Cooking For The Holidays

The holidays are best spent surrounded by family, friends, and great food. Whether you're throwing a dinner party or having a few friends over for appetizers and cocktails, it's important to have delicious and easy-to-make recipes on hand. With some help from The Daily Meal contributors, we've rounded up some festive holiday recipes complete with video demonstrations and instruction.

A Daily Meal contributor and founder of Bakepedia.com, Dede Wilson shares with us her simple and elegant holiday desserts and appetizers. Brooke Parkhurst and James Briscione, founders of justmarriedandcooking.com, are teachers at The Institute of Culinary Education and authors of the new cookbook Just Married and Cooking. They have shared with us some of their favorite go-to holiday entertaining recipes. 

Gingerbread Trifle with Caramelized Pears 

Recipe     Video

Thyme and Bacon Gougères

Recipe    Video

Champagne Gelèe with Raspberries

Recipe   Video

Pistachio-Crusted Lamb

Recipe   Video

Handmade Chestnut Rigatoni with Braised Veal

Recipe   Video

Butter-Poached Lobster with Champagne Sabayon

Recipe   Video

Black Truffle Potato Purèe

Recipe

Holiday Kale Salad

Recipe

This holiday season, make sure you are serving (and eating) something delicious and festive. Try some of these recipes and check out the video instructions to make to complete your holiday menu. Most importantly, enjoy these recipes with your family and friends to make the most out of this holiday season.

Emily Jacobs is the Recipe editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyRecipes.