easy beginner yeast rolls today!
- I love these sweet molasses brown bread rolls, similar to Cheesecake Factory or Outback!
- We adore this overnight rustic Cranberry Walnut Bread (a Costco copycat!)
- You will love this Irish Brown Bread (a hearty, quick and easy no-rise bread!)
Easy Homemade Corn Pudding Recipe without Jiffy Mix
This homemade Corn Pudding Recipe without Jiffy Mix is so simple, ready in a jiffy, without Jiffy! Using everyday, all-natural ingredients will become your favorite side dish, too!
Easy Cheesy Broccoli Au Gratin Recipe
This creamy and cheesy Broccoli Au Gratin Recipe is made with fresh and tender broccoli florets, sharp white cheddar, nutty gruyere cheese, and seasoned with minced garlic and fragrant herbs. The perfect holiday side dish.
Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Recipe (No Mushroom Soup)
The ultimate green bean casserole with no mushroom soup is ready for the oven in 20 minutes! With fresh green beans, Worcestershire sauce with crispy bacon and fried onions or crispy panko!
Easy Yeast Rolls for Beginners
A super easy light, buttery and delicious yeast roll; started in your bread machine for fresh, hot rolls in no time! Perfect recipe for beginners!
Free holiday gifts from the kitchen gift tags!
For all of your homebaked goodies you make this holiday season! Print out these fun DIY Holiday Gift Tags! To learn more about the tools I used to make the gift tags, visit the post!
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Have you tried…
- Leftover turkey tacos!? Your family won’t even realize they are leftovers.
- This Turkey Divan recipe is an easy family meal (use chicken too!).
- Harvest Grain and Nut pancakes are so good! A hearty breafast!
What Readers Are Saying about…
Prosciutto & Gruyere Quiche with Hashbrown Crust
I make a couple variations of this quiche, but this is my husband’s favorite. I make brunch every Sunday and this is the most requested dish. I do buy the fresh shredded potatoes from the dairy case though as they work the best. Glad I found this recipe, thank you, and my husband thanks you!
Betti S
Prosciutto & Gruyere Quiche with Hash Brown Crust
Golden and crispy hash brown crust filled with a baked mixture of luscious eggs, cream, gruyere cheese, caramelized leeks, peppers, artichoke hearts, mushrooms and prosciutto.
In the here and now | Real-life stories
Another wonderful, full, soul-filling week!
I hosted my Favorite Things Party on Saturday afternoon; I was so immersed in the day, and the fun that I didn’t take any pictures! But you can read all about how to host one of your own here!
If you have never been to a Favorite Things party, I encourage you to host one! My home was filled with long-time friends, laughter, and great conversations — it truly filled my soul!
My favorite thing that I gave this year, don’t laugh — it is life-changing! And it works!
BONUS! Our youngest arrived home from college on Wednesday! Happy, happy momma! I’m so glad to have him home, he’s so glad to be done with this semester!
Below are a few pictures from past years’ Favorite Things Parties!
What Caught My Eye | Ho-Ho-Ho Addition
Check out the below items in pictures HERE! Plus, previous week’s finds!
What I’m Loving & Sales
A few things caught my eye this week!
- Enjoy a cup of white hot chocolate in these darling Santa Mugs from Walmart.
- Or how about a a cup of hot cocoa in these Christmas Vacation Reindeer mugs.
- How about these Time & True Ugg Dupes! Cute!
- I’m all about cute loungewear, how about this knit loungewear set!?
- I bought these plaid pajama pants and black t-shirts for our family this year ($10!), for women and for men! Hoping to get a family photo in them!
- I love games at the holidays; besides checking out my Family Games for Christmas post with all sorts of ideas, we love this simple, quick-play game! Whether you play for minutes or hours! I bought it as a gift for a family we know.
- And of course, we all need a holiday puzzle, this is the one I bought this year because I am obsessed with Red trucks and barns!
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Christmas Movies We Loved
We watched I Heard the Bells last week, it’s beautiful! I cried through most of it, I had no idea! I highly recommend it. It is based on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who penned the poem I Heard the Bells!
Weekly Inspiration | Come
This was from my devotional Wednesday, it was so good! I have read and re-read it and sent it to friends and family! In this season of Advent, which means “coming or “arrival” in Latin — I invite you to Come!
Come…
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or exhausted, come.
If you’re feeling grateful or expectant, come.
If you’re feeling joyful or grievous, confident or doubtful, encouraged or frustrated, come.
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!”
Psalm 95:6
There’s something about falling on our faces before the One who created us—and everything that exists—that reminds us of who He is and who we are not.
When was the last time you stopped—in your car, in your kitchen, in your rushing, in your humanness—to simply come to God?
When you notice a gorgeous sunset, come.
When you can’t see through your tears, come.
When you’re captivated by a child’s smile, come.
When you’re overwhelmed by bad news, come.
When you’re motivated to make an impact, come.
When you’re deflated beyond words, come.
Come to the Lord, your Maker.
He has already come to you.
The author also mention that when we bow, it gets our “head” out of the way so our heart can worship, I love that word picture!
From YouVersion Bible App Verse of the Day and Guided Scripture 12.13.23 (Download the App for IOS or Android)
I hope you come to Him today-all day; if you ever have questions – I would be honored to try and answer them! Just shoot me an email!
P.S. If you missed last week’s Fresh Fridays, recipes, sales, tips, ideas, and more!
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