What are your tried-and-true Food52 Thanksgiving or holiday recipes?

Do you use—or have you used—any Food52 recipes for your Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas dinners? And what are your favorites? I would like to highlight them in upcoming stories. Thanks in advance for your recommendations!

Nicole Davis
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7 Comments

Nancy November 12, 2023
For Hanukkah, while we can serve traditional mains like roast chicken, brisket, and various vegetarian dishes, the interest is in the appetizers and the desserts.

Make pancakes, doughnuts or cakes by frying in or baking with oil (to remember the recovery of the Temple and independence after a war), and cheese (to remember a heroine named Judith a couple centuries earlier who conquered an invading general by feeding him salty cheese and lots of wine).

So:
* potato latkes (like these from Chef June), or use a mix of vegetables
https://food52.com/recipes/7956-lacy-potato-latkes
Also, once while making latkes for friends who didn’t have a frying pan, I deep -fried them in a soup pot and they were delicious (if unconventional).
* olive oil cakes, like two from Maialino here at food52 (orange original, lemon adaptation) and one using peaches and Sauternes from Alice Waters (I would use a different fruit in winter):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MP6PtW2AKI
https://food52.com/recipes/81092-maialino-s-olive-oil-cake-adapted
* doughnuts, as in Israel or copycat recipes from your favorite take out shop
https://food52.com/recipes/24904-sufganiyot-israeli-jelly-doughnuts
* Cheesecakes, hundreds of recipes here at food52 (for every flavor) or a stilton one with rhubarb compote from Diva at the Met (Chef Michael Noble) of Vancouver, for those who like savory/sweet desserts.
https://food52.com/recipes/search?q=cheesecakehttps://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/
stilton-cheesecake-with-rhubarb-compote-103409

Two final notes.
1) For more ideas look at this article/list from Emma LaPerruque, former food editor at food52 and now at Bon Appetit.
https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/hanukkah-dinner-recipes
2) Have a stock of Hanukkah Gelt (chocolate coins wrapped in foil) and/or whole nuts for gambling with the dreidels.
 
luvcookbooks October 25, 2023
https://food52.com/recipes/25178-vegetarian-festivus
https://food52.com/recipes/15174-sweet-potato-pumpkin-cazuela-pie
https://food52.com/recipes/6748-concord-grape-pie-with-walnuts-and-orange-zest
https://food52.com/recipes/6749-raspberry-rhubarb-pie
https://food52.com/recipes/1398-union-square-cafe-brussel-sprout-hash
https://food52.com/recipes/15069-russ-parsons-dry-brined-turkey-a-k-a-the-judy-bird
https://food52.com/recipes/19453-thanksgiving-osso-buco
https://food52.com/recipes/7875-homemade-green-bean-casserole
https://food52.com/recipes/4259-ramp-ed-up-cardoons
https://food52.com/recipes/19394-spatchcocked-roast-turkey
https://food52.com/recipes/24820-gingered-cranberry-pear-pie
These are all tried and true! Thanksgiving is my favorite day to cook and Food52 has great articles and recipes for Thanksgiving!!
 
Nicole D. October 25, 2023
Thank you for all of these recos, luvcookbooks!
 
Miss_Karen October 19, 2023
I make the holiday spiced nuts with mulling spice by LizH. I also make my cranberry relish. (Miss_Karen) This year, I want to try Alice Medrich's crustless pumpkin pie/ pudding.
 
Nicole D. October 25, 2023
Thank you for the tips, Miss_Karen! In case anyone is curious these are the links to the recipes:
https://food52.com/recipes/82187-cranberry-relish
https://food52.com/recipes/40776-holiday-spiced-nuts-with-mulling-spices
https://food52.com/recipes/32181-pumpkin-pudding-a-k-a-no-pie-pumpkin-pie
 
HalfPint October 18, 2023
I have made the The Judy Bird from Russ Parsons. Dry brining has changed my turkey game and I find no need to use another method :)
 
Nicole D. October 18, 2023
Thank you Halfpint! The Judy Bird is one of our favorites too. https://food52.com/blog/28340-5-thanksgiving-turkey-recipes-that-are-food-stylist-approved
 
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