Make Small Holiday Celebrations Special with a Fresh Menu

Make Small Holiday Celebrations Special with a Fresh Menu
Make Small Holiday Celebrations Special with a Fresh Menu

Holiday festivities with immediate family members or just a few friends rather than larger gatherings may feel different than normal, but you can make the most of the situation with these tips to add intimacy and special meaning to celebratory moments: (Family Features)

  • Use special dishes, glassware, and linens to convey the tone of the celebration. Go ahead and use your best dishes or enhance your everyday plates with the use of cloth napkins or a festive tablecloth. Bring out the fancy glasses to savor every sip.
  • Arrange visually appealing, individual mini-snack platters for each person. Combine grapes with a special cheese, crackers, olives, and nuts for an easy way to curb appetites before the main course.
  • Set a festive table with a simple but creative centerpiece. For instance, you can combine candles, flowers, and draped bunches of colorful grapes. Place votive candles on mirrors for added shimmer and sparkle. Tie a gold or silver wire ribbon bow around the napkins at each place setting. Handwritten place cards with guests’ names can add a surprising and special touch.
  • Stay healthy to enjoy the holidays. Choose healthy foods like fruits and vegetables that help support the immune system. Maintain your exercise schedule as much as possible and ensure you are getting enough sleep.
  • Opt for homemade over-processed foods for signature dishes then reinforce with prepared items to fill out the menu, if needed. Let your guests bring part of the meal or something to contribute to the festivities.

Adding a sweet touch to the menu can help keep guests coming back for more. For example, fresh California grapes are available into January and are perfect for the holiday season. Enjoy them as a fresh, healthy snack or side dish, or as an ingredient to add taste and visual appeal to recipes to make the season feel special.

Start the meal with a simple but beautiful salad such as Grape and Spinach Salad with Raspberry Balsamic Dressing, where the grapes provide festive color and pleasing texture. Pair your chosen entree with Warm Farro Salad with Grapes and Delicata Squash for a hearty side dish that can also be served on its own. Finally, cap off the celebration with homemade Grape and Apple Sheet Pan Pie.

Visit grapesfromcalifornia.com/recipe to find more holiday-worthy dishes from appetizers and entrees to sides, snacks, and desserts.

Create the Perfect Appetizer Plate

Delight your guests with individual appetizer plates this season by considering color, texture, and presentation. Remember, this is the prelude to the meal, so small portions are perfectly fine. Consider this starter list:

  • Cheese
  • Nuts
  • Fresh grapes
  • Olives
  • Hummus
  • Marinated artichoke hearts
  • Salami slices
  • Spinach or other dips
  • Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves)
  • Roasted red peppers
  • Crackers
  • Pita triangles
  • Thin breadsticks
  • Pretzels
  • Jam or honey

Grape and Spinach Salad with Raspberry Balsamic Dressing

Prep time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8

  • 8          cups fresh baby spinach, washed
  • 4 1/2    cups California grapes
  • 1 1/4    cups mandarin orange segments, drained if using canned
  • 1/3       cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 3/4       cup bottled light balsamic vinegar and oil dressing
  • 1/4       cup orange juice
  • 3          tablespoons raspberry jam
  • 3/4       cup crunchy chow mein noodles
  1. In a large salad bowl, combine spinach with grapes, oranges, and onion.
  2. Whisk together dressing, orange juice and jam. Pour over salad and toss until greens are coated with dressing. Divide among eight plates and top with crunchy noodles.

Grape and Apple Sheet Pan Pie

Prep time: 1 hour
Cook time: 50 minutes
Servings: 16

Dough:

  • 4          cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2    tablespoons sugar
  • 2          teaspoons kosher salt
  • 3 1/2    sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1          cup ice water, plus additional if needed

Filling:

  • 3          pounds Granny Smith or other tart apples, peeled and thinly sliced (about 9 cups)
  • 4          cups black California grapes
  • 3/4       cup sugar
  • 2          tablespoons all- purpose flour
  • 2          tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1          pinch salt
  • 1          egg
  • 1          tablespoon water
  • demerara sugar, for garnish
  1. To make dough: In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, and salt. Add butter and toss with flour mixture. Smash each butter cube flat then use a fork to stir in cold water. Knead lightly until dough comes together in a ball. Transfer to floured work surface and use well-floured rolling pin to roll into 10-by-15-inch sheet. Fold each short side into the middle and close like a book. Fold once more to make thick block and cut in half. Wrap each piece in plastic and chill at least 30 minutes or overnight.
  2. To make filling: In large bowl, combine apples, grapes, sugar, flour, lemon juice and salt; set aside.
  3. To assemble pie: Heat oven to 375 F.
  4. Roll one half of dough out to 18-by-13-inch rectangle. Transfer to 10-by-15-inch heavy baking sheet; place in refrigerator to chill while rolling out top sheet. Roll out remaining dough to 18-by-13-inch rectangle and use pastry cutter to cut into 1 1/2-inch wide strips.
  5. Transfer filling into chilled pastry and spread evenly. Lay dough strips on top of filling in lattice pattern and crimp sides together. Mix egg with water and brush top of pie. Sprinkle with demerara sugar and bake until filling is bubbling, and crust is nicely browned, about 45-50 minutes.

Warm Farro Salad with Grapes and Delicata Squash

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8

  • 3          pounds delicata squash, cut lengthwise, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch slices
  • 3 1/2    tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1          teaspoon coarse salt, divided
  • 1/2       teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 1          pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 1/2    cups farro
  • 2          cups water
  • 3 1/2    tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1          teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 1/2    cups halved California grapes
  • 1/2       cup chopped parsley
  1. Heat oven to 425 F.
  2. On sheet pan, toss squash with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cayenne pepper. Spread into a single layer and roast 10-15 minutes, or until bottoms are browned. Turn squash and roast 10-15 minutes, or until browned and tender.
  3. While squash is cooking, combine farro, water and remaining salt. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer, cover and cook until farro is tender, 25-30 minutes. Drain leftover water and transfer to large bowl. Add squash, remaining olive oil, remaining pepper, lemon juice, lemon zest, grapes and parsley; toss.

Note: Acorn or butternut squash may be substituted for delicata squash.

SOURCE:
California Table Grape Commission

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  1. 0 0 Share This Read Time:4 MinuteInvite the Outdoors InDespite the comfort and convenience it affords, modern society is contributing to a vanishing relationship with the natural environment. However, there are plenty of ways to bring nature indoors to reap the benefits of an earthy connection inside your home. (Family Features) According to a survey commissioned by the Velux Group, a gap is growing between the time Americans spend outdoors and the time they’d like to spend in nature.In the United States, 63% of survey participants said they average one hour or less a week in nature, but 88% agreed they would like to spend more time. In addition, the majority of respondents said they believe nature, daylight, and fresh air have a positive impact on stress levels, and most also agreed those factors have a positive impact on mental well-being.“Exposure to nature such as trees, plants, and views of open spaces has been found to improve the cognitive ability to focus and read social cues,” said Arie Greenleaf, associate professor of counseling at Seattle University. “Even ADHD symptoms in children are mitigated by views of and interactions with nature in a host of different ways. Worker productivity, how people feel about the work they do, and the level of engagement, improves with a view of nature.”ARDELLES HOME IMPROVEMENTDespite ample research demonstrating the benefits, the study revealed a common theme, with 85% of participants believing they spent more time in nature as children than children do today. That’s a trend that translates into adult habits, too.“With work and family responsibilities, we can’t always fit spending time outside into our busy schedules, effectively making us the indoor generation,” said Peter Foldbjerg, head of Daylight, Energy and Indoor Climate for The Velux Group. “One thing we can do is improve how our homes connect to nature: From houseplants and nature-inspired art to skylights and screened porches, there are a wide variety of options for creating nature connections in the place we spend most of our time – our homes.”Learn how to bring more nature into your home with these decorating and design ideas:HouseplantsLiving plants not only add a touch of the outdoors, but they also help clean the air inside your home. In smaller spaces, even a few pots of herbs can add a refreshing touch of nature. If flat surfaces and floor space are at a premium, get creative with your wall space, and incorporate shelving and wall-mounted planters.Sunshine and fresh airWhether it’s from windows or skylights, bringing natural light and fresh air inside can keep your space fresh and inviting. There are scientifically proven correlations between natural light exposure and mood, as well as your body’s ability to maintain its circadian rhythm. Refreshing the air in your home can help eliminate volatile organic compounds, pet dander, and microparticles from cooking and cleaning.If your home is lacking in natural light, a skylight may be easier to add than a window, and skylights bring in twice as much light as vertical windows; their angle allows more of the sun’s rays to reach farther into the room. Some skylights, including many offered by Velux, also offer venting options that can contribute to cleaner air.ARDELLES HOME IMPROVEMENTNature-inspired artStudies have shown that simply viewing photos or paintings of nature scenes has mental and physical benefits. You can also use decorative mirrors to reflect natural light and make space feel larger and brighter.Botanically inspired patternsLook to pillows, area rugs, and wallpaper to incorporate patterns inspired by flowers, foliage or landscapes outside. These decorative elements can boost your spirits and create a welcoming environment indoors by reflecting the outdoor world.Natural materialsSisal rugs and baskets, wood planking, and stone countertops or side tables can add texture and a touch of the natural world to your interiors. These materials let you incorporate nature into your design aesthetic with natural textures that not only look stylish but feel great, too.Connect with Nature at WorkIf you work outside your home, at least a third of your day may have you stuck inside an office. Make your work environment more appealing with these ideas that let you embrace nature even while you’re on the clock.Incorporate natural life with a desk plant. You may feel more refreshed by that touch of green, and it helps clean the air around you, too.Find the sunlight. Today’s offices actively promote free-range working, so find a sofa near a window and get your best work done there. Or spend a few hours working outside each day. If your office design is behind the times, take a daily walk outside during your lunch break.Surround yourself with natural materials. Transform your desk-scape with a bamboo monitor stand, stone smartphone holder, or woven seagrass inbox.Trick the senses with natural soundscapes. Earbuds are a must in today’s open-plan offices. Instead of playing music, escape with nature-inspired tunes like rain, wind in the trees, or forest birds.Select art influenced by Mother Nature. Decorate with nature-inspired art, whether it’s photos of landscapes or a sunflower print.Find more ideas for integrating the outdoors into your home design at whyskylights.com/outside-in.SOURCE:VeluxSurBroadcast – Exclusive Domain NamesFresh Menu for the HolidaysShareOriginally posted on June 15, 2019 @ 3:05 pmShare ThisRelated Posts:Workout Outdoors

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