The holidays are the perfect time for those warm and fuzzy memories of Mom’s or Grandma’s cooking. To celebrate those nostalgic favourites from our past, we’ve got six retro-inspired recipes you can serve over the holidays that have also been modernized for a current-day feel.
Appetizer: Wedge Salad Skewers
Dinner parties love an easy appetizer, especially one that’s quick to pick up and eat! Instead of serving them on a plate, wedge-style, these crisp salad bites are stacked on a stick with iceberg lettuce chunks, bacon, and tomato, then finished with a drizzle of dressing and a sprinkle of blue cheese crumble.
Bringing back the Hasselback potato, with style! Halved squash gets the full treatment in this recipe, sliced and baked with a herbaceous Parmesan and panko crust to a golden fork-tender finish.
Side Dish: Crispy Onion and Green Bean Casserole
Calling all casserole lovers! A creamy green-bean casserole really takes you back, doesn’t it? This take keeps everything you love about this veggie dish but levels it up with extra herbs and fried onions for that satisfyingly crisp texture in each bite.
Want to go whole hog on your main dish this year (see what we did there)? This pineapple and cherry–studded ham is a can’t-miss event. Starring the Panache Spiral Cut Ham (available in our Meat Dept.), pineapple rings, and maraschino cherries, this bright and flavourful showstopper also gets a savoury spiced glaze to make it all pop.
We’re not saying you should skip making Grandma’s rum balls this year, but these cookie and cheesecake truffles are definitely worth putting on your baking short list for the holiday season. Dipped in white chocolate, they’re everything you like in a cheesecake but in bite-size format.
Easy elegance is the name of the game here. We took a traditional charlotte and simplified it, while adding some sweet-tart holiday flavour. The ladyfinger base gets topped with a cranberry and white chocolate mousse and is finished with a vibrant cranberry glaze for maximum impact. Wrapped in more ladyfingers and a festive red ribbon, this is the holiday dessert to try this season.
