By Liliana Gonzalez
Photo by Liliana Gonzalez
As the holiday season nears, families all over the world are getting their kitchens prepared for the stressful but cheerful environment of cooking and baking during winter. Although this can be tiresome, time consuming, and messy, food is more than just fuel. Food brings people closer and makes them happy, especially during the cold and dark holiday winter months. For any occasion, here are some popular holiday foods and treats to consider making with those close to you this holiday season.
One recipe that surely embodies the holiday spirit is apple pie.
“I love to spend time in the kitchen during the colder months,” said sophomore Margo Montelibano. “I don’t really have a favorite thing to make, but one thing I tend to make during the holiday season is pie, whether that be chicken pot pie, cherry pie, or apple pie.”
Pies are very common during Thanksgiving, and many people make them then, but they’re also great during the December and January holidays. The spiced, apple filling mixed with the sweetness of vanilla ice cream makes apple pie an essential part of a holiday feast.
“Apple pie is my all-time favorite treat,” Lola Dachsbach, sophomore, said.
Brussel sprouts may seem like an unappealing and unexciting holiday recipe, but when cooked correctly, they become the prime dish on the table. They have a bad reputation because people tend to overcook them till they’re mush, and so many people list them first on their “foods I despise” list…but it doesn’t have to be that way.
“If I had to choose my favorite holiday food, it would definitely be roasted brussel sprouts,” freshman Eva Bates said.
This recipe goes well with any other plate on the table, whether that be roast turkey or casserole. Although brussel sprouts may seem like just another vegetable, and a particularly bitter one at that, the bitterness, cut and mixed with something tangy, savory, and sweet, is a rare perfection. When done right, brussel sprouts have an intensity and complexity most foods don’t have. Even picky eaters at the party may find themselves drawn to perfectly cooked and flavored brussel sprouts.
Another common holiday treat to make are cookies. “A quick and easy recipe would be snickerdoodles,” said Daschbach. “I make them all the time with my friends, and it’s super fast to make. The cookies taste amazing.” Snickerdoodles are famous for their simple ingredients: flour, sugar, butter and eggs. That’s it, and it’s a very quick recipe. You can add cinnamon, which is a very common seasonal flavor, to “kick it up a notch,” as Emeril Lagasse would say. When you do, it creates a distinct, sharp flavor that many people associate with a snickerdoodle cookie.
The holiday season is a perfect time for gathering, sharing, and appreciating delicious meals made by the people you love. From the comforting smell of sweet hot pie to the satisfaction of tasting a warm cinnamon cookie, these recipes make the holiday season unforgettable.
APPLE PIE
Ingredients:
•6 cups of peeled and sliced apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work well)
•3/4 cup granulated sugar
•1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
•2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
•1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
•1 tablespoon lemon juice
•1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces
•1 package refrigerated pie crusts (or homemade, if preferred)
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. Peel, core, and slice the apples into wedges. Place them in a large bowl.
3. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice to the apples. Mix everything together until the apples are well-coated.
4. Unroll one pie crust and fit it into a 9 inch pie dish. Put the apple filling into the crust, spreading it out evenly. Add in the filling small pieces of butter.
5. Unroll the second pie crust and place it on top of the apples. Crimp the edges together to seal it together. Cut slits in the top crust.
6. Place the pie in the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Cover the edges with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
7. Let the pie cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing, which allows the filling to set. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for extra flavor.
BRUSSEL SPROUTS
Ingredients:
•1 1/2 pounds brussel sprouts, trimmed and halved
•3 tablespoons olive oil
•3 cloves garlic, minced
•Salt and pepper, to taste
•1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
•1 tablespoon honey
•Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Trim the ends off the brussel sprouts and cut them in half. If any outer leaves fall off, keep them in.
3. Mix with oil and garlic: In a large bowl, mix the brussel sprouts with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
4. Spread the Brussels sprouts out on a baking sheet. Cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes, mixing halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy.
5. While the Brussels sprouts are roasting, combine balsamic vinegar and honey in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat, then cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the glaze has thickened.
6. Once the Brussels sprouts are finished, drizzle the balsamic glaze over them and mix. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese.
SNICKERDOODLES
Ingredients:
•1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
•1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•1/2 cup butter, softened
•3/4 cup sugar
•1 large egg
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•2 tablespoons sugar
•1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Beat together butter and 3/4 cup sugar until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract, and mix until combined.
4. Gradually add dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
5. Roll dough into equal balls.
6. In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of sugar with cinnamon. Roll dough balls in the mixture.
7. Place on the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes until golden.
