Midwest Living Holiday Cookbook 2001

The recipe for this rich, nut-filled torte comes from a Decorah, Iowa, reader who makes it for holiday gatherings. It's especially festive served with sweetened whipped cream and garnished with rosemary and cranberries.

Nutcracker Sweet Torte

Barbecue sauce, liquid smoke and spices flavor this slow-cooked beef. Slice or shred, and serve on buns or French-style rolls for easy party eating.

Party-Time Brisket

This ruby-red beverage gets its kick from tequila. If you'd prefer a nonalcoholic option for your guests, use lemon-lime carbonated beverage instead of the tequila.

Punch with a Punch

Sweet peppers make colorful containers for a quick-and-easy blender dip. Serve with assorted vegetable dippers, crackers or chips.

Vegetable Tray Masterpiece

Dunk marinated shrimp in a garlic-and-tomato mayonnaise for a party-perfect appetizer. When you're pressed for time, use precooked shrimp.

Spunky Holiday Shrimp

A Decorah, Iowa, reader passed along the recipe for these much-loved treats, which she enjoys bringing to cookie exchanges.

Colorful Sparkling Sugar Cookies

This classic salad, topped with caramelized onion vinaigrette, will satisfy holiday diners who want a lighter main dish.

Dazzling Holiday Sirloin Salad

This easy-to-make yeast bread comes from the former Sherlock on Watson Bed and Breakfast in Ripon, Wisconsin. Slice and toast before serving, and top with soft Honey Butter.

English Muffins In a Loaf

The recipe for these luscious raspberry-filled thumbprint cookies comes from The Heidel House near Green Lake, Wisconsin.

Almond-Raspberry Kisses

Guests at the Angel Inn in Green Lake, Wisconsin, enjoy these fudgy brownies on cookie trays.

Elves' Best Brownies

A blend of cranberries, sugar and orange juice make the scarlet swirl inside this cheesecake as well as the sauce on top.

Scarlet Swirl Cheesecake

Tuck corn bread, almonds and cranberries inside chicken breasts for this holiday main dish, from the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.

Opryland Stuffed Chicken

Layer fresh cranberries, applesauce, kiwifruits, pineapple chunks and mandarin orange sections with flavored yogurt for this breakfast or brunch treat.

Luscious Fruit Parfaits

Try serving this no-fuss breakfast dish with warm-from-the-oven rolls or muffins.

Wake Up Ham-and-Egg Baskets

Cranberries make this peach crumble special--no surprise, since the recipe comes from Canoe Bay resort near Chetek, Wisconsin. Wisconsin produces more cranberries than any other state in the nation. Serve with your choice of store-bought ice cream if you don't have time to make the Hint-of-Ginger Ice Cream accompaniment.

Peach of a Crumble

Hint-of-Ginger Ice Cream

Doris Heikes of Decorah, Iowa, enjoys bringing this dessert to potluck buffets. The tender cake is topped with Browned Butter Icing and sliced almonds or chopped nuts.

Heavenly Chiffon Cake

Cherry-pecan bread stuffing fills this pork crown roast, a centerpiece for any holiday dinner.

Regal Pork Roast

Sprinkles of salty ham cracklings top this soup from Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, Missouri.

Season's Eatings Pumpkin Soup

Merry Marshmallow Bars

Trim-the-Tree Orange Cranberry Cookies

Santa's Choice Sour Cream Apple Pie

Beer-and-Blue Soup