Winter Recipes Archives - Cooking with Cassandra

The Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Introducing my absolute favorite mashed potatoes recipe! When it comes to comfort food, this truly is the best creamy mashed potatoes recipe you’ll ever try. These homemade potatoes are rich, buttery, packed with flavor, and incredibly easy to make. Whether served at a holiday feast or a casual family dinner, they’re always a hit. What makes these mashed potatoes so special? Yukon Gold mashed potatoes are naturally creamy and buttery, and when paired with garlic, cream cheese, whipping cream, and a touch of sea salt, the flavor is out of this world! The cream cheese adds a tangy twist,...

The Best Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing

Introducing truly the best sugar cookie recipe! These soft and festive Christmas sugar cookies are perfect for holiday baking and a must-have in your seasonal collection. My simple cut-out cookies come together quickly and are ideal for decorating with your favorite icing designs. One of the best parts? No chill time is needed! Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth, and quick to make, this cookie dough has become a go-to for me and my family. This guide will show you how to make cookies that stay soft, hold their shape, and have a beautiful, shiny icing. Grab your favorite cookie cutters and enjoy...

Best Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Recipe

Do you love lasagna? I’ve tried it all from homemade, at my favorite Italian spots, and even the frozen kind from the grocery store. Each one of those experiences has given me the joy of eating comfort food which is just so flavorful and rich. But I love lasagna so much that I tend to overdo it! Is that just me, or can anyone else relate? So, when I discovered the idea of using spaghetti squash to make lasagna, I was excited to try it out. I’m here to prove that comfort food can be both cheesy and healthy! That’s exactly why I created one of my all-time favorites: Spaghetti Squash...

The Best Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

You're going to love this pumpkin cake as much as I do! It's a super moist, single-layer pumpkin cake with the creamiest cream cheese frosting—perfect for fall gatherings like Thanksgiving or a cozy weekend at home. The pumpkin makes the cake irresistibly soft and gives it that gorgeous orange glow. And then there’s the frosting—oh, that frosting that’s so irresistible I could eat it straight from the spoon! I’ve made this cake four times this month, and trust me, it’s that good. This recipe is foolproof, easy to whip up, and packed with real pumpkin flavor without being overwhelmed by...

Best Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe

Classic Stuffing | cookingwithcassandra.com

Discover how easy it is to put together a delicious, warm stuffing, that you’ll never go back to the boxed kind. Yes, prepackaged stuffing tastes fine and is an absolute breeze to cook, but there is no comparison once you try making this homemade version. There's something so special about home-cooked meals— nothing beats the comfort of making it yourself. Whether it's a cozy favorite like mac and cheese or your own twist on a classic dish like my turmeric ginger chicken noodle soup, the flavors are just better at home. Sometimes, they even bring back nostalgic childhood memories!...

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Noodle Soup Recipe | cookingwithcassandra.com

There’s nothing better than curling up with a comforting bowl of this one-pot turmeric ginger chicken noodle soup, which delivers on both flavor and nourishment. The power combo of ginger and turmeric is nature’s way of soothing colds and upset tummies, making this the perfect go-to when you're feeling under the weather. Packed with chicken, veggies, and egg noodles, every bite is hearty and satisfying—no more empty spoonfuls of just broth! I’m going to be repeating this recipe, along with my old-fashioned beef stew, all winter long. These are two meals I love to make in big batches,...

Old Fashioned Beef Stew Recipe

Beef Stew Recipe | cookingwithcassandra.com

I LOVE a good stew. They are the ultimate comfort food (followed by a cheesy hash brown casserole). They fill up your belly with food and your heart with warmth. There are so many variations of stew that are downright delicious: Japanese curry, goulash, and old-fashioned beef stew, which is today’s recipe. In January, when it’s freezing cold in Winnipeg, cooking up a batch of stew is an instant cure to get rid of the winter blues. Alright, maybe not an instant cure per se… there’s a wait time of 3 hours before you can dig in. But you know what I mean: it’s a lifesaver in our cold...

BEST Baked Mac and Cheese

Okay, I’m not going to reinvent the wheel with classic comfort food that everyone can agree on: mac and cheese. I used to love these as a kid and even more when I moved out on my own and was learning how to cook. There was always a box of mac and cheese in the pantry ready to go for a quick nostalgic meal. But if, like me, you’re ready to graduate from boxed foods and cook your own killer mac and cheese from scratch, read on! This recipe is loaded with secret tips and tricks to make a truly the best homemade macaroni and cheese, a recipe so easy and so delicious you will never go back to...

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

This twice-baked potato casserole is probably one of the best things I’ve made with potatoes, aside from this hashbrown casserole. Enclosed in a layer of melted cheese and bacon are fluffy, baked potatoes loaded with sour cream, savory cheese, and more bacon! If you’re looking for comfort food, this is a sure win. But, let’s talk about ingredients for a moment. If you’re going to make a potato casserole, you’ve got to get the right potatoes for the job. For this twice-baked potato casserole recipe, we want to use Yukon Gold potatoes, which have a good balance of starch content...

Juicy Pork Tenderloin

Pork Tenderloin sliced | cookingwithcassandra.com

Pork tenderloin is one of those dishes that never fails to impress, whether you're cooking for a special occasion or simply looking to create a delicious meal for two. It's a versatile cut of meat that can be cooked in a variety of ways, from pan-seared to roasted, and can be paired with a range of flavors and ingredients. In this recipe, I’ll show you how to prepare a mouth-watering baked pork tenderloin that's tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. This dish is perfect for a romantic dinner with your significant other or for any occasion where you want to show your...

Easy Pasta Bake (No Boiling Required!)

Last Friday, Walt and I hosted a get-together at our place with our circle of friends. Think geeky board games, wine, delicious food and the end of the night (after a few glasses of wine) Kareoke! After our recent trip to Italy Walt and I couldn't stop dreaming about pasta. I mean, who can blame us, right? When we got back I had a girls night and in a stroke of brilliance, one of my closest friends Hayley suggested we should give pasta its own special day. Move over Taco Tuesday, because we proudly present... Pasta Friday! Okay, maybe the name doesn't have that catchy ring, but who cares?...

Gingerbread Espresso Martini

Gingerbread Espresso Martini Recipe The perfect holiday entertaining drink! This gingerbread espresso martini is a fun spin on the classic cocktail and the perfect festive cocktail recipe for the holidays! For the Gingerbread Spice2 teaspoon all ground spice2 teaspoon ground cinnamon2 teaspoon ground ginger1 teaspoon ground clove1 teaspoon ground nutmegpinch black pepperFor the Rimcaramel saucebrown sugarFor the Cocktail Shaker4 ounces espresso4 ounces Baileys2 ounces vodka4 teaspoons gingerbread spiceiceTop It Offwhipped cream and espresso beansa sprinkle of the gingerbread spice In a...