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There's no better time than the December holidays for a large, important meat roast — and in my humble opinion, there's no better roast than the beef tenderloin.
There's no better time than the December holidays for a large, important meat roast — and in my humble opinion, there's no better roast than the beef tenderloin. I'm not the only one who believes this.
"Beef tenderloin is a special cut — it's prized because of its tenderness, yet it's incredibly lean. Because it's a solid muscle, it roasts and slices beautifully," Michaele Musel, culinary expert for Washington beef purveyor Double R Ranch, told me.
Since Michaele's prone to making holiday roasts more than once a year, I asked her to weigh in on everything tenderloin, from portion size to presentation. Here are a few things to bear in mind.
First, make sure you've got the serving size right. "A general rule of thumb for the holidays is six ounces of cooked roast per person," Michaele said. That would mean a four- to five-pound roast to feed eight to ten people, or factoring in a slightly larger amount (six to eight pounds) if you're purchasing a rib roast for the same number of guests.
Opt for a center cut beef tenderloin if you're new to the world of holiday roasts. "The center cut allows for even roasting and doneness," she explained — making it more than foolproof for a first-timer.
In my family, the holidays mean two things are certain: we will be drinking Manhattans and fighting over who gets the last cheese diablo wafer. I find it comforting that every year, no matter what, these two things are constant. What about you guys? What are your very favorite Christmas or Hanukkah traditions? Do you try new things each year or do you have some tried-and-true recipes that you would never stray from? Share with us in the comments!
Making a batch of gingerbread cookies is an essential for the holiday season: not only are they tasty, but your house is bound to smell like Christmas as they bake.
Making a batch of gingerbread cookies is an essential for the holiday season: not only are they tasty, but your house is bound to smell like Christmas as they bake. These cookies are crisp on the outside and chewy in the center, perfect with a hot cup of tea and a roaring fire. The extent that you decorate these cookies is up to you. Maybe you want to use a small straw and poke a hole in each cookie so they can be strung onto the tree with a little bit of ribbon. Alternatively, pull out those cookie cutters, and let the family go wild with their decorations.
Or keep it really simple like I did here and use a drinking glass to make perfect circles and sprinkle the cookies with sugar before baking. It isn't too late to get into the holiday mood, so keep reading for the recipe.
During this time of year, it'd be hard to overlook the prevalence of fruitcake and eggnog, but there's another important December holiday, Hanukkah, that's replete with fabled history and tradition, too.
During this time of year, it'd be hard to overlook the prevalence of fruitcake and eggnog, but there's another important December holiday, Hanukkah, that's replete with fabled history and tradition, too.
Traditionally, dishes for this Jewish holiday are not for the faint of heart. Many of the holiday eats are deep fried in oil to symbolize the oil that miraculously lasted eight days. Cheese is incorporated in many dishes in honor of the story of Judith in the Apocrypha, and other dishes include braised meats and starchy goodies.
While food during the Hanukkah celebration is symbolic and meaningful to those who commemorate it, it's delicious to everyone else as well. Click through for some of the historical dishes of the holiday.
Who says strawberry and raspberry pies can't be eaten during December? Coltkels makes a pretty strong case for Winter berry pies.
The pie was a triple threat pie; strawberry, raspberry and blackberry. When I think of berry pies I think of them as a summer dessert. But since it’s my Dad’s favorite desert I didn’t care what time of year I was making it. To all of our surprise this pie was perfect for a cold winter evening. It was berry goodness. Let's just say I’m already booked for next December 15th.
For the recipes, check out her blog. Been doing a bit of baking yourself? Be sure to share your treats with us in Savory Sights.
What’s better than sharing the holidays with family and good friends? Sharing the holidays with family, good friends, and great food, of course! As festive soiree menus are coming together, and people are picking their favorite dish for the company potluck party, Scope wants to know what you’ll be making this holiday season! And don’t hold back the garlic or onions in this year’s stuffing recipe, because Scope Dual-Blast will help fight the festive bad breath with unique technology that blasts away up to 98 percent of bad-breath germs and strong food odors (in other words, feel free to hang around under the mistletoe).
So tell us in the comment section, what will you be cooking up to warm up the holidays?
There's no better time than the December holidays for a large, important meat roast — and in my humble opinion, there's no better roast than the beef tenderloin. I'm not the only one who believes this. 
The extent that you decorate these cookies is up to you. Maybe you want to use a small straw and poke a hole in each cookie so they can be strung onto the tree with a little bit of ribbon. Alternatively, pull out those cookie cutters, and let the family go wild with their decorations.
