Holiday Recipes for all the Special Days

Every month brings about a day for holiday recipes beginning with the first month of January and the first day of that month. It might be an official holiday of our countries or it could be some type of special occasion for family and friends. Whatever the occasion, each one will come to life with extraordinary recipes often forming memorable traditions.

There are many options when entertaining for the holidays. Holiday recipes might be for very small family get together, they could be for larger families or they might be for crowd size. Especially at the end of the year, from the Christmas season to New Years Eve we might partake in some huge celebrations with our work, church, family and friends.

When we entertain for the very special occasions we have choices to whether our holiday recipes will be served on grand buffets or simple suppers. As hostesses and hosts we want to feel free to express our own favorite recipes and talents. Today we have all the ingredients, appliances, utensils and special dishes to create and display our own unique presentation no matter how elaborate.

Holiday Gift Recipes can be easy, economical and a great way to share a holiday or special occasion.

Homemade Food Gifts are wonderful any time of the year and truly from the heart.

How to Make Coffee

JANUARY BEGINS A NEW YEAR

I have always looked at the first day in January, New Years Day as a reprieve from the long days of holiday preparations and events. The main happening of this day was centered on our traditional New Year’s Day dinner; sauerkraut and pork, mashed potatoes, salad, vegetables, all kinds of side items like bread and rolls and lots of desserts. Like most people, I think these holiday recipes are many traditional foods of our heritage. As we all cooked and prepared dinner, the only other event was the New Years Day football game on television which the men couldn’t stay away from.

Traditional Italian recipes for New Years like sausage and lentils.

My family celebrates with traditional German recipes for New Years Day.

New Years resolutions are made the first of every year but are mostly never kept.

New Years Day Menus usually consist of many desserts.

How to Make Cabbage Rolls for holiday recipes

New Food Trends are leading to more home cooking and saving money on the foods you eat.

Appetizers for New years Eve, be creative with you holiday recipes. Make interesting shaped sandwiches, turkey mouse or miniature ham puffs.

FEBRUARY GIVES HOPE FOR SPRING’S ARRIVAL

The big news of February was whether the groundhog saw his shadow and if we were going to have six more weeks of bad weather. Valentines Day has really grown over the years. At home it was not a big day when I was young but in school we always had Valentine’s Day parties with candy and everyone gave each other Valentines. On February 29 when we had a Leap Year, that was fun for those celebrating birthdays every four years. Whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow we still need to know How to Make a Heart for Valentines Day.

A Special Valentines Day menu is a good way to celebrate the occasion.

Many couples enjoy a Romantic Valentine Dinner for this special day.

There are all kinds of parties and gatherings for the Valentine Celebration.

Valentines Day Food can be any of your favorite foods; for each it is different.

A heart shaped Valentine Cake Recipe is a good way to end a great dinner.

Great holiday recipes from chicken to beef for Valentine Dinner Recipes; simple and easy to make.

Great Valentine Cake Recipes to celebrate this special day; pink cherry cake, chocolate and more.

Valentine Cookie Recipes are always popular to celebrate this day; cut in heart shapes and decorate in pretty colors.

Valentine Cupcake Recipe is so easy and easy to serve; choose from a variety of flavors.

All kinds of Valentine Day Dessert Recipes help to celebrate the occasion.

Easy Valentine Recipes for entrees and desserts; all with delicious flavor.

Valentine Recipes For Kids to prepare for your children’s parties and some they can help make for the celebration.

Try a simple Valentine Dessert Recipe like cookies or choose one a little more elegant.

MARCH CELEBRATE ST PATRICKS DAY

Unless Easter happens to fall in March the highlight of the holiday recipes for me has been centered on St. Patrick’s Day. I have no Irish in me, but I do love the Irish foods such as good corn beef and cabbage recipes and colcannon recipes. The making of the green shamrock cookies has always been a part of my holiday recipes.

Lent Recipes are very popular every year; for some people it lasts for forty days with a restrictive diet.

Choose from cookies, fudge, and quick bread for Irish Snacks For St Patricks Day or try a good Irish potato appetizer.

St Patricks Day Irish Cuisine could be lamb chop stew and soda bread, great Irish scones or a pretty shamrock cake made with Jell-O.

APRIL CELEBRATES GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER

These holidays of celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ have always been very important in my life. I enjoy preparing our traditional holiday recipes for these celebrations: usually a ham dinner, all the trimmings and hot cross buns.

Stuffed Leg of Lamb Recipe is enjoyed all over the world as part of holiday recipes; especially for Easter and Christmas.

Easter Breakfast Recipes should be special for this special morning; recipes for ham and cheese crescents, my favorite apricot bread, potato pie, banana salad, orange French toast and lemon scones.

Special Easter Dinner Menu Recipes of crab dip, Russian bread, horseradish carrot casserole, lamb rolled roast and a beautiful flower cake centerpiece.

Easter Recipes for Children; “EB POOPS JELLY BEANS” cake, peanut butter cup cookies, egg shaped cookies and rabbit salad appetizer.

Italian Easter Recipes; antipasto salad, cheesy Italian dressing, veal scallopini, new potatoes, Italian Easter bread.

Easter Menu Recipes; Asian mushroom soup, roast beef tenderloin, cream cheese mashed potatoes, gourmet potatoes and lemon blueberry pie.

Easter Treat Recipes; fruit and nut Easter eggs, Easter chicken nests, wacky cake, quick pour fondant, orange muffins and soft pretzels.

MAY SIGNALS SUMMERS ARRIVAL

Of course Mother’s Day has always been important both for my dear mother and as a mother myself. Memorial Day has been and still is important to me. It is a day set aside to remember our loved ones who have gone on to see the Lord. After decorating their graves, we usually had a picnic with our family and friends to celebrate the beginning of summer.

Special meals or pretty decorated cakes make Cheap Mothers Day Gift Ideas.

Memorial Day Recipes are often lighter spring recipes and most often include delicious cake recipes.

May Recipes are special to me because it is the start of summer with several holiday cookouts lying in the near future; fun times like Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. I have many good memories of these special picnic days with delicious holiday recipes.

JUNE BEGIN HOT SUMMER TEMPERATURES

This becomes a great time for picnics, whether a celebration for Father’s Day or just one on the weekend. Everyone wants to enjoy the good weather and what better way than an outdoor picnic with family and friends.

Fathers Day Foods remind me of my dad’s cooking; try carrot casserole, pork roast, potatoes au gratin and easy creamy orange cake recipe.

JULY CELEBRATIONS

This is the peak of the summer season with more great summer picnics. This was always a time when I was young for huge backyard picnics. This was a time for our large family, extended family and friends to gather in our backyard to enjoy good food and visiting. The Fourth of July or Independence Day was a great celebration with a large display of fireworks.

Food in red, white and blue helps to celebrate what is Independence Day; always a cake.

AUGUST HAS NO NATIONAL HOLIDAY BUT STILL FUN

This was usually the month for our “great” German family reunion; “great” because relatives came from all over. This was also usually the month for my Dad’s company picnic at the amusement park Lasourdsville Lake; that was great fun. It was also the time of preparing for the return to school.

SEPTEMBER PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER

The first few days of this month was usually the county fair. When we picked up our grade cards at the end of the school year, we all had free passes to the fair in our cards. When I was young, I won money for my writing at the fair; it would be hanging with a ribbon on the display so I couldn’t wait to get there and see if I had won. Then at the end of the month we celebrated Labor Day. This was the close of summer and everyone switch from wearing “summer clothes” to wearing their “winter clothes” which meant “no more whites”.

OCTOBER ENDS FALL SEASON

By October everyone had settled into the school routine. Halloween is still the highlight of this month with the much anticipated parties and for kids, “trick or treating”. This day is truly the sign that fall has arrived and preparations for winter begin.

Halloween Food Recipes include many goodies, bright colored candies, “ghosts and goblins”.

NOVEMBER STARTS THE BIG HOLIDAY SEASON

From the beginning of November to close to Thanksgiving, most are making plans for this huge day. Traditional Thanksgiving recipes are usually turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy. It doesn’t stop there; most homes are laden with all kinds of fresh breads and many delicious desserts like pumpkin pie.

Many Thanksgiving Recipes are traditional ones that we use every year.

Cranberry Recipes for Thanksgiving and Christmas is a tradition since our settlers first Thanksgiving.

My mother did her Very Best Baking for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Mincemeat Recipes made from homemade mincemeat are simply the best.

I always include roasted turkey in my Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes with a variety of many other recipes.

It is so easy to make pretty Thanksgiving Centerpieces from recipes already on the menu.

Immigrants brought from many different countries recipes which we now make for Holiday Bread Recipes.

Different areas of the country celebrate the holiday with many different types of Thanksgiving Dressing Recipes with turkey.

DECEMBER CONTINUES HUGE CELEBRATIONS

This entire month is celebrating; first Christmas and then the finale on December 31 is New Years Eve. Parties and Christmas recipes are planned for the entire month. Most spend this month also shopping and wrapping gifts in beautiful Christmas paper. One week after Christmas we close the year with some elaborate New Years Eve parties. My New Years Eve recipes consist of mostly finger food recipes or appetizer recipes. After this celebration, I kind of unwind for the coming year.

Christmas Recipes include “non edible” recipes like potpourri.

Cranberry Scones are a great addition to Christmas breakfast or brunch.

Christmas in Florida like everywhere else includes a lot of good food.

Christmas in Orlando is celebrated with the ice show at Gaylord Palms.

Let me share with you one of the Epcot Restaurant at Christmas and the candlelight service.

Making Christmas Buffet Recipes is a great way to entertain at Christmas.

My friend Sandy’s delicious Holiday Pie Recipes.

I appreciate Homemade Christmas Gifts more than something bought.

Christmas Greetings from the Appalachian Mountains.

Celebration Foods for New Years Eve as well as any special occasion.

Holiday Appetizer Recipes from simple to elegant all making a great presentation.

Santa Clause Cakes made in a variety of different styles; make without special pans.

Cakes For Christmas can be baked in almost any type of pans.

Recipes For Christmas Cakes are made with any type of cake recipe; just decorate to fit the occasion.

Your children will have fun in the kitchen with these Kids Christmas Recipes; a cookie cutter wreath, popcorn snowman, cookies and more.

Include in your Holiday Cake Recipes the traditional Kentucky bourbon cake, a delicious pound cake or add a coffee cake to the breakfast menu.

Add something new to your Christmas Menu Ideas and start new traditions.

Interwoven throughout each month of the year, we all have special people in our lives celebrating special occasions. We might be celebrating our family members’ birthdays, special weddings, special anniversaries, graduations or communions. Whatever it is it usually involves good food and special holiday recipes work well for all of these.

Go to Painless Cooking Home Page from Holiday Recipes