Midwest Living November December 2016 Recipes

By Hannah Agran
Welcome to your (practically) stress-free holiday kitchen with our easy recipes for everything from punch to beer-braised brisket to an effortlessly glamorous ice cream dessert.
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Frozen Raspberry Pistachio Terrine

Don't be fooled by appearances. This dessert couldn't be easier. Vanilla ice cream, pistachios and crisp purchased meringues match wits with a triple threat of raspberry sorbet, jam and fresh fruit. Such an effortlessly glamorous dessert shouldn't taste this good.Frozen Raspberry Pistachio Terrine 

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Slow Cooker Dulce de Leche

Dulce de leche is lusciously thick Latin American caramel that's traditionally made by boiling an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk. Our slow-cooker method allows you to monitor the caramel's color, plus the end result is an instant gift.Slow Cooker Dulce de Leche

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Darling Clementine Mocktail

No offense to the classic mimosa, but not everyone wants to booze with their brunch. Enter the Darling Clementine, a tart, fizzy, deliciously pink, nonalcoholic alternative to classic morning cocktails.Darling Clementine Mocktail

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Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheels

These cookies are easier than they look -make one batch of dough, divide it in half, and blend cocoa into one portion and crushed candy canes and peppermint extract into the other. The recipe comes from the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago, which hosts an annual cookie swap.Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheels

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Classic Challah

Minnesota blogger Molly Yeh often twists her challahs into simple spirals. This recipe-adapted from her cookbook Molly on the Range ($32.50, Rodale)- makes four small loaves, perfect for freezing or sharing. (Slightly stale challah also makes dreamy French toast.)Classic Challah

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Fresh Cranberry-Apple Relish

This fresh alternative to canned cranberry sauce is flecked with festive green pistachios and flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg. Serve it with turkey (of course!), or pan-fried pork chops.Fresh Cranberry-Apple Relish

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Egg Nog Martini

Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman of the blog A Beautiful Mess share one of their favorite holiday sippers, eggnog spiked with vanilla vodka and amaretto.Egg Nog Martini

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Kale, Cranberry and Root Vegetable Salad

This festively red-and-green salad actually tastes better dressed hours ahead and served at room temperature, so it travels beautifully. Fresh cranberries and an assertive, gingery dressing balance rich meats and sides. And it's hearty enough to keep vegetarians at the table satisfied. Sold yet?Kale, Cranberry and Root Vegetable Salad

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Spicy Rosemary-Peanut Caramel Corn

This is caramel corn all grown up-studded with salted peanuts, flecked with rosemary and kissed with cayenne. Make a double batch to pack as gifts, or set a bowl on the coffee table as a way-fun alternative to Chex Mix.Spicy Rosemary-Peanut Caramel Corn

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Oaxacan Mexican Chocolate Cookies

The recipe for these ultra-rich, cinnamon-laced cookies comes from the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago, which hosts an annual cookie swap.Oaxacan Mexican Chocolate Cookies

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Cream Biscuits

There is something rather miraculous about stirring together two ingredients (yes, two ingredients!) and getting delicious homemade biscuits.Cream Biscuits

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Scallion Pancake Challah

Minnesota blogger Molly Yeh fills each of the three strands of her challah with chopped green onion, sesame oil and red pepper flakes. The result is a braided loaf that quite literally weaves together both sides of her ancestry-Jewish and Chinese. The recipe comes from Molly's book Molly on the Range (Rodale, $32.50).Scallion Pancake Challah

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Jerry Thomas’ Champagne Punch

Dating to the 1800s, this recipe is easy, breezy, pink and fruity-and still completely sophisticated. It comes from Cincinnati mixologist Molly Wellman. Jerry Thomas' Champagne Punch

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Eggnog Sugar Cookies

The eggnog flavor in these buttery cutouts comes from nutmeg and rum extract; it's subtle enough to be a pleasant twist on classic holiday sugar cookies without being overpowering. The recipe comes from the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Chicago, which hosts an annual cookie swap.Eggnog Sugar Cookies

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Nutty Cranberry Dressing

Put aside that bottled raspberry vinaigrette and try this amazing homemade alternative, flavored with maple syrup, Dijon mustard and toasted pecans. It's fantastic on a salad with apples or pears, goat cheese and leftover holiday turkey.Nutty Cranberry Dressing

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Hearty Vegetarian Chili

Many vegetarian chilies eat more like soups, but ours is built to satisfy a meat-lover. Bulgur wheat and mushrooms combine to mimic the texture and flavor of ground beef; chili powder, smoked paprika and chocolate stout lend deep, authentic flavor without a long simmer.Hearty Vegetarian Chili

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Orange-Spice Challah Buns

Melding her husband's Norwegian roots with her own Jewish heritage, blogger Molly Yeh's soft, slightly chewy rolls are ideal for brunch or even as a sweet complement to a holiday dinner.Orange-Spice Challah Buns

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Tangy Sour Cream and Onion Dip

Onion dip is a classic for a reason-and this 100 percent homemade version is one of the best we've tasted. It's fab with potato chips, of course, but we also love it with crisp Romaine or Little Gem lettuce leaves for a lighter twist.Tangy Sour Cream and Onion Dip

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Hot Cocoa-Nut

While traveling in Israel, Minnesota blogger Molly Yeh discovered hawaij, a spice blend often sprinkled in coffee. In this recipe from her book Molly on the Range ($32.50, Rodale), she adds hawaij to her coconut-based hot chocolate for extra flavor.Hot Cocoa-Nut

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Admiral Russell’s Punch

Cinicnnati mixologist Molly Wellman shares the legend behind this drink: A British admiral stranded in Spain over Christmas 1694 ordered his crew to assemble a massive punch in a courtyard fountain. Bacchanalia ensued. Consider yourself warned: This splurge of a drink is strong. But it's also nutmeggy, citrusy and wonderfully spirited in every sense. Admiral Russell's Punch

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Sausage-Apple Dutch Baby

Why fry sausage separately when you can cook it right into the pancake? That kind of ease is just one reason we love this sweet-and-savory Dutch baby pancake. The batter's quick, and in the 15 minutes while it bakes, you can whip up the maple-glazed apple topping.Sausage-Apple Dutch Baby

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Beer-Braised Brisket

Compared to classics like turkey or roast beef, which require precise timing, brisket is an amazingly forgiving holiday main dish. (It actually tastes better when made ahead and reheated!) Not to mention, it actually makes its own gravy as it cooks, a luscious sauce that's begging for mashed potatoes.Beer-Braised Brisket

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Thyme-Roasted Grapes

Somewhere on the road from fresh fruit to chutney, you'll find these rubylike beauties, slicked in olive oil and oven-warmed to concentrate their sweetness. They're a perfect match for cheese or cured meats.Thyme-Roasted Grapes

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Dark Chocolate Almond Brittle

Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman of the blog A Beautiful Mess share this sinfully good holiday candy recipe. Adding almond butter makes the candy a bit softer and more flaky than traditional brittle.Dark Chocolate Almond Brittle

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Pumpkin Bacon Dog Biscuits

Whip up a homemade gift for the family's four-legged members with these easy DIY dog treats. The recipe comes from the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago, where these "cookies" are a star at an annual holiday cookie swap.Pumpkin Bacon Dog Biscuits

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