Midwest Living November December 2015 Recipes

Get ready for the holidays with a woodland-inspired menu, easy candy recipes, slow-cooker drinks and a customizable shortbread cookie recipe.
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Mustard-Crusted Rack of Pork

Perfumed with rosemary and sage and served with white wine gravy and whole-roasted garlic and shallots, this succulent roast delivers drama at a bargain price. We recommend ordering this roast in advance. Ask the butcher to remove the chine bone and to French the roast-trim fat and meat from the bone. The whole garlic bulbs are edible but intended as a garnish. If you want to skip them, just roast one for the gravy.Mustard-Crusted Rack of Pork

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Mashed Sweet Potato with Melted Leeks

Luxuriously silky leeks-slow-cooked in butter and seasoned with lemon juice and thyme-ripple through sweet potatoes. Feel free to substitute ordinary potatoes if you prefer.Mashed Sweet Potato with Melted Leeks

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Peppermint Marshmallows

Homemade marshmallows are infinitely superior to store-bought-creamy and almost melt-in-your mouth soft. And peppermint is just one variation. In the baking aisle, find extracts like lemon, raspberry and cinnamon to customize your own marshmallows. The power of a stand mixer eases prep of this recipe, though a hand mixer works well.Peppermint Marshmallows

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Coffee Bean Meltaways

If you've ever made butter mints, you'll recognize this no-cook powdered sugar mixture. The coffee flavor comes from instant espresso powder, which is widely available online and at specialty stores. It's richer and better-tasting than ordinary instant coffee.Coffee Bean Meltaways

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Caramel-Hazelnut Café Mocha

Melted Nutella. Need we say more? Our updated version of hot chocolate is made in a slow cooker, just for kicks, and after cooking, can be kept on the warm setting for one hour.Caramel-Hazelnut Café Mocha

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Roasted Pears with Lemon Cream and Candied Pine Nuts

This grand finale of a dessert features maple-burnished pears, drifts of lemony whipped cream and a sprinkling of candied pine nuts. It's all about contrasts-warm and cool, creamy and crunchy, sweet and tart. And best of all, all three components can be made ahead of time.Roasted Pears with Lemon Cream and Candied Pine Nuts

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Golden Toffee Nuggets

Dipping toffee pieces halfway in chocolate is way tidier and easier than fully coating them-and the result is more striking, visually. (We recommend melting chopped good-quality chocolate bars for dipping-chips have additives that affect their consistency.) For undeniable holiday wow, brush on some edible gold luster dust. It's a splurge, but applying it thinly with a paintbrush helps avoid waste.Golden Toffee Nuggets

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Sea Salt Caramels

Caramels made in the microwave? Absolutely! And the only gear you need is a candy thermometer. Be sure to use coarse salt so it doesn't melt into the candies.Sea Salt Caramels

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Chai-Maple Cider

Breathe deeply. This spiced cider tea from the slow cooker doubles as aromatherapy. After cooking, the cider can be kept on the warm setting for one hour.Chai-Maple Cider

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White Chocolate Christmas Fudge

This five-ingredient fudge is simplicity, squared: Just melt, stir, spread, cool and cut. We love seeing festive flecks of orange zest in the fudge, but substituting orange-flavored dried cranberries will have a similar taste.White Chocolate Christmas Fudge

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Juniper-Marinated Mushrooms and Onions

Juniper berries add an earthy, pine-tinged flavor to this make-ahead relish; it's a perfect complement to rich meats and cheeses. Purchase the berries at specialty and spice stores or online.Juniper-Marinated Mushrooms and Onions

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Rosemary-Grapefruit Gin Cocktail

Pretty in pink, yes, but this sweet drink has bite, too, thanks to grapefruit's subtle bitterness and the woodsy notes of gin and rosemary. This recipe makes enough rosemary-infused syrup for several cocktails.Rosemary-Grapefruit Gin Cocktail

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Spiced Apple-Cranberry Chutney

Fresh and dried fruits simmer in an aromatic mix of brown sugar, onion, cinnamon and star anise. This chunky chutney pairs well with roast pork and poultry, but we also recommend serving it as part of a cheese tray.Spiced Apple-Cranberry Chutney

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Caramel Almond Stars

These playful candies are sort of a mock turtle-all the texture and flavor minus the homemade caramel or fussy dipping. Sprinkle with Wilton's gold star sprinkles (sold online) or coarse sparkling sugar. For a flavor twist, substitute roasted, salted almonds or even smoked almonds.Caramel Almond Stars

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Cheese Straws

Paprika-spiced sharp-cheddar crackers look like a bundle of kindling gathered on an appetizer board or standing in a jar. Smoked paprika is becoming more popular but can still be a little hard to find. Look for it at specialty or spice stores or online.Cheese Straws

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Oatmeal Cream Pie

Brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, butter, vanilla, egg-it's like a rich, drinkable cookie. Our slow cooker twist on classic eggnog can be kept on the warm setting for one hour.Oatmeal Cream Pie

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Smoked Whitefish Spread

Horseradish adds zing, celery adds crunch and pickles add tang to this addictive cream cheese spread. We prefer to serve it with unsalted crackers or flatbread. Look for smoked whitefish at specialty groceries, or substitute another hot-smoked fish (such as salmon).Smoked Whitefish Spread

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Classic Shortbread

This four-ingredient recipe come from Chicago pastry chef Mindy Segal's book Cookie Love. Her main tip: Shortbread is forgiving, but for best results, pay attention to temperature. Start with chilled butter, and make sure the dough is always cool (like marble) but not cold. If it cracks when rolled, let it warm up slightly;if it's  too sticky, pop it back in the fridge for a bit.Classic Shortbread

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Harvest Lentil Salad

Packed with healthy nutrients, this dish is perfect for any occasion. Serve as a side with a pork tenderloin roast or turkey breast or as a meat-free dinner salad with warm, crusty wheat rolls.Harvest Lentil Salad

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Nuts and Berries Winter Slaw

Crisp, shredded Brussels sprouts, toasted hazelnuts and tangy cranberry-orange dressing provide a burst of fresh flavor to balance a rich holiday roast. We like the hearty texture of raw Brussels sprouts, but if you prefer them a bit softer, blanch them first and then plunge them into cold water and pat dry.Nuts and Berries Winter Slaw

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Orange and Pomegranate Overnight Oats

Overnight oats owe their popularity to their ease: Soak them in the fridge and eat them cold. So keep a few jars in the fridge to grab for weekday breakfasts. Some supermarkets now sell refrigerated pomegranate seeds for convenience.Orange and Pomegranate Overnight Oats

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Mediterranean Chicken-Pomegranate Stir-Fry

Pomegranate seeds add a punch of sweet-tart flavor to this easy and healthy stir-fry. Thinly sliced pork tenderloin or peeled, deveined shrimp can be substituted for the chicken. For extra nutrition, serve with brown rice or quinoa.Mediterranean Chicken-Pomegranate Stir-Fry

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