These winter salad recipes embrace the crisp textures and bright, seasonal flavors that make winter eating a joy. Most achieve their deliciousness through light, homemade vinaigrettes, while clever swaps like Greek yogurt offer creaminess without the extra calories you’d typically find in mayo. 

From hearty kale bases to sweet roasted root veggies, each salad is a testament to how nutritious meals can feel utterly indulgent. Why wait for the New Year to reset? Start serving these vibrant, flavor-packed winter salads at your very next meal!

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Eat the rainbow on a picnic! Enjoy these colorful veggies, tossed together with bowtie pasta, salami, olives, cheese and Italian dressing, for the ultimate Italian bowtie pasta! A bow tie Italian pasta salad is a vibrant salad featuring farfalle (bow tie) pasta tossed in a zesty, vinegar-based Italian dressing, making it a popular, mayo-free choice salad for summer picnics, BBQs, and Game Day!

This pasta salad is characterized by its colorful mix of crunchy and savory ingredients, commonly including halved cherry tomatoes, black olives, diced bell peppers, red onions, and fresh basil. To add substance and savory flavor, this dish often incorporates diced salami or pepperoni, along with mozzarella pearls or grated Parmesan cheese.

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A Hot buttered rum is one of our favorite cozy, winter drinks. You may also know it as a “hot toddy.” It’s festive, sweet and warm, and perfect if you’re sitting by a fire. This old-fashioned Hot Buttered Rum mix is super popular, especially during the holiday season.

Hot Buttered Rum Mix

This creamy, buttered rum mixture is used in a hot mixed beverage of rum, butter, hot water or cider, a sweetener, and various spices. We specifically love it with nutmeg and cardamom. Have you tried it? Or, if you live in the Pacific Northwest, like we do–mix up a batch ahead of time and keep in the fridge for last-minute guests. Or, surprise guests (you know, the ones that just stop in) with a hot beverage.

I love this recipe because it’s super simple and ready to mix up a drink or two. All you need is the hot water and a little of your favorite rum. These drinks are very popular to serve at holiday parties.

Why I love this recipe

• Great for “drop-in” holiday company
• Easy gift-giving, too.
• Jar the mixture and give as gifts, or serve it when drop-in guests come to your home.
• Add a dollop to a mug filled with hot water and rum, and stir.

This hot drink is festive and cozy and delicious. It’s also great to take with you with a thermos of water for cutting down the Christmas tree.

Or, a hot buttered rum is an excellent way to welcome guests when they first arrive. Right?

Gather these ingredients

• Unsalted butter, softened
• Dark brown sugar
• Ground cinnamon
• Cardamom
• Nutmeg
• Ground cloves
• Pinch salt
• Dark rum

How do you make the butter mix?

1. In a stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, spices, and salt.
2. Put into small glass jars and store in the refrigerator (or one tub).

How do you make a Hot Buttered Rum hot beverage?

1. Place about 2 Tablespoons in each small mug.
2. Pour 2 ounces of rum into the mug with boiling water.
3. Stir and serve!

Make Hot Buttered Rum for Holiday gifts

Perfect for holiday gifts, here’s what you do:

1. Pack into small glass jars.
2. Label and store in the refrigerator.
3. Give as a gift with a bottle of dark rum!

Freeze for later

To freeze this for later use, roll the batter into small logs on wax paper, seal by twisting the ends, and place in plastic wrap; freeze.

Remove from the freezer and slice into small pieces, and place in a mug with boiling water.

Happy Hosting!

More Cozy Drinks to try this winter

• Caramel Apple Hot Toddy Cocktail
• Hot Russian Tea
• Christmas Sangria (it’s cold, but it’s great)
• Pear Cider

Print

Hot Buttered Rum Mix

This hot buttered rum mix is for a rich and creamy cocktail, made with a butter batter spiced with nutmeg and vanilla, hot water, and rum. Make ahead for holiday gifts.

Fill several 1/2 pint jars for holiday gifts! Freeze for later: After refrigerated (and hard) roll the batter into small logs on wax paper, seal by twisting the ends, and place in plastic wrap; freeze. Remove from the freezer and slice into small pieces, and place in a mug with boiling water.

Course beverage

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Calories 211kcal

Author Sandy Coughlin

Ingredients

• 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp. cardamom
• ½ tsp. nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. ground cloves
• Pinch salt
• Dark rum

Instructions

• In a stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, spices, and salt.
• Pack into small glass jars and store in the refrigerator.

Make one hot beverage:

• Place about 2 Tablespoons in each small mug. Pour 2 ounces of rum into the mug with boiling water.
• Stir and serve!

Notes

Fill several 1/2 pint jars for holiday gifts! Freeze for later: After refrigerated (and hard) roll the batter into small logs on wax paper, seal by twisting the ends, and place in plastic wrap; freeze. Remove from the freezer and slice into small pieces, and place in a mug with boiling water.

 

Originally posted DEC 2014

Nutrition

Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 476IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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Oh, I love a good stuffing (bread pudding) recipe. Especially for the holidays, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, we love our “comfort” stuffing recipe. This Sausage and Leek Stuffing is perfect for a potluck dish, or any covered-dish party.

Sausage and Leek Stuffing

It’s good to have a plan, to make the entertaining process smooth and fun! I always say, entertaining is not for wimps! It takes time, planning, organizing, and generosity to pull off a gathering. It’s good to be honest about the reality of this.

Especially during the holidays, here is the secret: DELEGATE! Plan the main dish, and then ask your guests to bring side dishes and salads.

This savory side dish recipe is a party favorite. You also can make this Cheesy Mushroom Kale Challah Bread Pudding recipe. Or, if you want a sweet recipe, try this Apple Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce!

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Today we’re sharing one of our favorite winter appetizers, a beautiful plate of Fig Crostini with Grapes. They’re a yummy and festive starter for any gathering or holiday.

Easy appetizers with fig jam do not have to be complicated. Always start with crostini (toasted baguette slices)! Then add your favorite cheese, fruit, and a salty meat to create the perfect bite. You can also make fig and brie crostini if you’re not a goat cheese fan.

Fig Crostini with Grapes

I love this Fig and Grape Crostini Appetizer recipe that you can make at home and bring to a party! Think fall and winter parties! Will you be hosting this year, or were you invited to a party? Maybe my big board ideas are a little intimidating (yes, they are for large groups), so if you’re thinking “small” then this recipe is for you! (more…)

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Inspired by a trip to London, Downtown Abbey’s final season, and by working with Grey Poupon, I created this simple and delightful soup. It’s so good and impressively easy you’ll feel like a chef when you present this soup to family and friends! 

Easy Pear Potato Soup

I can just imagine myself sitting in a fancy dress at a splendidly set table and enjoying this soup, much as they did in the show. And while this soup certainly does impress, it’s also hearty and satisfying, and ticks all the boxes for a good comfort food soup. (more…)

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Being prepared for entertaining is really what makes a get-together successful. And that’s why I LOVE this Marinated Cornish Game Hens Recipe.

What is the differene between a chicken and cornish game hen?

Cornish game hens are just very small, tender chickens, and not very old. They are not Cornish. (The name just denotes the breed.)

Marinated Cornish Game Hens Recipe

This is a great recipe to make for fall and winter dinner parties! Or, try my Grilled Cornish Game Hens! It’s easy to follow, and great to make-ahead if you’re having company over for dinner. (more…)

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My husband and I took dinner to our friends’ house last Friday evening. Nothing fancy, we brought the main dish, One-Pot Beef Marsala Stew, and crunchy bread, and they whipped up the appetizer and salad (along with wine of course!). [This is a repost from Jan 2015.]

One-Pot Beef Marsala Stew

This recipe has easy ingredients:

• Canola oil
• Boneless chuck roast
• Kosher salt + pepper
• Butter
• Red onions
• Garlic cloves
• Tomato paste
• Marsala wine
• Beef stock
• Thyme sprigs
• Button mushrooms
• Carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces

(more…)

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This cheese board is the perfect easy appetizer to share whenever you’re entertaining! This board is made on the 20-inch big board!

Winter Burrata Charcuterie Board

Cheese boards will forever be my go-to party appetizer or dish to share. They come together in no time; they’re always a hit and easy to make! And yes, we found cherries at our local Fred Meyer, in December! AMAZING! :) (more…)

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Friends, are you hosting for the holidays? Today I’m sharing a few of my tips for what makes a great dinner, plus this easy Spelt Cinnamon Apple Cake Recipe! You can also try French Apple Cake or my Pear Coffee Cake Recipe. (more…)

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