Obviously, I love to cook all year long, but my favorite time to cook is during the holiday season. Since I can hardly prevent myself from getting carried away during the first ten months of the year, I don’t even try to fight it from Thanksgiving to New Years Eve.

This year, we, like everyone else, kept our celebrations small, which emboldened me to try a few recipes I had been dying to make, but was too intimidated to make for a big crowd. I had so much fun experimenting with new ingredients and techniques, spending tons of time in the kitchen as always, and even getting my family involved! Although it was a very different holiday season, and I really missed seeing my entire extended family and friends, it was truly perfect- and I feel rested, hopeful and inspired heading in to 2021!

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. I love an excuse to plan and prepare a huge meal, and I spend literally, weeks preparing. I pour over all of my cookbooks and even old issues of cooking magazines. I (sometimes) run ideas by my family and ask for their opinions. I make several shopping lists and organize them by when items can be purchased, I make homemade stock the week before and usually start cooking, baking and prepping on Sunday the week of Thanksgiving. This year, I actually came up with a HUGE list of recipes I wanted to try and let my family vote on a few in each category. I made A TON of food this Thanksgiving and relied on my ever-growing collection of cookbooks. The menu included:

-Buttermilk Brined and Roasted Turkey (Samin Nosrat)
-Classic Mashed Potatoes (old family recipe)
-Baked Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes (Ina Garten!)
-Classic Stuffing (my favorite)
-Artichoke and Leek Bread Pudding (also Ina!)
-Roasted Cauliflower Gratin (Alison Roman)
-Maple Roasted Carrots with Citrus and Tahini (Alison Roman)
-Homemade Cranberry Sauce (Joanna Gaines)

and THREE pies, all from “Sister Pie” in Detroit, just because I really wanted to try all three.
-Pfeffernusse Pie
-Toasted Coconut and Sweet Potato Pie
-Coffee Chess Pie

It was, admittedly, a lot- but it was also delicious, and so fun to sit around the table with just family and begin to reflect on what was good in 2020, and dream of 2021.

For Christmas Eve, I tried a dish I have been meaning to try for quite some time! I mentioned the idea of a Beef Wellington casually to my younger brother and he said he had always wanted to try it- so I ran with it. I am always BEGGING my family and friends to tell me what dishes they like so I can make them for them, so I was thrilled when Jack expressed and interest in a certain dish. I was pretty nervous to make Beef Wellington, having discovered seconds after placing the carefully prepared roast into the oven, that my parents do not own a meat thermometer, but some how, it turned out perfectly. It was a bit labor intensive and there are quite a few steps, but I truly love a “project” dish and get so much joy from watching each component come together. I served it with:

-Wine Roasted Artichokes with Lemon and Garlic Aioli (my first from-scratch mayonnaise!)
-Crispy Fried Potatoes with Onions
-Romaine with Vinegar Bacon and Herbs and,
-Sweet and Salty Cream Cheese Tart, all from Alison Roman.

On Christmas night, we did something a little more casual and a little different- I asked each member of my family to request an appetizer, and we just had heavy appetizers and cocktails! It was an interesting mix of brie cheese, spicy chicken meatballs, steak crostini, sliders and queso, but we had a great time, standing around the kitchen counter and snacking all night long. I didn’t even really take many pictures because it was such a casual and relaxed evening.

Finally, for New Years Eve, we had Roasted Tomato and Anchovy Bucatini from “Dinning In” with Ina’s Roasted Beef Tenderloin and a very classic Caesar Salad that my family always makes. We had a cheese board and champagne punch to start, and I served nothing for dessert because honestly, we have all been way too full for like, three entire weeks.

And with that, the year 2020 has come to an end. Everybody already knows what a challenge it has been, but I believe there are reasons for hope waiting for us in 2021. I have a few ideas for food and cooking adventures I’ll tackle next, gatherings with family and friends I can’t wait to host when it’s safe, and the learning I’ll continue to do.

I’ve officially been “blogging” for a year now! I’ve loved having an excuse to cook like crazy, try new stuff and share it with everyone I love. Hoping you find such joy and fun in the coming year! Cheers to your health, happiness and peace in 2021.

A look back at (a lot of) what I made this year…