Our favorite holiday and entertaining dishes: appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts

Apple, Cheddar and cranberry turkey meatball appetizer bites

Apple (or pear) tart, quick and easy

Apple raisin walnut spice muffins

Asian turkey and cabbage empanadas with spicy dipping sauce

Asparagus wonton wraps

Bacon guacamole

Black bean and sweet potato stew

Basil ricotta bruschetta with pan-burst grapes

Basque chicken with bell pepper and tomato

Brigadeiros (Brazilian chocolate truffles)

Broccoli and cauliflower sformatino

Broccoli, Cheddar and mashed potato quiche

Broccoli slaw salad with cranberries, almonds and yogurt dressing

Caribbean chicken curry with butternut squash and red bell pepper

Caribbean gingerbread

Cheddar cheese biscuits

Chicken and spaghetti squash casserole with bell peppers, olives and cheese

Chicken marbella

Chicken tagine with prunes and almonds

Chocolate and hazelnut dipped strawberries

Chocolate sour cream cake

Cioppino

Cod cakes with red pepper, tarragon and yogurt remoulade

Cornbread stuffing with sausage and raisins

Couscous with orange and dried fruit

Cuban shrimp in savory sauce

Deviled eggs

Dulce de leche milhojas

Espresso chocolate custard cups

Fennel, pear and olive salad

Ginger spice mixed nuts

Greek hummus with white beans and feta

Grilled beef teriyaki skewers with ramps (or scallions)

Grilled sesame-lime shrimp and cucumber skewers

Grilled vegetable and goat cheese puff pastry tart with zucchini, mushrooms, peppers and onions)

Herb dressing with figs and pine nuts

Hot or mild Italian turkey sausage meatballs with fennel-mustard dipping sauce

Irish soda bread muffins

Jambalaya

Leek moussaka

Lemon caper deviled eggs

Lemon poppyseed cake with lemonade glaze

Lemons stuffed with sherbet

Lentil and goat cheese stuffed baby potato appetizers

Lobster, corn and basil quiche

Maple cinnamon matzoh brei

Marinated olives with garlic, pepper, orange and mint

Mediterranean beef brisket

Mixed berry clafoutis

Moqueca (Brazilian fish stew)

Mushroom and asparagus paella

My mom's circa-1960 chicken and rice casserole (in the slow cooker)

No-bake pesto cheese phyllo bites

Old fashioned apple pie

Old-fashioned slow cooker pot roast with gravy

Pie-Ella

Polenta with wild mushroom ragout

Pomegranate-orange-ginger shrimp

"Poor little eggplants"

Pressure cooker shrimp and asparagus risotto with mushrooms

Pumpkin "hummus"

Red curry shrimp dumplings

Roasted or grilled shrimp in beer marinade

Roasted winter squash with cranberries, pepitas and honey-lime vinaigrette

Rum raisin pear pie

Salmon and quinoa patties with lemon-yogurt sauce

Salmon croquettes with sesame-lime sauce

Salmon tagine with chermoula

Salsa and shrimp stuffed avocado

Seafood stew with tomatoes, peppers, fennel and leeks

Shredded Brussels sprouts salad with dried blueberries, pecans, and maple-miso dressing

Shrimp etouffee

Shrimp, lemon, herb and feta macaroni and cheese

Shrimp picadillo

Shrimp with Meyer lemon-dill dipping sauce

Shrimp with tarragon and yogurt sauce

Slow cooker beef brisket with pomegranate molasses gravy

Slow cooker poached pears in caramel sauce

Slow cooker turkey breast stuffed with ricotta, tomato and basil

Slow cooker turkey breast stuffed with wild rice and cranberries

Slow cooker white bean, garlic and olive spread or dip

Slow-roasted tomato macaroni and cheese

Smoked salmon bagel with wasabi herb cream cheese

Sophie's noodle kugel

Spanish chicken with saffron and green olives

Spiced lentils with squash and raisins

Spinach, golden raisin and parmesan tart

Spinach salad with glazed beets and blue cheese

Squash walnut wheat muffins

Steamed baby bok choy with spicy hoisin glaze

Sugar-free slow cooker cranberry sauce

Summer sangria

Sweet Rhode Island coffee-dunked turkey appetizer meatballs (slow cooker)

Tandoori spiced grilled lamb

Tarragon and roasted red pepper deviled eggs

Three mushroom risotto

Tortilla Española

Traditional New England crab cakes

Turkey and cheese in puff pastry

Turkey meatloaf and fig gravy

Vegetable paella with spicy garlic sauce

Vegetarian Cuban canapes

Warm salad of kamut, cranberries and feta

Zanzibar tandoori grilled turkey breast

Zucchini with golden raisins, pine nuts and lemon