Holiday Roasts

Beef Brisket Recipe
recipes

Make Gwyneth Paltrow's Beef Brisket Braised in Red Wine

If you told me a few years back that I'd be turning to Gwyneth Paltrow — the then-macrobiotic queen — for culinary advice, I'd surely scoff.
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If you told me a few years back that I'd be turning to Gwyneth Paltrow — the then-macrobiotic queen — for culinary advice, I'd surely scoff. But today I'm doing just that (well, not asking her directly . . . although a girl can dream). Haters are always gonna hate, but if one can push skepticism aside, her recipes deliver and then some.

Handed down from her father's family (as many recipes from her charming cookbook are), this brisket is bound to be a classic on your family's table, thanks to its robust flavor, laissez-faire cooking method (low and slow braising), and a velvety sauce that begs to be sampled and sampled again from the pan.

What are you waiting for? Give this classic comfort food a shot.

Porchetta Recipe
recipes

Savory Porchetta Is an Ideal Holiday Roast

For the longest time, I considered porchetta, the slow-roasted Italian pork dish, an order-at-a-restaurant-only entrée; it seemed too hard to make at home.
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For the longest time, I considered porchetta, the slow-roasted Italian pork dish, an order-at-a-restaurant-only entrée; it seemed too hard to make at home. For a recent holiday dinner party, however, I wanted to serve roast pork, so I threw caution to the wind and wound up making a delicious variation of the flavorful dish.

Porchetta takes a couple of hours to roast, but it's guaranteed to fill the house with a wonderful porky rosemary fragrance. To ensure that you get the correct cut, ask your butcher if he carries it a week before you plan on cooking the pork. With its succulent and well-seasoned meat, the resulting pork is a real crowd-pleaser. Read ahead for the highly-recommended porchetta recipe.

Christmas Ham Roast
party planning

What to Serve With a Holiday Ham

It's a confession that more than a few people are willing to admit: sometimes, the idea of a turkey as the star of the holiday meal doesn't sound all that appealing.
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It's a confession that more than a few people are willing to admit: sometimes, the idea of a turkey as the star of the holiday meal doesn't sound all that appealing. So it goes this year for Maryvee, who writes in:

My family does not want turkey this year for Christmas, so I am having spiral ham. What sides would be good?

I've been a longtime fan of the holiday ham myself. If you're serving up a country ham of sorts, I might go the Southern route, seeking out classic Low-Country foods as accompaniment: creamed collard greens, andouille sausage and corn bread on the side, and a classic pecan pie to end the meal. You could also ride the wave of nostalgic, Mad Men-era meals, with 1950s-inspired accoutrements such as simply prepared peas, glazed carrots, and an herbed potato gratin. Of course, don't forget the party dip and martinis!

Pitch in below with your suggestions for the perfect sides to go with this year's holiday ham.

Don't be afraid to ask the YumSugar community any and all of your holiday conundrums.

Source: Flickr User Erik Starck

Emeril Lagasse Recipe For Orange, Cilantro, and Cumin Pork Loin
recipes

Holiday Roast: Orange, Cilantro, and Cumin Pork Loin

Holiday feasts with the family call for large, important roasts — that's something I learned long ago from the late cookbook author Sheila Lukins.
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Pork LoinHoliday feasts with the family call for large, important roasts — that's something I learned long ago from the late cookbook author Sheila Lukins. Make it something succulent and impressively large, like a beef Wellington or a rack of lamb, which can be shared and passed around the table.

If you're not an expert at roasts, don't dish out valuable dollars on a piece of beef tenderloin that you'll risk overcooking. Instead, stick to a more basic (and affordable) cut like pork loin. This Latin-inflected citrus, cumin, and cilantro recipe serves up to eight and will leave guests reaching for seconds — but it won't set you back more than $25. For the recipe, read more.