Happy Sunday! Today, Iām writing this newsletter from the car (no, Iām not driving!). We are on our way to Rochester for Christmas at my in-laws. I have a lot of things to share in this newsletter, so letās dig in!
Weekend Update
This weekend was a busy weekend! In addition to needing to prep for travel, Friday was my birthday! And because I just love to make everything even more complicated, I decided at the last minute that I wanted to try my hand at putting together holiday treat boxes. Iām always in awe of beautiful cookie boxes but I will *never* be able to make so many cookies at once (seriously, how do people do it!), so I opted for my Stracciatella Cupcakes with Stracciatella Buttercream (recipe linked below). I made three dozen total. I took a dozen to the nail salon I go to regularly and a dozen to my Pilates studio. The rest I gave to my neighbor and friends and then I froze a couple for later. I got such good feedback on them, so it made hand-chopping an exorbitant amount of dark chocolate worth it!
My birthday was a little chaotic. The restaurant I reserved changed their menu last minute and literally only served snacky plates! It was very fortuitous that I happened to check their menu a few hours before dinner and noticed the change. We had to do a quick change of plans and ended up at Sotto Sopra! The meal was deliciousāI ordered the duck confit with mushroom risotto, and I was so impressed! The duck was really perfect and the risotto was even better. I liked that they didnāt go light on the mushrooms!
Yesterday, I decided to make my Eggnog Cupcakes with Eggnog Buttercream (linked below) to take to my in-laws. These are one of my favorite seasonal treats because I am an eggnog fanatic. Do you like eggnog? I know it can be a little divisive š
Iām also thinking about my Christmas Eve dinner! I usually cook most of the Christmas Eve dinner and we try to do a Feast of Seven Fishes. My father-in-law always makes delicious scallops and I usually make a baked cod and shrimp and pearl couscous (my recipe is linked below). Iām thinking about trying a smoked trout dip this year as an appetizer!
For now, weāll get into the recipes for the week. This week, I have a new recipe for you plus a reader fave and some holiday ideas to inspire you.
NEW RECIPE
Chicken and Goat Cheese Roulades
Iāve been making this recipe off and on for years, and Iāve made it three times in the past week or two. Itās so easy to make and works perfectly with mashed potatoes!
HOLIDAY MEALS
Orange-Maple Roast Turkey
Thank you SO MUCH for this wonderful comment, Ashleigh! It really means the world to me when my recipes make their way onto your holiday table, particularly with that kind of positive reception! If youāre planning on turkey for Christmas, this orange-maple glazed turkey is a really stunning option!
Short Rib Lasagna
As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, Iāll have a revised version of this recipe soon! If you want the OG extra extra meaty version, this one is for you!
Orange-Maple Roast Duck
If youāre not feeling turkey, this orange-maple roast duck is another holiday stunner!
Homemade Crab Ravioli
This has been a reader fave for years! Thereās something so satisfying about making your own ravioli, especially when theyāre stuffed with decadent crab filling!
Easy Baked Crab Balls
Iāll be making these crab balls as part of our Feast of Seven Fishes! Theyāre so simple to throw together and make a perfect little appetizer! š¦
Shrimp and Pearl Couscous
Iāve been making this for a few years now and it always gets rave reviews! Itās not too difficult to throw together and the homemade shrimp stock really takes it to another level!
Il Tocco: Genoese Meat Sauce
This is a labor of love, but the finished product is worth it! Itās hearty, rich, flavorful and perfect with pasta. You could even use this sauce in place of the short rib ragĆ¹ for the lasagna above!
Eggnog Cupcakes with Eggnog Buttercream
If you love eggnog, these cupcakes are for you! Sweet, spiced, rich and perfect for the holiday dessert table!
Stracciatella Cupcakes
If you canāt decide between vanilla and chocolate, these cupcakes are for you! A simple vanilla cupcake with finely chopped dark chocolate throughout ā heavenly!
Thatās about it for today! If you make one of my recipes, please drop me a comment to let me know how it turns out. Iād love to hear from you! Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday! Byeeeeee! šš
-kylie
And if none of these recipes caught your eye, you can view my full archive by clicking the button below!
Those crab ravioli look amazing!!