Our audience’s recipes could inspire your next holiday meal: NPR

Stu Haley, Maureen O’Reilly, Lisa Hovis and Miriam Armendariz/Collage by NPR

Stu Haley, Maureen O’Reilly, Lisa Hovis and Miriam Armendariz/Collage by NPR

All Things We’re Cooking is a series featuring cooking gems from you, our readers and listeners, and the special stories behind them. We will continue to share more of your recipes throughout the holidays.

When making Thanksgiving dressing, Grandma Monnette had a simple rule

Rather than stuffing the turkey, Rebecca Monnette made dressing balls with a few simple ingredients that cook safely outside of the bird. His grandson carries on the tradition.

She loved mom’s picadillo but never got the recipe. TikTok pushed her to get creative

Miriam Armendariz Piccolo/Collage by NPR

After the death of her mother, thanks to the advice of her aunts, Miriam Piccolo recreated a dish that resembles her. Coming home from school to this meal meant that her mother had thought of her.

Friends and family flip these krumkake cookies

Lisa Hovis/Collage by NPR

Lisa Hovis/Collage by NPR

Lisa Hovis learned to make these traditional Norwegian cookies by baking alongside her grandmother. The recipe and the good memories remain.

The ‘human cannonball’ is gone, but his lasagna recipe lives on

Jennifer Wright/Collage by NPR

Jennifer Wright/Collage by NPR

A circus performer known for being shot from a cannon enjoyed cooking dinner for the people he worked with. One of them still makes his inspired lasagna today, and it contains some surprising ingredients.

It took clever thinking to write a recipe for this family favorite Irish soda bread

Maureen O’Reilly/Collage by NPR

Maureen O’Reilly/Collage by NPR

Maureen O’Reilly wanted to make the treat for her husband, but first she had to watch her grandmother make it – and measure each ingredient rather than just watch it.

Husband’s love for crispy prosciutto turned a casserole of green beans

Becky Ellis/Collage by NPR

Becky Ellis/Collage by NPR

Parmesan cheese and panko breadcrumbs complete this dish. Don’t expect cream of mushroom soup or fried onions in this twist on a traditional recipe.

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

All Things We’re Cooking is a series highlighting family recipes that hold special meaning to you, our readers and listeners. Earlier this year, we asked you to share your favorite recipes and explain why these dishes evoke such fond family memories. Working with NPR member stations, we received responses from across the country. We’ve interviewed some backers and will continue to share their stories throughout the holiday season. All recipes and photos were provided by NPR audience members.

CREDITS
Reporting by Wynne Davis, with Isabella Gomez Sarmiento and Maison Tran
Editing by Desiree F. Hicks and Pam Webster
Design and art direction by Daniel Wood, Emily Bogle, Kaz Fantone and Alyson Hurt
Development by Daniel Wood
Project management by Caroline Kelly
Social Media Engagement by Matt Adams
Audio versions of the stories produced by Rose Friedman and Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, with assistance from Maison Tran
Additional editing by Gerry Holmes, Nicholas Charles and Neda Ulaby
NPR Member Station Collaboration by Franklyn Cater