Dining In: Comfort and joy – A hearty meal for a simple, intimate celebration

Throwing a big holiday party is a fun tradition that Stephanie and her family have done for almost two decades now. It is always a hit, very well attended regardless of the weather, and the food is delicious and plentiful. A big holiday open house is a great way to get people together you haven’t seen since, perhaps, the previous year’s open house.

The downside of a big party, however, is that you don’t get enough time to visit with guests. That is why we decided to write about a more intimate way of celebrating the season. Don’t get us wrong; we love big parties. But if the prospect is just too daunting for you this year, scale it back and enjoy a smaller gathering with friends. The point of the holidays is to catch up with your nearest and dearest.

The menu this month includes dishes that are easy to do ahead and fit into the comfort food category. Take the Individual Shepherd’s Pie, which can be made with lamb, beef or venison. We have topped it with a light roasted garlic mashed potato. It is a rustic yet sophisticated twist on this classic dish.

For the vegetable course, we suggest a Blanched Asparagus with Hollandaise. Homemade Hollandaise sauce may sound a bit intimidating, but if you follow the steps you’ll find it’s not terribly difficult to prepare at all.

For dessert, we keep to the seasonal theme with a Spiced Poached Pear and Lemon Stilton Shortbread Cookie. The Lemon Stilton is a delicious dessert cheese that Tracey came across at Whole Foods. It is mild and creamy with just a touch of bite and lovely lemon essence. It is a really special ingredient to sneak into this easy shortbread recipe. If you can’t find the Lemon Stilton, substitute three ounces of cream cheese or mascarpone and a teaspoon of fresh lemon zest.

We hope this simple, special dinner menu makes it easy to enjoy the spirit of the season with family and friends. Bon appétit!