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12 easy and elegant dinner ideas, perfect for your holiday entertaining. Make them ahead of time and enjoy your guests!
Entertaining, even during the holidays, doesn't have to be difficult! We've rounded up some of our favorite dinner party-worthy recipes. Not only are these recipes delicious but you can prep them earlier in the day, relieving all the last-minute stress.
From cozy stews and risotto to classic French recipes, there is something for every occasion. These recipes would even be great for Christmas dinner. They are tried and true recipes that our family loves and we hope you will too. Enjoy!
Beef Bourguinon Meatballs (Boulettes de BĹ“uf Bourguignon)
Want to feel a little fancy without breaking the bank or spending hours in the kitchen? These make-ahead Beef Bourguinon Meatballs are outrageously delicious, work well for entertaining and will make an ordinary day quite special!
No-Fuss Butternut Squash Risotto with Italian Roasted Shrimp
A delicious fall comfort dish, this Butternut Squash Risotto with Italian Roasted Shrimp can be prepped ahead and uses the magic of the oven for perfectly cooked risotto and shrimp without all the fuss! A fabulous meal for entertaining or to enjoy near a cozy fire!
Easy, Make-Ahead Parisian Coq au Vin (with boneless chicken breasts)
Much easier than traditional Coq au Vin but just as delicious, the magical tenderizing trick results in amazingly tender chicken. It's a fabulous, make-ahead dish that's perfect for entertaining or an easy weeknight treat.
Braised Pork Shoulder Pozole (Pozole Rojo)
A rich, brothy chili-tomato stew with tender pork shoulder, hominy corn, and roasted red peppers, this Braised Pork Shoulder Pozole, served with an assortment of garnishes, is always a huge hit!
French Mustard Chicken Breasts (Poulet à la Moutarde Française)
This French Mustard Chicken Breasts recipe will make you feel like a fancy chef, but it comes together quickly and can be prepped in advance. You'll want to eat the luxurious mustard sauce like it's soup!
Make-Ahead Homemade Manicotti
This make-ahead, Homemade Manicotti is beyond delicious with an Italian sausage marinara and tender melt-in-your-mouth pasta.
Make-Ahead Chicken Andouille Gumbo
Dinner party-worthy and super flavorful, this Chicken Andouille Gumbo can be made ahead for easy, relaxed (and delicious) entertaining!
Weeknight, Dinner Party Chicken Marsala
This fabulous Chicken Marsala with super tender, pan-seared chicken, caramelized mushrooms and a succulent, silky sauce is a delicious way to make a weeknight special and elegant enough to serve for a fancy dinner party!
Make-Ahead Italian Sausage Puttanesca
This Italian Sausage Puttanesca is a delicious entree for a dinner party, but it's also great for a weeknight meal. It can be made ahead, freezes well and its a big hit with young and old alike!
Brown Butter Tomato Shrimp and Grits
With a creamy, brown butter-tomato-wine sauce, this Shrimp and Grits recipe is easy enough for weeknights but also VERY dinner party-worthy! This fabulous meal in a bowl also features barely cooked fresh cherry tomatoes, sweet, tender shrimp and smoky Andouille sausage served over a bed of white cheddar grits.
Slow Braised Italian Beef Stew
In addition to tender chunks of beef and carrots and a deeply flavored sauce, this Slow Braised Italian Beef Stew also features fire-roasted tomatoes, briny olives, pearl onions and lots of fresh rosemary for a delicious taste of Italy!
Easy Date-Night Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken Breasts
Need a fancy and delicious but easy meal? You can have these delicious Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken Breasts on the table in 30 minutes, start to finish!
Thought for the day:
 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree
that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. Â
 And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,
to Bethlehem the town of David,
because he belonged to the house and line of David.Â
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to himÂ
and was expecting a child.
 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,Â
 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,
because there was no guest room available for them.
Luke 2:1-7
What we're listening to for inspiration:
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