Citrus Roasted Cornish Hens

Citrus Roasted Cornish Hens
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Every year, I try to come up with celebratory meal ideas for my small immediate family. And in turn I share with you, just incase you need a small but elegant menu. This might not sound like a rebellious exercise but it is. Everything surrounding the holidays tends to be a go-big-or-go-home situation. Whole baked hams? Plentiful. Multi-rib roasts? Ubiquitous. A nice reasonably sized and priced piece of meat that still feels splashy and lavish? Not so much. That’s why I’m trying to be the change. You don’t need to have in-laws to impress or multiple mouths to feed to make a special meal. And these Citrus Roasted Cornish Hens are proof of that. They look and taste special. But they won’t leave you stranded in the kitchen for a day and a half and they won’t saddle you with leftovers for the rest of your natural life.

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Smoked Haddock Pie

Smoked Haddock Pie with Buttery Mashed Potatoes
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Tis the season of comfort food and it doesn’t get more comfortable than this Smoked Haddock Pie. This dish features a rich and creamy béchamel sauce studded with chunks of smoked haddock, tender green peas, shallots, and a host of herbs baked under a lid of buttery mashed potatoes. I piped the potatoes into rosettes and studded them with peas for a little festive flair. This step is technically optional, but if you’re anything like me, it really isn’t. I can’t say no to a little retro charm. So let’s dive right in!

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Green Beans with Gorgonzola Aioli and Pecans

Green Beans with Gorgonzola Aioli with Pecans
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During the holidays even veggies get a little festive fair. Green beans aren’t a dish that typically inspires fandom but these Green Beans with Gorgonzola Aioli just might. This dish features green beans blanched to tender but crisp perfection dressed in a rich Gorgonzola aioli and topped with coarsely chopped pecans and fresh mint leaves. Did I mention the beans are served in a bowl lined with gem lettuce leaves? Because, at this time of year, even beans deserve a nice bit of gift wrap. This recipe is super simple to make and hard to forget, so let’s dive right in!

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Silky Acorn Squash Soup with Halloumi Croutons

Silky Acorn Squash Soup with Halloumi Croutons and Crispy Sage
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Holiday meals are so epic that individual dishes tend to get lost. It’s an endless parade of decadence. No matter how special they may be, it will always be hard for soups, sprouts, and sides to steal the show. But despite all this indulgent noise, we still have to put effort into each dish. That’s because a low note in a sea of high notes is bound to be the most memorable. Sad but true. So while it may be tempting to phone it in on the soup course (if you’re even bothering with a soup course) I’m here to tell you it’s not worth it. But I get it, when you’re elbow-deep in a turkey, soup may seem like a low priority. The solution? This Silky Acorn Squash Soup! It’s tasty, festive, and nearly effortless to put together.

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