• Latkes are a traditional Jewish potato pancake made during Hanukkah to commemorate the miracle of oil when one day’s worth fuel burned for 8 days. This classic recipe should be served with applesauce! (Makes a perfect 2 component snack!)

• Empanadas, the South American comfort food. Eaten every day and on special days. Fillings vary and can be simple and bland or rich and spicy. Lots of holiday leftovers…consider “After Christmas Empanadas” which call for leftover turkey, stuffing and cranberries using pre-made refrigerated pie pastry!

• Festive Spinach Tortilla Roll-ups. Although not necessarily a Mexican tradition, these festive rollups are made with flour tortillas, frozen spinach and red bell peppers and are the traditional winter holiday colors of green and red. They can be cut into pinwheels and served for snack or into thirds and served for breakfast. 

• Italian Lentil and Vegetable Winter Stew In Italy, legumes symbolize money and prosperity. New Year’s Eve celebrations include a legume dish and this hearty lentil stew is a favorite. It is quick and easy too.

• “Here we go a Wassailing”…It is a British winter solstice tradition for carolers to receive a hot spiced beverage after singing in the cold. This recipe is naturally sweet and aromatic and fills the house with smells of cinnamon.  

• 4 cups organic apple cider
• 1 cup organic cranberry juice
• 5 whole cloves
• 5 allspice berries or 1 tsp of allspice
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 orange, sliced into thin rounds

1. Tie up the cloves and allspice in a cheesecloth using kitchen twine. You can also just add the spices to the pot and then strain off the liquid into a pitcher when ready.
2. Put everything into a large soup or stock pot and cook at a low simmer for about ½ hour. Pour into small mugs or cups and serve with a cinnamon stick.