We’ve been hearing a lot about turkey these days. Though it’s fitting, since the holidays are upon us, it seems the spotlight’s been taken off of chicken. Because cold weather puts us in the mood to cook more than just a Thanksgiving feast, here are some recipes worth celebrating simply because they’re good. Check them out.

ElenasPantry Mango Chicken sounds like tropical paradise on a plate. With so much flavor, you’ll convince even the red meat eaters that this is a savory dish worth making again and again. It’s lean and filling. Meals like this make our job easier, they’re perfect with a simple side of rice!

You’ve heard of chicken pot pie, but how about KMad’s Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas! This is a perfect example of a savory empanada done right. Don’t have room in the fridge for a large platter? These hand pies will fit anywhere in the fridge.

No need to order take-out this weekend, now that you’ve got bsherill’s Sweet, Sour and Spicy Orange Chicken with Broccoli and Cashews. What makes a stir fry? The sauce! Bsherill makes hers from scratch and, thankfully, she shared her recipe with us.

Spicy, sweet and fragrant… gingerbread is one of those desserts that completes the holidays. Classic gingerbread recipes can be found most anywhere, but how about a gingerbread cake? And what if you want to construct your own gingerbread house completely from scratch this year? You can, read on and we’ll tell you how.

Mr. Orph has a recipe that reminds me of warm summer days and cold chilly nights by the fireplace. An oxymoron? It may sound like it, but it’s pure genius in his Pineapple Upside Down Gingerbread Cake.

What about that gingerbread house we were talking about? ArmySister’s Gingerbread House recipe comes with all the instructions you’ll need to construct your one-of-a-kind edible creation. This is a treat kids love putting together and kids of all ages love to eat!

How do you like your gingerbread cookies? Marthamoo’s recipe for Thick and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies caught my attention because that’s exactly how I like ‘em. Well, I like them spicy too; her recipe includes a full tablespoon of ginger, so I think these cookies have that kick I look for in a ginger cookie.

If your mouth still isn’t watering, check out Carla’s Gingerbread Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Pistachios or Cbrendel’s Streusel Gingerbread.

Who wants to spend the holidays waiting in long lines or getting paper cuts from wrapping so many presents? Sometimes we get so caught up in all of the festivities that we forget to stop and appreciate the sweet and simple things… like homemade gifts, particularly the edible ones.

I like what InspiredBites has to say when she talks about her Almond-Cardamom Christmas Cookies. Her idea of a great holiday gift? A Christmas cookie basket.

Fruit cake! It can be a good thing, especially if you need to provide gifts for a crowd. Joan’s Fruit Cake Cups by Mama come in the perfect gift-giving size. Consider giving these away as party favors this holiday season; take a look at her tasty recipe!

Though it’s hard to believe, not everyone has a sweet tooth as big as mine! But that doesn’t mean those folks won’t appreciate a gift made from pantry ingredients. VickiCarlson posted a recipe for Cinnamon Ornaments, you don’t eat these! Instead, you cut them out with cookie cutters and decorate them with puff paint (sounds like the recipe for a new family tradition)!

There are so many more ideas! For instance, you can make marshmallows from scratch, use cookie cutters to cut them out then drench them with chocolate… follow CrissCut’s Chocolate Covered Marshmallow recipe if that sounds tempting. And what about JenniferDube’s Kahlua Gingerbread Cutouts?

Skip the trip to the mall this year and let’s get cookin’, instead!

You won’t be tempted to fall back on fish sticks and frozen pizzas when you take a look at these healthy and tasty options for a filling family dinner. So you’ve got a finicky crowd to feed and only so much time to cook. Make one meal that’ll take everyone by surprise, in a good way. Let’s just say that no one will be asking for ketchup or barbecue sauce, they’ll actually like what they’re tasting!

Let’s start with a category that doesn’t get the attention it deserves, especially where family dinners are concerned: vegetarian food! RockNRollJane says her Lentil Tacos are so good, you won’t even miss the beef. This is also an affordable meal, RockNRollJane says that with a bag of lentils you can feed a family for under $1!

How about an old favorite that most folks love? Lasagna with a twist… or a sombrero? Try Ktbnkr’s Mexican Lasagna. Easy and fun to make? That’s what she says about it. And if you’re looking for another mexican classic, try Mytastytreasures’ Arroz con Pollo.

What about breakfast? Tired of the same old bowl of sugary cereal? Plan ahead, just a little :). Bsherrill’s Freezer Breakfast Burritos are great for taking on the bus, in the car, or even munching on during a quick break. Just warm ‘em up and they’ll fill you up in no time!

Let’s not forget about the casserole, a well-known American family meal that should have its own section on a food pyramid ;)! Well, maybe not… but you might think so after trying MelissaWelch’s Hearty Chicken and Noodle Casserole.

Milk, butter (and lots of it), salt, pepper, boiled potatoes… do you have these key ingredients on hand for today’s post? They’re the basics needed to whip, mix or mash up a creamy bowl of mashed potatoes. But what’s the special something in your bowl of mashed potatoes?

Baker2lm brings an unconventional ingredient to the mix with her Baked Mashed Potatoes with Parmesan Cheese and Bread Crumbs. The bread crumbs caught my attention. I love baking mashed potatoes after cooking them on the stove, all for that golden crust… I have a feeling the bread crumbs add a bit more color and crunch, though.

Cdrier’s Kicked up Bacon-Cheese Mashed Potatoes certainly wouldn’t last very long at my house. I don’t know if we can call bacon the secret ingredient in this tasty recipe :). I have a feeling everyone will know what’s cookin’ as soon as it starts to crisp up in the pan! These mashed potatoes are cheesy and buttery, too.

Stuart suggests that you can even dress up mashed potatoes, in his recipe for Elegant Mashed Potatoes with Blue Cheese. Sour cream is an ingredient I don’t hear enough about in mashed potato recipes!

What other savory ingredients should I add to my next batch of mashed potatoes?

The sugar cookie is the definition of a classic holiday cookie. Whether you prefer yours frosted or not, we’ve got so many different sugar cookie recipes, you’re bound to find the perfect one for you! Tired of vanilla flavored and orange zested cookies? You’ve come to the right place.

How about something that’s a cross between a gingerbread cookie and a sugar cookie? We’re talking about TankHolmes’ Molasses Sugar Cookies. If you’re a soft and chewy sugar cookie fan, you’ll love these. Molasses, like honey, makes cookies soft and malleable… and with all the spices, even the neighbors will be drooling over these cookies.

Angelie’s got a recipe for those on special diets. Can’t eat dairy or eggs? You can still enjoy a cookie or two with santa this year, thanks to Angelie’s Dairy and Egg Free Sugar Cookie recipe. Need a gluten-free option? Try Tallmisto’s Gluten-Free Lemon Cookies.

Chocolate isn’t just for Valentine’s Day. Try howtoeatacupcakedotnet’s Giant Chocolate Sugar Cookies. And why does it have to be all about the plain ol’ sugar cookie, especially when bsherill’s Brown Sugar Cookies are on the holiday cookie tray!

Don’t forget the frosting. lwilkosz’s Icing for Cut-Out Sugar Cookies will work on each one of these cookies… unless you eat them all before making the frosting! :)

Happy Holiday Baking! Don’t forget about our Demy Holiday Recipe Contest!