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Celebrate the Holiday Classics with Keurig & Van Houtte

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When I was a kid Christmas was about toys. It was all about the tree, the ornaments, and the packages under that tree. It was all about the things. I was more focused on the things that I gave, or that I got, than I was on the experiences. I mean it wasn’t just about what I myself got. I was equally excited by the presents that others around me received. But still, it was all about things.

As I get older I find I don’t really care about the gifts much at all. Now I’m all about the experiences that the holidays bring. The traditions that we build, layer upon layer, year after year, as a family.

And so many of those traditions focus on food. Tuna dip and nanaimo bars at the big family parties, my mom’s classic French Canadian tourtière on those busy holiday nights, turkey and stuffing Christmas eve, buckwheat waffles for Christmas day breakfast, my mother-in-laws scalloped potatoes with Christmas dinner,  the local sausage we always serve with cheese and crackers on New Years…. food, food and more food.

Which holiday classics are a must have at your family parties? What recipe do you find yourself making each year at this time?

When I think of going to mom’s for Christmas I always think of the coffee. I am not even kidding. My sister knows, it’s the first thing I’ll ask for when I walk in the door, and she often will put a cup on for me while I’m helping the kids take off their boots and get settled.

I used to love visiting just so I could try out different flavours in her k-cup machine. However a few months back I finally got my own Keurig, so now I don’t have to wait to visit to get my hands on a cup of Van Houtte Holiday Blend.

Much like other holiday classics, the Van Houtte Holiday Blend coffee or Holliday Spice Latte is a taste that is only around this time of year.  It’s one that complements many of the traditional holiday dishes… and even doubles as an ingredient!

Seriously, check out the Van Houtte website for their spin on Nanaimo bars, stuffed turkey breast and mini tourtières, all made using Van Houtte’s holiday blend. Adding coffee to the tourtière mix is something I’d never considered, and I’m eager to give it a shot when I get together with my mom to make pies next weekend.

In the meantime I want to hear what your favourite holiday dish is. Share one of your favourite holiday classic recipes in the comments below for a chance to win a holiday classics prize pack from Keurig and Van Houtte!

WIN IT

One lucky Maple Leaf Mommy reader is going to win

their own Keurig coffee maker

and a selection of Van Houtte holiday products.

This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Van Houtte. As always my words and opinions are my own.

Comments

  1. My favourite holiday recipe is buttertarts and pete de soeurs. Love those during the holidays so tasty. Pete de soeurs are so easy to make with the left over dough from the buttertarts. Butter, brown sugar and cinnamon and you are good to go.

    Reply

    • My mom used to make something similar with her leftover pie dough. She called them sugar dogs and they were my favourite part of her making meat pies for Christmas!

      Reply

  2. One of my favorite holiday treats is my Cinnamon Coffee Cake. So easy to make with basic ingredients. I make several of them every year for a treat exchange..

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  8. my mom always made borken glass dessert for christmas and I still make it for my family every year, its one of our favorites

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  10. one of my favourite holiday recipes would be gingersnaps..usually only make them at Christmas but sometimes I miss them and make them through the year..

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  11. A tough question to answer there are so many that are special to Christmas for me. Probably it’s Plum pudding though swimming in custard, delicious. Mum used to make her own but I’m not that ambitious and buy mine. 🙂

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  12. One of my favourite recipes is our shortbread thumbprint cookies with a chocolate candy kiss in the middle. So yummy and you can never eat just one!

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  26. The one everyone asks for is my wild rice chicken soup made with coconut milk. For baking, the first on the list is Nanaimo Bars

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  36. My favourite holiday dish has to be my moms stuffing! It includes lots of diced veggies, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and at least a half bottle of white wine!

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  37. we go to the inlaws, so its the stuffing, the salad, she makes her own perogies, OH AND DESSERT …. she spends a week preparing ….. I work so there is no way I could put out a meal like that (we’ll get the one day off per usual) I haven’t even gone shopping yet for groceries lol and work will give us a gift card with the next paychq

    Reply

  39. Our fav holiday treat is Buttercream candies – it’s the only time I make them because no one in this house can say no to them,,, Or even stop…

    M

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  43. Our stuffing…………I love it! My eldest daughter makes it every year and its just amazing! Not very complicated, just onions, celery, butter, poultry seasoning, salt, pepper and good old crusty buns!

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  44. My family loves my Roasted Garlic Mashed potatoes. The trick is to roast the garlic heads yourself. A little picky peeling them after but well worth the effort!

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  52. One of my favorite holiday dishes is Christmas pudding and it’s oh so sweet with the caramel sauce on top.

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  65. My favourite holiday dish is mashed potatoes – basic, but so delicious. My favourite recipe to use is “Elsie’s Potatoes” from the Best of Bridge book series – they always turn out really well.

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  93. One of my favourite recipes is Broken Glass dessert. We have it every Christmas dinner. It has a variety of colours of jello with whipped cream and a graham wafer crust.

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  94. One of my favourite holiday dishes is one that my Mom made that she called salmon ball. it was a wonderful spread for crackers. It used canned salmon, cream cheese, grated onion, liquid smoke, horseradish, lemon, and it was rolled in a mixture of chopped pecans and parsley

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  97. I just tried making Snickerdoodles this weekend for the first time ever. Brought some into work and they were a hit. I’ll definitely be making them more often.

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  104. I like a Christmas morning casserole dish, made with Egg Creations, almond milk, mustard powder, cheese, back bacon, and thin slices of bread.

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  105. I am a sweet lover,and at Christmas I especially love the shortbread and gingersnaps. Who can forget that cherry cheesecake that is always the first dessert to go!

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  106. My mother’s recipe for turnip/carrot/parsnip casserole. Lots of nutmeg and cinnamon, with breadcrumbs on top. It’s all caramelized and delish fresh out of the oven.

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  109. The only time of year we have turkey with all the trimmings! I love turkey and having turkey sandwiches with the leftovers the next day.

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  133. My favorite holiday recipe is my sister in laws actually. She makes the best pumpkin spice and pumpkin crackle cookies! I tried to make them but it’s not the same

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  153. My favorite was my moms twice baked mashed potatoes with cheese and lots of bacon. OMG!! soo good lol not good for the hips lol

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  155. My favourite holiday dish is cheesecake, we don’t really celebrate Christmas but we always make this during this time of the year and it’s so good oh my!!

    Reply

  167. My Almond Fudge Bars are a huge hit at Christmas – very rich, fudgy and taste as good straight out of the freezer as they do fresh!

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  170. Crazy for my Moms sweet bread, she makes it at Christmas and Easter and boy does she make enough to go around since its requested by everyone.

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  192. Chocolate pretzel bark

    1cup brownsugar
    1cup butter
    2cups dark chocolate chips
    8oz pretzels

    Spread pretzels on sheet. Cook butter/brown sugar on medium on stove. Let boil for 3minutes. Pour over pretzels. Bake for 5 ‘min at 350 degrees. Pull out & drop chocolate chips on top. Put in oven for 2 minutes. Take out use spautla to spread chocolate all over covering pretzels. Cool . Break into chunks.

    Reply

  194. My favourite holiday recipe is Cranberry bars. I truly enjoy the taste and the ingredients which are great
    for your body.

    Reply

  199. My gramma used to make this special holiday jello salad, it was empty so quick everyone ran for it first. She passed suddenly and the recipe was only in her head. The grandchildren have tried constantly and noone can seem to duplicate it. We loved when she was giggling bringing it out…. Such memories!

    Reply

  210. My favorite Holiday Treat is Gingerbread. Anything Gingerbread, Cookies, Bread, Cake if it is Gingerbread I am good to go!

    Reply

  213. One of my favourite holiday dishes is pear cake, I make a reg white cake like you would a upside down pineapple but use pears. I use coconut sugar instead of brown

    Reply

  214. My dad makes squash with marshmallows and I can’t share the recipe because he’s the guy who makes it different every time Lol… but mostly its good! The stuffing, however, varies from year to year with how good it is

    Reply

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