Fun Holiday Recipes!

Delicious Sweet Potato Bars!

Delicious Sweet Potato Bars!

Siggy Gierhart, Staff Writer

As 2021 comes to an end, we are lucky enough to finish this year celebrating the holidays with family and friends. During this time, the opportunity to explore new activities is unlimited, whether enjoying the brisk outdoors, listening to music, or learning about new traditions from other holidays. One of my favorite holiday activities is to learn and prepare new recipes. Over the past couple of years, I have found delicious recipes that my family and I have added to our holiday traditions. Throughout these times, I have seen even the simplest recipes not only bring my family together but also broaden my knowledge of other holiday traditions. 

Down below, I have added some great recipes for the winter holidays: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve. These recipes will work for a last-minute dinner party, or if you’re looking to try making something new. Why not give them a try?

Even though Hanukkah has come to an end, there is still a year to perfect your classic Latkes. While there are many different versions of this tasty snack, potatoes are used in all of them! After 3-5 minutes per side in the oven, your traditional latkes are done. Look for a traditional recipe from the book A Hanukkah Treasury, by Erie A. Kimmel and Emily Lisker. Another classic but flavorful dish is Carrot Sweet Potato Tzimmes. For those unfamiliar with the word “tzimmes,” it is a Yiddish term for “a big fuss.” In Jewish cooking terms, a tzimmes is essentially a casserole. This dish has an assortment of herbal seasonings and exciting flavors.

With Hanukkah wrapped up, Christmas is just around the corner, and Santa is surely looking forward to the sweet treats. Like Santa, I make sure to save plenty of room for all the wonderful foods made and given during this time. If you like gingerbread cookies, you will surely enjoy these Gingerbread Sundaes. This recipe is a fun twist on a classic Christmas treat. For the main course, an Orange Honey Glazed Ham would not only be fun to eat but also to prepare. If you have an Air Fryer accessible, you could also try the Air Fryer Ham with Garlic Butter! Roasting nuts and decorating cookies are also perfect for these festive times. 

This year (2021), Kwanzaa begins the day after Christmas, and Sweet Potato Bars are the perfect way to begin the celebration. The flavors of sweet potato and spices are combined to make the perfect Kwanzaa snack. Another great appetizer option for the holiday is the Moroccan Spiced Prawn Skewers. If you’re looking for a short but tasty recipe these prawn skewers will definitely do the trick.

As the holiday season slowly comes to an end, we celebrate our arrival into the new year. New Year’s Eve is not just a time for celebration but also for loads of food. Whether you’re hosting a party, attending a party, or having a relaxed night at home, you can never go wrong with an assortment of dips. Cheesy Tomato Mozzarella Caprese Dip, Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip, Sour Cream & Onion Chip Dip, Instant Pot Queso Blanco, and Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip, are perfect appetizers for a night of fun. If you’re not in the mood for a dip, the classic Loaded Potato Skins or Easy Little Smokies are also delicious options. 

I hope you find these recipes just as delicious as I do! I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing winter break. Happy Holidays!