Recipes for the week
Reader faves + ideas from the archives 🌞
Happy Sunday. Today, I have a few reader faves to inspire your meals for the rest of the week.
Weekend Update
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! It was definitely a bit of a whirlwind from the day before Christmas Eve until yesterday.
Once I started food blogging full-time, I made it a goal to take something to my local community fridge every Tuesday. Last week, I was making a lasagna for my neighbor who agreed to watch my cat, so I used the lasagna momentum make a beef and sausage variation to take to the fridge. I also made an amazing upside-down cake with a chocolate-walnut base, a raspberry layer, and a whipped mascarpone buttercream. I tried a baby slice for myself, and it was so good I’m going to make it again today.
I boxed everything up on Tuesday and was able to drop off 11 slices of cake and 12 slices of lasagna. It felt so rewarding to give back to my community during the holiday!
After that, I spent my time in Rochester. Everyone decided to have sushi for Christmas Eve since we were arriving later than usual, so I didn’t cook much this year. Now that I’m getting back into the swing of things, I’ll be cooking up a storm.
I’ve really been enjoying chicken that I dry-brine in ranch seasoning and plenty of kosher salt, so I have that in my refrigerator right now. Once I perfect the ratio of seasoning, I’ll be sure to share my recipe. It’s so good!
I really hope everyone enjoyed delicious food and lots of relaxation over the holiday break, and I’ll get into the recipes to help inspire next week and your NYE meal plan.
READER FAVES
Lemon-Rosemary Chicken and Rice Soup
Thank you so much, Becky! I’m so happy this one is a hit for you! This chicken and rice soup is so comforting and a perfect winter meal.
White Bean Cassoulet
Thank you, Maria! Parmesan in the bread crumbs is a variation I have to try immediately; it sounds perfect!
Short Rib Lasagna
Thank you, Ross! This lasagna is definitely a labor of love, but advanced prep will definitely save your sanity, and the finished product is so worth it.
Apple Biscoff Upside-Down Cake
A reader wrote me and said she made my Apple Biscoff Upside-Down Cake for Christmas and woke up to this wonderful text from her Nana. I’m so thrilled you were able to impress Nana and Papa for Christmas; what a wonderful feeling!
MORE IDEAS FOR NYE & BEYOND
Chilean Sea Bass with Beurre Blanc
This is what I’ll be enjoying on New Year’s Eve! This is such a great celebratory meal with just the right amount of richness. It’s really delicious with a glass of crisp champagne or Sauvignon blanc, and it’s the perfect way to ring in the new year.
Filet Mignon with Red Wine Mushroom Sauce
This is what I made for New Year’s Eve last year, and I still think about it! A dry-brined filet mignon with a velvety mushroom sauce piled on top of mashed potatoes. Perfection!
Homemade Lobster Ravioli
This homemade lobster ravioli is served in a luscious golden saffron sauce for a recipe that will stun and delight everyone at your table.
Spicy Crab Bisque with Chorizo
Perfect as a starter but filling enough to be enjoyed as a main with crusty bread, this crab bisque with chorizo is flavorful and rich, with just the right amount of smokiness.
My Favorite Pork Tenderloin
With creamy mashed potatoes, juicy pork tenderloin, and crisp pancetta, this pork tenderloin is a meal made for any celebration.
Braised Chicken with Creamy Leeks
This chicken is an easy, flavorful dinner that is simple enough for a night in and elegant enough to serve at a party.
Easy Baked Crab Balls
An easy-to-prepare appetizer to snack on as you wait for the ball to drop!
Shirley Temple Upside-Down Cake
This dessert is perfect, especially if you’re celebrating New Year’s Eve with children! Serve it up with a cute little Shirley Temple on the side for a sweet and fun way to ring in the new year.
Espresso Martini Upside-Down Cake
If you need a little extra oomph to stay awake until midnight, this espresso martini upside-down cake will keep you going!
Mocha Mousse
Dark chocolate, mascarpone, and espresso create a rich mocha mousse that pairs perfectly with sweet, airy homemade meringues.
That’s all for this week! I hope everyone has a great week filled with lots of tasty food. If you make one of my recipes, please drop a comment on the post to let me know how it turns out; I’d love to hear from you! You can also respond directly to this email! Byeeeeeeee! 💖💖
-kylie
And if none of these recipes caught your eye, use the link below to view all my recipes.
Looking to incorporate more vegan dishes into your meal plan? View all the plant-based recipes I post on Exploring Vegan!