Need a great punch recipe for the holidays? Try this Christmas Punch! The flavor is fruity and delicious, with a little sparkle from ginger ale. You can make it with rum for a punch with alcohol, or omit it for non alcoholic. Either way, it tastes incredible!

As two drink and cocktail experts, we’re big fans of punches and pitchers because they make it so simple to serve a crowd. Garnish it up with sliced citrus, rosemary branches, and cranberries, and it makes a festive centerpiece for any gather.

Three Christmas punch alcohol options

What’s the best alcohol for Christmas punch? Here are a few options and how it changes the flavor:

• Rum: Aged rum, aka añejo rum, has notes of vanilla, coconut, almond, citrus, or caramel. White rum has a straightforward flavor with a signature fruity finish. Dark rum would make the color very dark, but you can use it if you like—it adds deep, caramel flavor and notes of cinnamon and spices.
• Bourbon: Bourbon is also ideal for a Christmas punch! Bourbon adds spicy notes, with hints of vanilla and caramel.
• Champagne or Prosecco: Or, go for a bubbly punch! Add champagne or Prosecco right before serving (see Holiday Punch).

The other day we were out at a restaurant and something on the cocktail menu sparked our interest: a “pickle martini.” Since Alex and I are lovers of all things dill pickles and authors of hundreds of cocktail recipes, of course we had to give it a try.

This drink tastes exactly how it sounds—adding pickle juice to a dry martini infuses it with briny, salty flavor. It makes for one irresistible sip (at least for pickle lovers!). Here’s how to make one for yourself!

If there’s one Italian food we’re head over heels for, it’s gnocchi—those pillowy balls of dough that are considered “pasta” but should be in some other category of their own! Here’s our latest creation with our favorite ingredient: this baked gnocchi recipe.

The gnocchi baked up in a tangy marinara sauce and layered with goat cheese and burrata (or fresh mozzarella). You don’t even have to boil the gnocchi—just throw it in the pan and bake! It’s so simple and everyone we’ve served it to adores it. It makes a big pan that’s great for entertaining, perfect as a main dish or side dish for dinner parties or a Christmas recipe—and it works just as well for weeknight dinners.

Tips for using burrata cheese

Burrata is an Italian fresh mozzarella cheese with a surprise inside: the center is filled with cream! The creamy interior also contains cheese shreds, called straciatella. This cheese originated in Southern Italy and is now served all over the world.

This recipe calls for only 1 ball of burrata. It used to be only sold in 2-ball packages, but lately we’ve found you can buy 1 ball packaged separately! It’s a nice way to save a little money. Or, you can use the extra ball in burrata recipes like burrata salad or a burrata sandwich.

Dietary notes

This baked gnocchi recipe is vegetarian. For gluten-free, use gluten-free gnocchi.

Making multiple servings at once

The cranberry Aperol spritz is perfect for parties, and it’s easy to make several servings at once! Here’s what to know:

• If you’re making 2 drinks, a mini bottle is perfect—it holds 187 mL or about 6 ounces! For 4 drinks, use a half bottle 375 ml (12 oz).
• A 750 ml bottle of Prosecco is 25 ounces, enough for 8 drinks.
• If you’re serving 8, mix up 1 ½ cups Aperol and 1 ½ cups cranberry juice. Into each glass, pour 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) of the mixture and top with 3 ounces Prosecco.

Our favorite recipes for easy entertaining? Those that have minimal ingredients and prep time, but achieve maximum flavor. There’s no better example of that than this warm goat cheese appetizer! It’s got just 4 ingredients, takes just 10 minutes to bake, and tastes like an absolute dream.

The tangy, gooey goat cheese against the citrusy marmalade and herbaceous thyme is pure bliss. It’s become a total go-to in our house. We love this recipe so much, we decided to included it in our A Couple Cooks cookbook!

Dietary notes

This goat cheese appetizer recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free (using gluten-free crackers).

Ready for the most vibrant, stunning cocktail for cool weather entertaining? Enter the Poinsettia, a cranberry champagne cocktail! Its brilliant color and cozy vibe makes it the perfect fall cocktail or winter drink.

It makes any occasion more fun, from Thanksgiving to holiday parties to Christmas to New Year’s Eve drinks. Of course, you can serve it any time of the year too! It uses only a few simple ingredients. Let’s get started!

Can you make a non-alcoholic Poinsettia drink?

You absolutely can make this Poinsettia drink without alcohol! All you have to do is substitute non-alcoholic sparkling cider, grape juice, or wine for the champagne and orange juice for the Cointreau. These days there are some great non-alcoholic sparkling wine options on the market. You could also try this Cranberry Mocktail with ginger beer.

Making mocktails or 0 proof cocktails is perfect for including people who don’t drink alcohol, pregnant women, or kids. Our kids always wants to drink what we’re drinking—so you could make up some kiddie cranberry champagne cocktails for the young ones!

Here’s an easy appetizer that looks stunning and relies on simple, spot-on flavors: smoked salmon appetizer bites! The classic combination of smoked salmon, dill, cucumber and cream cheese is a hit every time.

As cookbook authors and recipe experts, Alex and I love working with smoked salmon because it brings an instant intense savory, smoky flavor with no cooking whatsoever! Mix the cream cheese with fresh dill, green onion and Dijon for a rich, zingy pop. Make up this platter for a party, and people won’t be able to tear themselves away!

Ever crave a skillet of perfectly browned fried potatoes? It’s easy to wing this recipe and make it on the fly. But why not use a method that works every time? Introducing the perfect fried potatoes!

These thin potato rounds are browned in a skillet until they’re crispy and golden. The seasoning is perfect: just the right amount of smoky, salty, and savory. They work as breakfast potatoes, or an easy side dish for dinner. Here’s how to make them!

Dietary notes

This fried potatoes recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Are you a lover of black eyed peas? This mighty legume is full of plant-based protein and nutrients, and it can be eaten in so many different ways. You can usually find black eyed peas canned at the grocery store—but it’s cheaper and tastier if you cook them from dried!

Here’s our favorite versatile black eyed peas recipe: you can cook them until they’re just tender for salads and dips like Texas caviar, or make them into this creamy, smoky side dish. You choose!

Dietary notes

This black eyed peas recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Hello, hungry eater in need of a quick and easy dinner idea! We’re obsessed with finding meals that are three things: fast, simple, and delicious. Here’s a question: Is a 5-minute dinner recipe possible?

Well, we think we’ve nailed it with this recipe. Try these 5 minute tacos, filled with a hearty filling that really does come together in minutes. WOW. You’ve got to try these.

Dietary notes

This 5 minute tacos recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free.

Over the years, we’ve found the taco is the perfect canvas for creating some insane vegetable-forward flavors. Here’s a favorite that’s stood the test of time: Crispy Cauliflower Tacos. When we created this recipe, we had no idea how popular it would be with readers!

The star is this crispy breaded cauliflower, roasted and covered in a savory, salty, sweet and lightly spicy breading (like a play on breaded fish tacos). Add some refried black beans, zing cabbage slaw, and cover it all in our creamy Yum Yum sauce. It’s gone on to become a fan favorite recipe—and it’s always a hit in our house, too!

Dietary notes

This cauliflower tacos recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, use the vegan Yum Yum Sauce variation or chipotle sauce.

Did you know you can make the best fries of your life—homemade? Yes, we’re pretty confident that these seasoned fries will blow you away! For years, Alex and I have been perfecting the art of homemade French fries and we’ve picked up some tips to getting the very best fries possible.

They do take a bit of time! But if you have to work for your food, it makes it that much more special: right? These are baked in an oven until crispy and coated in the perfect seasoning blend. Ready to become a French fries expert?

Or, use a French fry cutter!

Here’s an option only if you think you’ll make fries a lot: a French fry cutter! Typically Alex and I don’t recommend one-use gadgets. But this one is so slick, we couldn’t resist. A French fry cutter cuts fries from a potato in 1 second! (Really.) It’s easy to use and pumps them out in a jiffy. The only downside: finding storage space for a one-use gadget. Here’s a link to the French fry cutter we use.

Dietary notes

This seasoned fries recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Here’s a tasty dip with a party vibe: Texas caviar (aka Cowboy caviar)! This Tex Mex combination of black eyed peas, colorful vegetables, and zingy vinaigrette dressing is a total crowd pleaser, as a chip dip or healthy side dish.

It was invented in Texas and then spread all over the US. Our spin on this party dip always has friends gathered around the bowl at our house and for good reason—it’s just that irresistible!

Texas caviar dressing

Let’s talk Cowboy caviar dressing. A common spin on this recipe uses store-bought Italian dressing, but it’s much tastier with homemade! The dressing is simple to whip up using just a few ingredients you’ll likely already have in your pantry and spice drawer. Here’s what’s in this Texas caviar dressing:

• Lime juice
• Apple cider vinegar
• Sugar
• Spices: Garlic powder, cumin, and oregano
• Olive oil

Dietary notes

This Texas caviar recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Funny enough, even though we’re cookbook authors, we’re also often stumped with what to make for dinner. Here’s our latest favorite answer to “What’s for dinner?”—this easy chicken cutlets recipe!

It takes no time at all to whip up and is beyond tasty, coating the thin chicken cutlets in a light breading with savory spices. Throw it in a skillet and pan fry until golden, and there’s something both nostalgic and sophisticated about this simple meal. We took one bite and immediately knew this recipe was a keeper in the top easy dinner ideas file (aka note on our phones!).

Dietary notes

This chicken cutlets recipe is a Mediterranean diet recipe that is dairy-free. It is also gluten-free with gluten-free flour.

Got a bottle of Prosecco you want to make even better? Make one of these top Prosecco cocktails! These drinks are extremely versatile: there are options for fruity brunch drinks, sippable afternoon drinks, and classic and sophisticated evening drinks.

Whenever you’re ready to pop open a bottle, there’s a drink for you! As cocktail experts and certified mixologists, we reviewed our cocktail recipes to find all the top ways to use this sparkling wine. Here are our top Prosecco cocktails for any occasion!

Over the years, the Instant Pot become a well-used tool in our house! Don’t get us wrong: it doesn’t cook food in an instant. But it does make quick the easy, hands-off way to make soup: no stovetop required!

This Instant Pot wild rice soup recipe is a spin on our classic wild rice soup that is a reader favorite! Everyone we’ve served it to positively raves about it: it’s the perfect cozy dinner. Even better, the Instant Pot cooks dried beans in the same time as the rice (wow!). When I took the first bite after Alex made this recipe for me, I was blown away! Here are all the secrets to this delicious, hearty soup recipe.

Why make Instant Pot soup?

The advantage of cooking this soup in an Instant Pot instead of the stovetop is that it’s totally hands off once the cooking starts. You can throw the soup in the pot and then go do other things, until your dinner is done! Because this recipe takes over 1 hour to make, we made the serving size large: it serves about 8. That way, you can have plenty for leftovers.

Got a bottle of Aperol and not sure how to use it? The Aperol Spritz may be the most popular way to mix up this bright Italian liqueur, but there are so many other flavorful ways to use it! Alex and I are cocktail experts and certified mixologists, with over 300 cocktail recipes in our library. We’ve looked high and low for all the most popular ways to use this classic amaro.

Mix it into the modern classic Paper Plane with bourbon, or into the funky Naked and Famous with mezcal. You can even pour it into beer for a refreshing spin on the spritz called the Spaghett (yes, it’s a thing!).