Taste of Home December/January 2021

Dear readers, we did it! Here we are in the final weeks of 2020, looking forward to 2021. Before we close the book on this… interesting?…year, let’s put our kitchens to work to pull out all the stops for some memorable meals and treats. We had so much fun selecting recipes for “The Best Christmas Ever!” feature (page 41). Buddy the Elf himself would adore our Test Kitchen’s Crispy Christmas Trees and would not be able to resist digging in to Darlene Brenden’s Christmas Star Twisted Bread (page 48), which is also the shining star on our cover. Our staff share what will grace our holiday tables in “A Few of Our Favorite Things” (page 52), with it all adding up to one solidly stunning holiday menu. If you’re in the mood…

IT’S COOKIE SEASON! ’Tis the season for baking up magical batches of cookies galore. In our new Holiday Cookies issue, we’ve got plenty of festive recipes packaged up just for you! From classics like sugar cookies to 5-ingredient wonders and gluten-free goodies, there’s a delight on every page. We even have a decorating section to help turn cookies into merry masterpieces! Find it on newsstands now, or buy it online. shop.tasteofhome.com/holidaycookies Homemade Merry Make it the happiest holiday ever with the 2020 edition of Taste of Home’s Christmas cookbook. You’ll find more than 300 recipes and ideas for down-home breakfasts, treats to share, beautiful feasts, cookie platter recipes and more! Order your copy and let the merriment begin. tasteofhomebooks.com/20TXC Comfort at Your Doorstep Taste of Home’s Special Delivery Box is filled with gadgets, ingredients, recipes…

Cultivate Kindness Tote $38 feedprojects.com Spread positive vibes and feel good about your purchase—it provides 10 meals to children in need. Fredericks & Mae Matches $30 shop-generalstore.com Colorful matches brighten up mantels and make cozy nights in feel even happier. Grandma’s Kitchen Candle $34 homesick.com One whiff of this sweet candle whisks you straight to Grandma’s kitchen. Stoneware Cups $30/4 knightpottery.etsy.com Choose your glaze color for this stylish set of custom-made tumblers. Exfoliating Liquid Marseille Soap $33 amazon.com Cleanse and exfoliate in one luxurious step. Pop of Peach Tea Towel $18 freckledfuchsia.com Dry those dishes or line that breadbasket in style. Matcha Green Tea Powder $18 blkandbold.com Hot or cold, this smooth, sweet green tea instantly lifts up your day. Fred Como Tea Llama Silicone Tea Infuser $10 worldmarket.com Make your morning tea extra happy when you pop this peppy pal in your cup. GIFT THAT…

* 2020 GIFT GUIDE Pooch Creamery Peanut Butter Flavor Ice Cream Mix Dog Treat $7 chewy.com Made with five ingredients (including real peanuts!), this frosty treat will have your pups licking their chops like never before. Navo Noodles Hamster Hideout $25 LoveDrizzlesStudio. etsy.com No noodles in this cup! Just oodles of cuteness. Your hamster or gerbil will love hunkering down in their new home. Painted Peonies Midnight Dog Squeaky Toy $16 thefoggydog.com This sophisticated floral bone-shaped plaything is fit for the bougiest of bowwows. Box of Doughnuts $26 fabdog.com These colorful doughnut look-alikes are so sweet. And the fact that there are two squeakers in each is the icing on top. Small Personalized Dipped Ceramic Dog Bowl $39 markandgraham.com Spell out who’s a good boy with these classy dishes. They’re also available in a large size for bigger doggos. Top Fin…

This blushing citrus superstar packs in vitamins A and C—plus powerful lycopene—making this nutrient-dense grapefruit an antioxidant superhero. But ruby red grapefruit’s health-boosting benefits go way beyond that. Here’s how the pretty, puckery fruit can make you glow from head to toe. Hydrates the body With its high water content (nearly 4 ounces per half-grapefruit), ruby red rocks as a thirst quencher. Juice it for a fresh drink or to add zing to seafood recipes. Controls appetite As a fiber-rich food with high water content, grapefruit keeps you satiated. Half a grapefruit contains 52 calories and 2 grams of fiber. Nosh on fresh segments or toss them in a salad. Brightens skin Grapefruit’s antioxidants help protect against cell damage, increase collagen production and improve skin tone. Fights illness Bursting with potassium, folate, thiamine and magnesium and a hefty…

This tasty bowl packs in protein and is a rich source of healthy unsaturated fats. Madras Curried Eggs with Rice Whoever said that gourmet foods take ages to prepare did not know about this Indian-style dish, which my mother-in-law shared with me. Its meatless simplicity and all the accompaniments make it delicious. FE Judy Batson, Tampa, FL Prep: 20 min. + standing Cook: 15 min. Makes: 4 servings 8 large eggs¼ cup butter1 small onion, chopped2 tsp. curry powder2 tsp. tomato paste1 garlic clove, minced1 cup water1 can (14½ oz.) petite diced tomatoes, optional1 tsp. lemon juice2 pkg. (8.8 oz. each) ready-to-serve long grain riceOptional: Chopped salted peanuts, raisins, grated orange zest, chutney and shredded coconut 1. Place eggs in a single layer in a large saucepan; add enough cold water to cover by 1 in. Cover and…