It’s Time to Celebrate! Four Home Cooking Menus for Hanukkah, Christmas, and the Holiday Season
It’s Time to Celebrate! Four Home Cooking Menus for Hanukkah, Christmas, and the Holiday Season  
Podcast: Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy
Published On: Tue Dec 09 2025
Description: Are you trying to decide what to cook for the holidays this year? Whether you're hosting or attending a family or friends gathering, if you’re craving a delicious December, this week we’re sharing four menus to make your holiday planning and cooking more peaceful and joyful. By the end of this episode, you’ll:Discover four menus for Hanukkah, Christmas, and the holiday season that reduce decision fatigue and support celebrating in a way that matches your real life, not a picture-perfect ideal.Find out about festive make-ahead mains, one-pan latkes, and a wide range of easy vegetable sidesLearn our go-to kid-friendly desserts, like our must-make chocolate-covered orangesListen now to take the pressure off your holiday cooking and step into a December that feels calmer, clearer, and deliciously doable!***This episode is sponsored by Mill – the odorless, effortless, automated food recycler.This time of year, we’re doing more cooking and hosting, which also means creating more food scraps. We love that with Mill, all those peels, bones, and bits don’t go to waste. You just toss them in, and overnight it quietly transforms everything into dry grounds. You can use them in your garden, add to compost, or schedule them to be picked-up and shared with farms. Mill is the easiest way to prevent food waste at home. It’s one small action that makes a big difference for your kitchen, your family, and the planet. Add Mill to your wish list or gift one now and get $75 Off with code FRIENDS!You can learn more at mill.com/foodfriends. ***LinksSonya’s Hanukkah Party Menu:Sheetpan latke board Adeena SussmanSocca pancakes by David Leibovitz, with romesco sauce from Love & LemonsSpinach, grapefruit, avocado salad with sesame vinaigrette from Food & WineIce cream with olive oil and dates by Ali Slagle for NYT Cooking (unlocked)Sonya’s ponchiki (little farmers cheese donuts)Kari’s Intimate Hanukkah Dinner Party:Make-ahead latkes, reheat for several serving on several boards with classic toppingsLeafy herby salad by Alison RomanRoasted chicken drumsticks from Healthy Recipes BlogMac will make Sonya’s chocolate dipped cara cara’s Boozy pear cake based on French apple cake by Jennifer Segal from Once Upon a ChefPurchased black and white cookies from Bea’s Bakery in Los AngelesSonya’s Sunday Roast-Inspired Holiday Menu:Cauliflower cheese from Recipe Tin EatsYorkshire pudding you can bake in muffin tins (popovers) from Alexandra CooksLamb chops from Alexandra Cooks, or sausages for more affordable option, British roast potatoes from Jam Jar Kitchen Peas and beans with chili and mint by Jamie OliverYotam Ottolenghi’s roasted carrot with harissa and pomegranate seeds from The Happy FoodieNigella Lawson’s sticky toffee puddingKari’s Make-Ahead Friendly Christmas Dinner:Vermouth-braised short ribs by Melissa Clark for NYT Cooking (unlocked) Potato pavé with parmesan crust by Alexa Wiebel for NYT Cooking (unlocked)Easy roasted carrots with crispy kale by Yosi Arefi for NYT Cooking (unlocked) Sonya’s pampushky (garlicky herb rolls)Profiteroles from Recipe Tin Eats, filled with ice cream ***Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. You can also now find us on YouTube. We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!Looking for an in-person Food Friends experience? Book a farmers’ market tour with Sonya in Portland, OR!