Best of Great Lakes Bay

We asked our readers in a social media poll for their thoughts on the holiday food traditions they can’t live without.

Casseroles

From green bean to sweet or cheesy potatoes, our readers were all about dishing up a good ol’ casserole for holiday celebrations. A casserole is loosely defined as not only a vessel to serve food in but a group of ingredients combined to create a meal and baked in one container. Does that mean lasagna is actually a casserole? We learn something new every day.

Dessert Salad

Heavenly hash, aka ambrosia salad — rice, whipped cream, pineapple, maraschino cherries and pastel colored mini marshmallow — has adorned many a holiday table. We often see this laid out with the main courses on our table, not with the pies and cookies. This begs the question: Is it a dessert or a salad? Friends, when it comes to food, it is whatever you want it to be.

Baked Ham

There’s nothing like a spiral-sliced ham, glazed and and served with your favorite sides. The best thing about ham is its versatility. You can do so much with what is leftover, from sandwiches to adding it to bean soup, topping a pizza or mixing into an omellette. Buying a ham may seem a little costly at first, but the savings add up when you can make a few meals out of it.

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED

Remember to include supporting local restaurants in your holiday plans – you can support them during this time by buying gift cards or creating new food traditions.