White Chocolate-Cherry Shortbread Cookie

 

Photo source: Better Homes and Gardens

"When the cookie tray needs some sparkle, turn to this festive recipe. A Christmas classic goes from traditional to fabulous when dipped in melted white chocolate and rolled in nonpareils and edible glitter. The slightly fruity treat is one of our most popular cookie recipes of all time." - description of cookie from Better Homes and Gardens.

Sounds like this is the perfect gift-giving, delicious Christmas/holiday cookie.  And it makes such a beautiful presentation.

Click here to go to the recipe page.

Basic Thumbprint Cookies

 

Photo source: Better Homes and Gardens

"One of the most common answers to "What is your favorite Christmas cookie?" has to be "Thumbprints!" Not only can these sweets be baked and frozen up to three months in advance for a stress-free season, but they can also be dressed up with all kinds of flavor combos. Might we recommend lemon-coconut, almond-cherry, or peanut butter and jelly?" - description of recipe from Better Homes and Gardens.

Love the fact that they are so easy to make ahead and freeze, also so many variations are possible.  They are a very versatile cookie.

The beautiful photo with different versions of the same cookie gave me an idea for homemade gift-giving package . . . make different versions and make packages mixing them up.  It would make an awesome colorful presentation.

Click here to go to the recipe page.

Roasted Pork Shoulder (Italian-Style)

Photo source: Sip and Feast

 "Whether you’re making a holiday feast or want to change up your Sunday dinner, my Roasted Pork Shoulder is the recipe to try. The pork is roasted until tender, seasoned with orange, sage, rosemary, and fennel seeds, and finished with a simple gravy. This is the roast you’ll make on repeat!" - description of recipe from Jim at Sip and Feast.

One of my favorite meals is roast pork with black beans (frijoles negros) and white rice.  My recipe for mojo roast pork is here and my recipe for black beans is here.

Click here to go to the recipe page where Jim provides lots of photos to go with his instructions.  Love his explanation of the different cuts of meat.  Check out Jim's You Tube Channel, one of my favorites, click here.

Deep-Dish Apple Pie

 

Photo source: Taste of Home

"If your favorite part of a classic apple pie is the filling, where all those soft apples are covered in a cinnamon-sugar sauce, then you need to make our very best deep-dish apple pie recipe. A deep-dish apple pie is baked in, well, a deep dish, like a 13×9-inch pan. This means there’s a lot more room to pile in a mountain of apples, so there’s even more filling. Of course, the quintessential flaky pie crust is baked right on top until it’s golden brown and the filling becomes bubbly and thick" - description of this recipe by Taste of Home.

Anything with a good apple pie filling is good for me . . . but this pie looks extra special.  Does it get any better than this?

Click here to go to the recipe.