Instead of big holiday gatherings, this year will find us celebrating close to home with the people we love the most. While Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa may be a little more quiet than normal, that’s no excuse to skip the savory dinners, the sweet winter treats, creative cakes, and amazing breakfast goodies. 

The November/December 2020 issue of RecipeLion Magazine is a celebration of the foods we love. From a full Thanksgiving menu to delicious Christmas cookies to last minute treats like a quick and easy fudge. You’ll find four incredible cake recipes to help you bring out your inner baking creativity, treats that highlight seasonal flavors like maple and pecan, and delicious Hanukkah classics. 

Whatever may come our way this holiday season, we know that food can bring together family and friends both near and far. As a bonus, the 35 seasonal delights in this issue won’t leave your kitchen in disaster mode! Here are some of the recipes we’re celebrating. 

Thanksgiving Your Way

With Thanksgiving just around the bend, this issue starts with a full Thanksgiving menu,

• 20-Minute Turkey Gravy: It’s the minced, fresh sage that makes this recipe stand out, but there’s one more key ingredient that brings everything together and makes this gravy one of the best you’ll ever have.
• Tried and True Slow Cooker Turkey Breast: Take the stress out of cooking a big turkey while still making sure you can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
• Cran-Tastic Turkey Meatballs: I kid you not, these will end up on your menu all your long. 
• Oh Sweet! Potato Pie: If you haven’t tried sweet potato pie before, you’re in for a life-changing experience. This delicious dish is a true celebration of food.

Maple Magic

We all know late fall and early winter is cookie season, right? It’s also maple season! Yum! This issue of RecipeLion Magazine features a special section dedicated just to the delectable flavor of maple.

• Chewy Maple Sugar Cookies: These cookies are standouts in their own right. You simply can’t go wrong with maple icing on a maple sugar cookie.
• Maple Glazed Sour Cream Coffee Cake: Technically, this is probably a dessert, but there’s a good possibility that I might have enjoyed a slice for breakfast with a cup of fresh coffee.
• Salted Caramel Maple Cookies: Yes, they are fun to bake. Yes, the clean up is easy. And yes, they taste Ah-MAZE-ing. But wow! That little extra something you get with the salted caramel is just beyond delicious!

Cookie Fix

More cookies? Yes, please! You can never have too many cookie recipes, especially with the holidays in full swing. In addition to the maple cookie recipes, this issue also features some of our favorite cookie recipes, perfect for a traditional cookie platter.

• Danish Spice Cookies: Also known as Speculoos Cookies, these treats are a cornucopia of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom. If you like a little spice with your cookies, these are a must-have.
• Easy Gingerbread Cookies: Gingerbread is a classic winter flavor. Use this easy recipe to make gingerbread people or a gingerbread house!

Winter Treats

You don’t have to stick with cookies for winter indulgences! The season calls for all sorts of sweets, from brownies to snowballs.

• Best Ever Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies: The creamy cheesecake swirls balance the rich texture of these brownies for a scrumptious treat. 
• No-Bake Peanuts Butter Snowballs: These poppable snowball bites are definitely a delicious addition to your spread of holiday treats this year. Add clear crystal sprinkles or metallic sprinkles for a festive touch!

Fudge It!

Personally, I could enjoy fudge any time of year, but there’s something about the holiday season that’s perfect for fudge.

• Chocolate Walnut Fudge: Fudge is a holiday classic, and chocolate and walnuts are made to be together in this ambrosial treat.
• Homemade Fudge Candy Rolls: These little fudge candies are cute as a button when you wrap them up as an after-dinner delight.

Pecan Perfection

Pecans are ideal for holiday treats. They’re naturally sweet, and they add a little texture and crunch while still being soft enough to blend into any recipe.

• Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars: Topping pecan pie with a chocolate drizzle is a combination we’ve grown to love. These bars are great to make if you want the taste of a traditional holiday pie without all the fuss.
• Easy Candied Pecans: In 20 minutes you can have the best finger food snack to have on hand this holiday season.

Creative Christmas Cakes

What can I say about cakes? They’re the kings and queens of desserts!

• Snickerdoodle Cake: This is one serious dessert. You get the aromatic cinnamon and rich brown sugar of a snickerdoodle cookie with the moist goodness of a cake. And to top it off, literally, caramel sauce and whipped topping!
• Sparkling White Chocolate Cranberry Cake: Three layers of luxurious cranberry vanilla cake with white chocolate frosting come together for a magical dessert that tastes just as good as it looks.

Leftovers

Leftovers are just as much a holiday tradition as the holiday meals themselves! The question is what to do with all of that food!

• Best-Ever Leftover Turkey Stew: Instead of reheating leftovers, make something else instead! This stew can also help you use up extra celery, onion, and potatoes that you might have left from preparing your feast.

Fried and True

There’s no way around it; fried foods are darn tasty.

• Yummy Deep Fried Matzo Balls: Change up the traditional Matzo Ball Soup with this new take on a classic. Fried Matzo Balls with a tangy red pepper jelly makes a perfect appetizer.
• Classic Potato Latkes: Potato Latkes are a traditional favorite for Hanukkah. Simple ingredients come together in this classic deep-fried side.

I hope you enjoy the latest issue of RecipeLion Magazine as much as we’ve enjoyed creating it. We’re so happy to be here cooking with you and we’re looking forward to many more recipes, dishes, and meals to share. 

Happy cooking—and happy eating!

Kim Mateus

Editor & Publisher

P.S. Please enjoy this issue of RecipeLion Magazine, and let me know what you think about it by commenting below with your feedback! Your input is valuable to us and can help us make improvements.