39 delicious recipes to make your holiday meal the best

Dry-brining is much less complicated than wet-brining since you don’t need a vessel in which to submerge a turkey and keep it cold. It’s turkey magic. This roast also looks spectacular, making it the centrepiece of your table. Get the recipe: Dry-Brined Turkey

Bundt cakes are especially simple since they don’t need to be frosted to look gorgeous. It's welcome year-round, and perfect for lazy baking days, company or even birthday parties. Get the recipe: Gingerbread Bundt Cake with Lemon Glaze

The trouble with traditional scalloped potatoes is that they go into the oven raw, and then take an age to cook. The solution is to par-cook the potatoes (and as a bonus, cook them in cream!) or even pre-cook the whole dish. Get the recipe: Make-Ahead Scalloped Potatoes

Not much makes a mom happier than seeing her kid eating vegetables. This recipe is delicious, making the eggplant, zucchini and peppers go down nice and easy. Get the recipe: Balsamic Roasted Vegetables

These meatballs are tangy and sweet with a little bit of heat. Spear them with a toothpick at your get-together. Get the recipe: Apricot and Ginger-Glazed Meatballs

There is something so incredibly decadent about the union of sweet and salty. In this recipe, it is best to use a coarse sea salt. The visual effect is nearly as wonderful as the tasting experience. Get the recipe: Salted Caramel Buns

Here's a make-ahead dish with all the tasty flavours of French toast. If you want to take this to the next level, grab some whipped cream and maple syrup. Get the recipe: Baked French Toast Casserole with Streusel

Meet cheater's version fondue. Mushrooms, herbs and silky camembert cheese are melty and delicious in a skillet. Don't even forget about skipping the crusty bread. Get the recipe: Herbed Mushroom And Camembert Skillet

Everyone can enjoy this stuffing. Gluten-free that tastes just as delicious as what you grew up eating. Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Stuffing

Cheddar popovers are essentially cheese pillows for your plate. Need we say more? Get the recipe: Cheddar Popovers

Maple syrup and apple bring out the butternut squash's sweetness in this soup, and using curry powder or sage will change its flavour profile. Get the recipe: Maple Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Take your brunch game up a notch wth a smear of maple-roasted butternut squash, a poached egg and a healthy dollop of hollandaise sauce. Yep, you've won this round. Get the recipe: Poached Egg on Maple Roasted Squash with Hollandaise

This! This is how you make friends, people. That's brie topped with hazelnuts and a blueberry-balsamic glaze. Get the recipe: Layered Blueberry Hazelnut Cheese Wheel

This is a no-fuss, big-taste cake. Make it for a snack, dessert or serve it for brunch. Get the recipe: Lemony Lavender Buttermilk Cake

Slowly roasting an already fatty fish in even more luxurious fat (here, olive oil) makes it nearly impossible to overcook; plus, you can flavour that oil with whatever you fancy: spices, herbs, citrus, chiles, which will flavour the salmon, which is why you’re here. Get the recipe: Slow Salmon With Citrus And Herb Salad

What is a holiday meal without the pumpkin pie? Sure, you've had it with maple, but give ginger a try. You won't regret it. Get the recipe: Ginger and Brown Sugar Pumpkin Pie

This cheesy gratin makes a delicious, nutrient-dense alternative to the usual scalloped potatoes (we love you scalloped potatoes!). Plus, there are some sneaky greens hiding out in the creamy goodness. Get the recipe: Squash and Sweet Potato Gratin with Greens

Pork tenderloin is the new chicken in terms of being a cheap, easy, and tender staple at the dinner table. There are countless ways to prepare it, but marinating it overnight and then wrapping in herbs and pancetta gives this lean cut of meat the oomph it needs to really make it a fan favourite. Get the recipe: Pancetta Pork Tenderloin

These tender, savoury pancakes are a quick, tasty way to cook up squash; serve them as is, or alongside roasted meat or fish. Get the recipe: Butternut Squash Latkes

The perfect flourless chocolate cake for entertaining, this little number is best made a day or two in advance so that it has time to rest and get extra fudgy. Get the recipe: Food Processor Flourless Chocolate Cake

A big, bubbling braised beef pie is perfect comfort food when you need to feed a crowd; inexpensive but flavourful cuts of beef are slowly braised in dark beer or red wine and stock. Get the recipe: Beef and Stout Pie

They may look fancy, but thanks to puff pastry, these little pockets are easy-peasy. Get the recipe: Rosemary, Mushroom and Brie Bundles

Part of why we love ham is that it's already cooked, it only needs to be glazed and heated. No fussy prep, long cook times or a chance of drying it out. Easy peasy. Get the recipe: Sticky Rosemary Balsamic Ham

Perfect for a crowd but worthy of the effort of a meal at home, these are the beans of your dreams. Delicious, tomatoey, packed with veggies (we see you, kale) and a healthy dose of melty cheese, pizza beans for life! Get the recipe: Pizza Beans

A crisp, puffed pancake filled with sauteed apples makes you the champion of brunch. Don't just save this baby for holidays, it's weekend-ready. Get the recipe: Puffed Apple Pancake

There are a million recipes for turkey – rubbed, brined and herbed, butterflied, barbecued and deep-fried. If you start with a good-quality bird, you don’t need to do much to produce a crispy-skinned, juicy roasted turkey. Get the recipe: Roasted Turkey

You might turn your nose up at steamed cauliflower but you'll be whistling a different tune when you try these roasted ones topped with a savoury pesto. Get the recipe: Roasted Cauliflower With Charred Lemon Herb Pesto

OK, we admit it sounds a little odd, but hear us out. Apples add sweetness and acidity to winter squash and humble root vegetables like parsnips and the end result is really, really good. Get the recipe: Apple and Parsnip Soup

What can you do with roasted chickpeas? Pfft, more like what CAN'T you do with roasted chickpeas? These perfectly browned little buds are addictive as a snack, or add them to salad in place of croutons or on top of that squash soup you were making.
Get the recipe: Roasted Chickpeas

A chewy brown sugar filling sandwiched by crunchy pecans and a cookie base are perfect for your dessert tray. If you want them more like traditional butter tarts, swap the pecans for raisins or currants. Get the recipe: Pecan Butter Tart Squares

You probably bought too many cranberries anyway, why not make a sweet-and-tart square like this ruby-studded baby. Get the recipe: Cranberry Lemon Squares

Shout out to the vegetarians at the table. But even if you're serving a bird, check out these veggies and their natural sugars showing off after a roast in the oven. Get the recipe: Roasted Winter Vegetables With Couscous and Goat Cheese

Do you like pumpkin pie? Do you also like bread pudding? Good, because you're going to love this marriage of the two. Oh, and don't be fussed about using canned pumpkin puree. Embrace the ease. Get the recipe: Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding

Crème Brulée says hey! Maple is the star of the show in this simple yet elegant dessert. Get the recipe: Maple Crème Brulée

Salty, briny feta and olives keep well in the fridge. If you have some on hand, you’re minutes away from a warm, rustic skillet full of roasted cheese your guests will love. Get the recipe: Roasted Feta and Olives

This quick, crustless cheesecake is soft and dreamy, and you can serve it up with a spoon. No fussing with a crust, and cinnamon-sugared apples on top prevent any cracks from forming, too. Get the recipe: Spoonable Apple Pie Cheesecake

A light, crispy meringue is the perfect base for tart and creamy lemon curd. It's simple enough to make for fun and will surely wow guests. We vote that you serve this anywhere and anytime. Get the recipe: Sunny-Side-Up Pavlova

Sometimes the simplest foods are the best foods. This gnocchi dish uses fresh ingredients, has minimal prep and goes from pan to table in about 30 minutes. Che buono! Get the recipe: Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina

Layers of baby spinach, provolone and roasted red peppers get all rolled up in this Traditional Italian holiday dish. Get the recipe: Tricolore Stuffed Pork