Holiday Decor and Christmas Recipes from the Garden

The holidays are approaching, and it will feel different if your decor and dinner come straight from the garden you tended all year. After years of winter harvests and festive recipes, I’ve learned it’s the homemade touches that make us linger at the table and enjoy the spirit of Christmas. Here are my tips for making festive decor, centerpieces, and dishes that show love straight from your backyard. 

Herb-Infused Centerpieces

Turn kitchen herbs into stars on the Christmas table. I bundle rosemary, thyme, and sage from the windowsill pots that are still going strong in winter, with twine around candles or in mason jars. One Christmas I tucked dried lavender from the summer into pinecone clusters; turning my home into a rustic haven that smelled like a spa. Add crabapples or rosehips for dashes of red. 

Evergreen Wreaths

Nothing says Christmas like a fresh wreath that smells like pine. I snip branches from my cedar, pine, and fir trees—hand-sized bunches work best. Grab a wire wreath form or twist grapevine into a circle, then layer the greens overlapping like roof shingles, tying with floral wire. Hang it on your door through the new year. Mist it daily if indoors, or let the cold preserve it outside, pure holiday scent included. 

Rosemary Garlic Roasted Veggies

Winter garden carrots and Brussels sprouts shine roasted. Pull ‘Napoli’ carrots and ‘Diablo’ sprouts, toss with olive oil, homegrown rosemary sprigs, and garlic cloves. Roast at 425°F until caramelized, after about 30 minutes. I served this last holiday; the rosemary aroma filled the house, and the sprouts turned nutty-sweet. Pair the leftovers with turkey or ham for more savory treats. 

Kale and Cranberry Stuffing

Kale from the garden simply refuses to quit in winter. Chop ‘Winterbor’ leaves fine, sauté with onions, mix into bread cubes with broth, dried cranberries, and thyme. Bake covered for 30 minutes, and uncover for a crisp topping. Kale adds earthiness that beats plain stuffing, and cranberries scream festive treat for the whole family. 

Sage Butter Mashed Potatoes

Mash your potatoes stored from fall with garden sage, and fry them in butter until they turn crispy. Boil spuds, mash with the sage butter, and add in milk and salt. Simple, comforting flavors that always have folks asking for seconds. Pure Christmas delight.

Brussels Sprout Slaw

Shave raw sprouts thin, toss them with shredded carrots, apple slices, pecans, and a honey-mustard dressing. Frost makes sprouts milder; and this crunchy slaw mix cuts through rich mains. I prepped it ahead last Christmas, and it vanished from the table in no time. 

Tie it all together with what you have; and let your garden harvest give it real flavors. Use these ideas to turn winter beds into holiday garden gold—fresh and full of memories. Loved ones at the table will be singing your praises!