Elevate Your Christmas Feast With These Chef-Approved Holiday Dishes Every Dinner Table Needs
The holidays are a time to be grateful for the things that bring us joy and ease daily. It’s also a time when we should be thankful for those responsible for cooking Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. The pressure to cook a dinner for our loved ones can come with a lot of stress. Despite the menu being the same yearly - turkey or ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies, rice, and a good pumpkin or sweet potato pie! Cooking one of the most important dinners of the year can be a lot on any holiday host's plate.
Chef D. Arthur is a personal chef and an event caterer who knows the pressure of cooking for many people. Arthur says, “You gotta remember that people are grateful for you stepping into the role of creating this environment, especially the people who can’t cook.” It’s also important to acknowledge that cooking for the holiday season is a choice that should be made in good spirits and mental health. “Food is a universal love language,” says Arthur, “I think it’s such a great way to connect, but it should be done out of love.”
If you’re mentally and physically ready to shake things up this holiday season, we've got you! Chef D. Arthur has curated his go-to recipes that anyone can use if they’re tired of keeping things traditional. Arthur adds, “These recipes can be achieved by beginner cooks and those who’ve been in the kitchen for some time now.” Show off to your family members with these not-so-complicated but extra-fancy holiday dishes!
Honey Pecan Banana Pudding
“If you are allergic to nuts, you can stick to traditional cream cheese with this recipe,” says Arthur. This recipe is dairy-free and lactose-friendly; just substitute the milk for almond or oat milk. Banana pudding is a heavy dessert best suited for large families. This recipe can serve a family size of six, with seconds!
What You'll Need:
- 1 - 5 oz. box of instant French vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups milk (Whole, almond, oat)
- 1 - 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
- 1 - 8 oz. package of honey pecan cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 - 12 oz. container of frozen whipped cream
- 6-8 bananas, sliced
- 2 bags of vanilla wafers
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Supplies:
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 large casserole dish/dessert bowl
- Whisk/blender
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer or whisk.
- Next, add the cream cheese, condensed milk, and cinnamon to the same bowl and mix until smooth.
- Lastly, fold the whipped topping into the mixture until smooth.
- Layer your dessert dish with pudding mixture, then bananas and wafer until you reach the top.
- Add chopped pecans. Let cool for up to an hour.
Homemade Sweet Potato Thanksgiving Pie
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Sweet Potato Pie Truffles
Who doesn’t love holiday leftovers? You can turn last night's dessert into a sweet family treat! “This desert is perfect for those who have kids. It’s a simple, fun recipe that can be a great family activity,” says Chef D. Arthur.
What You'll Need:
- 5 large slices of sweet potato pie
- 1 cup of dark unsweetened chocolate chips, add more if necessary
- Finely chopped walnuts (optional)
Supplies:
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 microwavable bowl for chocolate
- Wax paper
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, mash sweet potato pie slices.
- Take 2 tablespoons of sweet potato mixture and form into a ball. Repeat until all of the mixture has been used. The sweet potato balls should look like meatballs.
- Once done, set aside on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.
- Freeze balls for 10-15 minutes until they harden.
- In a medium glass bowl, melt chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 seconds.
- Coat each sweet potato ball in chocolate using two spoons or your hands (with gloves). Cover the entire ball with chocolate and sit on parchment paper. Adding finely chopped walnuts to the outside of your balls is optional.
- Refrigerate for an hour and serve.
Blackened Green Beans
Green beans are a staple at any significant dinner party. Blackened green beans might be the trick if you want to eat healthy, but still enjoy a little flavor! Chef. D Arthur says, “This recipe is healthy but extra flavorful, and you’re not overboiling the nutrients.”
What You'll Need:
- 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
- 1/2 medium purple onion, sliced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 pound of fresh green beans, trimmed
- Blackened or cajun seasoning (to taste)
Supplies:
- Medium-sized spot
- Large skillet, preferably cast iron
- Colander (strainer)
- Large bowl with ice water
Instructions:
- Bring water to boil on medium-high heat in a large pot filled with 60% water.
- In batches, boil green beans for 1-2 minutes. Remove and place in ice water.
- Remove green beans from ice water and drain until completely dry.
- Add cooking oil to bast iron or large skillet on medium-high heat.
- Add green beans, peppers, onions, and blackened/cajun seasoning. Cook until green beans are tender with a slight crunch. It should take 3-4 minutes.
- Stir often to ensure all green beans are coated in seasoning. Cook in batches if necessary.
Turkey Dinner
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Easy Turkey And Dumplings
Leftover turkey is arguably one of the best things about Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners; however, there’s only so much turkey one person can take. Chef D. Arthur reminds us, “There is so much you can do with leftover turkey, and this is just one of those ways to spice it up.”
What You'll Need:
- 2 cups of shredded turkey, bones, and skin discarded
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped or 1 cup of shredded carrots
- 3 celery ribs, chopped
- 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
- 1 can refrigerated biscuits, 8-count
- 3 tablespoons of cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon of cajun seasoning
- 1 - 32 oz. chicken broth/stock
- 1 - 10.75 oz. can of cream of chicken soup
- 1 teaspoon of poultry seasoning
- Sea salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
Supplies:
- 1 large pot or Dutch oven
- 1 cutting board
- 1 chef's knife
- Rolling pin (optional)
- 1 large stirring spoon
- 1 medium-sized mixing bowl
Instructions:
- Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil on medium-high heat in a Dutch oven or large pot.
- Add shredded turkey and cajun seasoning. Cook until warm and remove from pot.
- Add the remaining tablespoons of cooking oil and add onions, carrots, and celery. Cook vegetables until tender for 2-3 minutes.
- Mix in garlic. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add turkey, chicken broth, cream of chicken, and poultry seasoning. Bring to a simmer.
- Once simmering, reduce heat to medium. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Stretch or roll each pre-made biscuit until thin, then cut into fours. Roll each fourth into a small round ball (dumpling style). Adding salt, pepper, or fresh herbs to each dumpling to taste is optional.
- Add dumplings to the turkey mixture, one at a time. Be careful not to overcrowd the pot. Let simmer and thicken for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally with the back end of the stirring spoon. Add some water or broth to loosen if your mixture gets too thick.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.
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Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
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Serena Williams Hits Back At Skin-Bleaching Accusations: 'I’m A Dark, Black Woman, And I Love Who I Am'
Serena Williams is clapping back at skin-bleaching accusations. During a makeup tutorial for her beauty brand, Wyn Beauty, the tennis legend took the opportunity to address the "haters."
“And then I put just that neutral color, that is actually my skin color, and no, for you haters out there, I do not bleach my skin,” she said. “There is a thing called sunlight, and in that sunlight, you get different colors.”
The rumors started after the mom of two posted a video of herself and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, at their daughter's school play. In the video, she appeared to look a few shades lighter. During her response, she revealed that she was volunteering at the play and wore stage makeup.
“Yes, I’m calling you out on this because it is ridiculous that everyone’s like, ‘Oh, she bleached her skin,’" she said. "I’m a dark, Black woman, and I love who I am, and I love how I look and that's just not my thing.”
The 23-time Grand Slam champion also said that she doesn't judge anyone who bleaches their skin as she "stays in my lane."
Serena has always had style on and off the court, and even collaborated with Nike with her own collection Serena Williams Design Crew. However, the tennis champ has now pivoted into beauty.
Wyn Beauty was launched in April 2024 with at 10-piece collection of lip, eye, and complexion products. The brand was inspired by Serena's time on the court and the packaging is reminiscent of a tennis ball due to its chartreuse color.
“Throughout my career, I was always searching for makeup that looked good after hours on the court, mixing products myself and creating my own formulas while traveling the world,” she said in a statement. As she continues to make a name for herself in the beauty industry, I'm sure we will see a lot more looks from the tennis star.
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Feature image by Marc Piasecki/WireImage