The heart of entertaining season is upon us, so I thought I’d go hot and heavy with tips, tricks and recipes this week! If you’re planning on hosting over the holidays I know feeding the crowds can be stressful. We’ve been trying to finalize our Christmas menu in the hopes of creating some fun new traditions for Carter to enjoy every year. We’re blending a little bit of the husband’s childhood with mine as well as adding in a few new ideas for good measure.

This Glazed Beet Salad recipe cooked up by our food contributor Zoe is definitely going to make the Christmas dinner cut. More interesting than standard roasted vegetables, but more festive than a plain old bowl of greens, I think this will be a delicious way to get veggies on our holiday table. I’ll just have to put down a tarp – red beet juice + baby is likely to be a dangerous combination. I’ll be sure to share the results with you on Snapchat!

RECIPE: Glazed Beet Salad (Serves 4 as a side)

INGREDIENTS: 
5 beets with greens (mixture of golden and red)
1 bunch Swiss chard
3 Tbsp butter
1 shallot
Salt
Fresh black pepper
4 Tbsp Muscadet
2 Tbsp water
4 Tbsp crumbled goat cheese (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Scrub and peel the beets. Remove the greens and chop coarsely. Set the greens aside in a large prep bowl. Slice beets into 1/4 inch rounds.

2. Remove the ribs from the swiss chard and coarsely chop and toss into bowl with the beet greens.

3. In a large sautee pan, melt butter and sautee shallots.

4. Add beet rounds to the shallot butter mixture. Crack pepper over the beets and a pinch of salt. Reduce heat and sautee beets, turning over to ensure even cooking.

5. About 15 minutes later when beets are begnning to glaze and become tender, add greens and chard. Sautee for about 5 minutes, then add wine and cover. Cook until greens are wilted, allow liquid to be mostly absorbed into greens, adjust seasonings.

6. Scoop greens and beets into a low shallow bowl. Garnish with a goat cheese crumbles and black pepper.

Enjoy!

What dishes grace your holiday table?? Would love any suggestions you might have. For more inspiration you can find all my favorite holiday recipe ideas HERE.

recipe & styling by zoe ambruster for apartment 34

photography by Madelene Farin