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Here at the Gardening Cook , we love to celebrate with holiday decor and food! Each of the holidays is special here on the blog.

Our site has loads of decor ideas, recipes and gardening tips for each season and holiday of the year.

From special cocktails for New Year’s Eve, through to patriotic recipes, spooky Halloween projects and pretty Christmas decor projects, every holiday is so much fun.

These easy projects will dress up your home for the holidays and give your friends some special food treats in no time flat!

Check out these holiday ideas

If you are looking for some ideas for food and decorations for the holidays, one of these ideas may interest you.

This delicious bacon jalapeño cheese bread is soft, buttery, and chock full of the flavors of cream cheese, jalapeño pepper, crispy bacon, and Monterey Jack Cheese.  The easy bread recipe is no-knead and very versatile— it can easily be adjusted to your desired level of spice and can be made into muffins or biscuits. This …

Read More about Bacon Jalapeño Cheese Bread (Easy Savory Quick Bread)

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on Christmas supplies to have pretty holiday gift wrapping. There are loads of ways that you can save money. Some take a bit of time and others just take thinking outside the box. Plus, there are many items that we have around the home that can …

Read More about How to Save Money on Holiday Gift Wrapping – Frugal Gift Wrap Ideas

These tips for poinsettia plant care will ensure your beautiful holiday plant continues to delight you all through the holiday season and into next year.  More poinsettia plants are sold during November and December than the yearly sales of all the other potted plants, other than orchids. There is a good reason for this popularity …

Read More about Poinsettia Plant Care – How to Grow Poinsettias

Would you like a list of winter spices to use in Christmas recipes? This Christmas spices list is for you! Whether your tastes run to prime rib or a home-cooked turkey, knowing which Christmas herbs and spices to use is a must. The smell of a typical holiday dinner is a yearly happening that most of …

Read More about Winter Spices – List of Christmas Spices Plus Best Herbs for Xmas

Christmas cactus care is easy when you provide the right light, water, and soil. This winter-blooming succulent thrives indoors, adding festive color to your home when most plants are dormant. Botanically known as Schlumbergera x buckleyi (formerly S. bridgesii), this holiday cactus features vibrant tubular-shaped flowers. In the Northern Hemisphere, blooms appear in December and January, …

Read More about How to Care for Christmas Cactus (and Keep It Blooming for Years)

Creating a gingerbread house for the holidays is a fun Christmas activity that the whole family can enjoy. These gingerbread house tips will help you build a sturdy house that holds together and looks amazing. From using muffin tins to hold your candy supplies to choosing the best icing, these steps will make building a …

Read More about Gingerbread House Tips: 20+ Tricks for Building (and Decorating) the Perfect Gingerbread House

This peppermint crunch sugar cookie is crunchy and sweet. It’s the perfect cookie to take to your annual cookie swap. The cookies are shaped into balls and baked, dipped in white chocolate, and then decorated with a sprinkle of crushed peppermint sticks. You only need four ingredients to make this easy Christmas cookie recipe, which …

Read More about Sugar Cookies with a Peppermint Crunch Topping

Making a gingerbread house is one of the most fun holiday traditions, and choosing the right candy can really make your holiday house shine. In this guide, we’ll share the best candies for gingerbread houses. You’ll also get decorating ideas to use those candies in creative ways. From colorful roof shingles and whimsical walkways to …

Read More about The Best Candies for Gingerbread Houses (Fun Decorating Ideas!)

This white Christmas fudge recipe has a jewel-like appearance from the red and green cherries embedded in white chocolate. It is the perfect Christmas treat. The recipe is easy to make, even for those with little to no experience in making fudge. Keep reading to learn how to make this white chocolate fudge recipe. Some …

Read More about White Christmas Fudge – Mosaic White Chocolate Fudge Recipe

Christmas cactus propagation is easy with stem cuttings. They root quickly in soil, giving you new plants in just weeks. These step-by-step instructions show how to expand your indoor plant collection or share with friends this holiday season. This guide focuses on soil propagation, the most dependable method for Schlumbergera x buckleyi (formerly Schlumbergera bridgesii). …

Read More about Christmas Cactus Propagation Made Easy: Step-by-Step Guide

These easy appetizer recipes are fun to eat and simple to prepare. My favorite kind of party is one where there are finger foods.  I enjoy this either as the host or as the guest. Easy appetizers are a great way to start your party on the right foot and get your guests in a …

Read More about Easy Appetizer Recipes – Dips – Finger Foods and More!

This recipe for cranberry pecan crostini appetizers is the perfect light bite to start any special gathering of friends. These snacks are nice to serve with drinks before dinner, and they also make a lovely starter to a meal when served on small plates with a light salad. Having a small bite-sized appetizer will start …

Read More about Cranberry Pecan Crostini Appetizers

One of the best ways to make sure that your Thanksgiving dinner is a success is to make a plan, and stay organized. This Thanksgiving menu planner will be a great help. This free printable planner will help you figure out what to cook for your Thanksgiving menu from appetizers to desserts. There is also …

Read More about Thanksgiving Menu Planner – Free Menu Planning Printable

Fall is the time for decorating with Indian corn. These colorful ears of ornamental corn (also known as flint corn and calico corn) have been around for centuries. Indian corn is a natural element that can be used in fall decorations. I especially love the texture that Indian corn adds. Ornamental corn is available in many …

Read More about Decorating with Indian Corn for Thanksgiving – Easy Decor Ideas

Would you like to know the best herbs for roasting turkey? Thanksgiving is coming soon, and a roasted turkey is on many menus. If you are cooking turkey for the first time, you may find yourself asking, “What herbs and spices go with turkey?” You can place a turkey in your oven and roast it …

Read More about Herbs for Roasting Turkey – Best Fall Spices – Grow Thanksgiving Herbs

This no-carve sunflower pumpkin uses the heads of silk sunflowers or any other colorful daisy-like flower to cover the outside of a faux pumpkin. This is a great idea for those of you who do not like the mess of a carved pumpkin. It’s also one that gardeners will love!  Fall is my time of …

Read More about Sunflower Pumpkin – Easy No Carve DIY Thanksgiving Table Decoration

It’s time for a roasted root vegetable medley. This tasty combination is the perfect fall side dish for your Thanksgiving table. Roasting veggies brings out their natural sweetness and makes it a cinch to serve them to kids who cry out, “I don’t like vegetables!” This recipe combines root vegetables so plentiful this time of the …

Read More about Roasted Root Vegetable Medley – Roasting Vegetables in the Oven

These Halloween cross-stitch patterns are a great way for those who love to embroider to celebrate the holidays with their craft. Halloween will soon be here, and that means it’s time to decorate for the holiday. One of the most creative ways to decorate is by making a cross-stitch design.  If this is something you …

Read More about Halloween Cross-Stitch patterns – Crafting Spooky Embroidery Designs

It’s time for Halloween, which means that we get to enjoy all of the Halloween plants this season has to offer. The list includes black plants, creepy flowers, and even smelly and carnivorous plants! The plants associated with Halloween don’t have pretty flowers or foliage. Instead, these evil plants are dark and dreary. They have …

Read More about Halloween Plants – 21 Scary Plants to Set A Spooky Mood

Are you looking for fun ways to decorate for fall? These pumpkin craft ideas are easy to make with basic supplies and deliver impressive results. Many of the projects repurpose household items or call for inexpensive materials, so you can craft without spending a lot. The focus is on decorations you can display quickly for …

Read More about 18 Fun & Easy Pumpkin Craft Ideas for Fall Decorations

This crockpot pumpkin chili is an easy, slow-cooker meal that combines turkey, beans, and pumpkin for a hearty, fall dinner. Start by sautéing onions, garlic, and bell peppers, and then brown the turkey. Add these to the crockpot, stir in beans, pumpkin puree, broth, and spices, and let it cook on low. The slow cooker does the …

Read More about Crockpot Pumpkin Chili – A Must-Try Autumn Recipe

Cranberry stuffed pork loin recipe is an easy way to turn a simple cut of meat into a holiday-worthy main dish. Tender pork, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans create a sweet and savory flavor that makes the dish feel special. To make the recipe, you will butterfly a pork loin, fill it with a quick …

Read More about Cranberry Stuffed Pork Loin with Pecans – A Sweet and Savory Holiday Recipe

Creating a fall door swag is a simple way to update your front door for autumn, especially for doors with oval glass centers. This project uses basic craft supplies and minimal tools, making it easy to put together. The DIY tutorial breaks the process into clear steps, from selecting materials to assembling the swag. You …

Read More about DIY Fall Door Swag Tutorial: A Beautiful Twist on the Classic Autumn Wreath

Create a DIY hurricane candle holder centerpiece that will add a rustic touch to your fall table. This simple project uses easy-to-find materials and quick steps, making it perfect for beginners or budget-friendly decorating. Layer beans, popcorn, and moss, then position a candle safely inside the glass for a polished look. The steps are straightforward, …

Read More about DIY Hurricane Candle Holder Centerpiece – Rustic Fall Table Decor Idea

This adorable  Halloween candy jar DIY is easy to make and adds a festive touch to your home. With just a few materials, you can transform a plain terracotta pot and saucer into a candy corn decoration that is perfect for parties or table displays. This tutorial walks you through each step, from painting the …

Read More about Halloween Candy Jar DIY – Easy Terracotta Candy Corn Craft

From weird and wonderful Halloween cocktail garnishes to fall-inspired layers, to the use of special effects and color changes, learn how to create show-stopping drinks that will both charm and frighten your guests. The best cocktails for Halloween are those that are made by invoking an eerie mood with special effects. There are lots of …

Read More about 20+ Halloween Cocktail Garnishes – Special Effects for Halloween Drinks