Scrambling for holiday hosting ideas? Try these egg-centric snack boards!

Thanks to their beautiful presentation and customizable nature, charcuterie appetizer boards have become a staple at holiday gatherings. This year, why not surprise holiday guests with a fun and delicious twist on the time-tested favourite with the addition of fresh, local, high-quality Canadian eggs?

Egg Farmers of Canada is teaming up with renowned chefs, Chef Lynn Crawford, Chef Josh Gale, Chef Minh Phat, and Chef Craig Flinn, to inspire Canadians to elevate their gatherings with egg-inspired snack boards, perfect for sharing and easy to prepare for all the season’s festivities.

Whether you prefer sweet or savoury or more worldly flavours, eggs are a versatile ingredient that plays an essential role in holiday cooking and baking – and they’re the perfect addition to any themed snack, meal or dessert board. You can find each chef’s recipe, and styling tips attached, including Chef Josh’s Bacon-Wrapped Hard Boiled Eggs with Eggy Hollandaise Dipping Sauce .

The PC Insiders Report holiday edition, which was recently launched, offers additional holiday recipes, products and ideas for easy entertaining. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a novice cook, there’s a recipe for everyone, including:

One-Pan Cauliflower Gnocchi with Double-Smoked Bacon

Serves: 2

Course type: Main course

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Chill time: N/A

Ready in: 45 minutes

Difficulty Level: Easy

Take the work out of making your own gnocchi with our straight-from-Italy PC® Cauliflower Gnocchi. Simply roast the frozen gnocchi on a baking sheet along with smoky bacon and cherry tomatoes, then toss with fresh spinach and Parmesan for an easy, one-pan meal.

Ingredients

Ingredients

2 slices PC® Smoky Bonfire Double-Smoked Bacon

1 pkg (350 g) PC® Cauliflower Gnocchi

1 pkg (255 g) PC® Axiany Cherry Tomatoes

2 cups (500 mL) baby spinach

3 tbsp (45 mL) coarsely shredded Parmesan cheese, divided

1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) black pepper, or to taste

Directions

1. Arrange oven racks in the middle and lower third of oven. Preheat to 400ºF (200ºC). 
2. Place bacon in a single layer in the centre of a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake on lower rack until golden brown and crispy, 12 to 16 minutes. Remove bacon to paper towel-lined plate, leaving any fat on sheet. Cut bacon into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces and set aside. 
3. Toss gnocchi in bacon fat on sheet and then arrange in a single layer. Place tomatoes on baking sheet around gnocchi. Bake on middle rack until gnocchi is lightly browned and heated through, and tomatoes have burst, 30 to 32 minutes. 
4. Stir spinach, 2 tbsp (30 mL) cheese, chopped bacon and black pepper into gnocchi mixture on baking sheet until combined and spinach is slightly wilted. Divide between 2 bowls and sprinkle with remaining 1 tbsp (15 mL) cheese.

Try this: For a finishing touch, try drizzling with PC® Black Label Aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena before serving.

3 Must-Try Toppers for PC® Holiday Burger

It’s not officially the festive season until you’ve had one of the new PC® Holiday Feast Turkey Stuffing Burgers. And this is exactly how you should top it. 

Double-Stuffing Turkey Burgers

1. Split and lightly warm burger buns, then generously spread mayonnaise on both halves.
   
2. Add Boston lettuce to each bottom bun followed by cooked PC® Holiday Feast Turkey Stuffing Burgers.
3. Crumble PC® Cranberry Soft Unripened Goat’s Milk Cheese overtop followed by a handful of PC® World of Flavours Turkey Stuffing Flavour Rippled Potato Chips over each. Sandwich with top buns. 

Turkey Harvest Crunch Burgers

1. Split and lightly toast burger buns, then spread mayonnaise over both halves. 
2. Add cooked PC® Holiday Feast Turkey Stuffing Burgers to bottom buns and top with sliced aged cheddar cheese. 
3. In a bowl, toss PC® Chopped Harvest Crunch Salad Kit with dressing pouch. Add a handful of salad greens to each burger and sandwich with top buns. Serve with remaining salad.

Turkey Burgers with Greens & Cranberry Mayo

1. Stir 2 tbsp (30 mL) PC® Cranberry Orange Sauce into 1/4 cup (60 mL) mayonnaise.
2. Split and toast burger buns, then spread cranberry mayo over both halves.
3. Add cooked PC® Holiday Feast Turkey Stuffing Burgers to each bottom bun followed by a handful of arugula. Sandwich with top buns.

3 Easy Ways to Fill PC® Bao Steamed Buns

Our PC® Bao Steamed Buns are hand-folded and steamed until soft. Now you fill them with all the fixings. Here are three fun ideas to get you started.  

Gochujang-Spiced Chicken & Slaw

Open heated PC® Bao Steamed Buns and fill with PC® Gochujang Sweet & Spicy Chicken Bites (baked and tossed with included sauce), coleslaw mix, sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds (included with Chicken Bites). 

Crispy Shrimp with Peanut SauceOpen heated PC® Bao Steamed Buns and fill with baked PC® Breaded Butterflied Shrimp, sliced cucumber and a drizzle of PC® Memories of Szechwan Mild Peanut Satay Sauce. Finish with cilantro sprigs and chopped PC® Honey Roasted Peanuts. 

Korean-Style Short RibsOpen heated PC® Bao Steamed Buns and fill with cooked and deboned PC® World of Flavours Korean-Style Beef Short Ribs, PC® Kimchi, thinly sliced radish and a drizzle of kewpie or regular mayonnaise.

3 Uses for PC® Black Label Chocolate Couverture

When you make them with our PC® Black Label Chocolate Couverture, it’s the crème de la crème of chocolate that gives you an ultra-indulgent treat. 

The Ultimate Dark Chocolate Sauce

• For a silky-smooth dark chocolate sauce, place 1 cup (250 mL) PC® Black Label Dark Chocolate Couverture in a 2-cup (500 mL) heatproof, resealable glass jar such as a Mason jar. 
• Bring 1 cup (250 mL) 35% cream to a boil. Immediately pour over chocolate, add pinch salt and place the lid on firmly. Let stand for 2 to 3 minutes. 
• Using a towel to protect hands, shake the jar vigorously until the mixture is smooth with no visible chunks. Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. 

*Note: to reheat, warm 20 to 30 seconds in the microwave, until pourable. 

The Mouthwatering Milk Chocolate Chip Cookie Level up your favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe by replacing standard chocolate chips with an equal amount of PC® Black Label Milk Chocolate Couverture.

The Indulgent White Chocolate Cheesecake Turn any cheesecake into a white chocolate, berry-topped cheesecake. 

• Melt 1/4 cup (83 mL) PC® Black Label White Chocolate Couverture and pour onto the centre of chilled 6-inch (15 cm) cheesecake (thawed, if using a frozen cheesecake).
  

• Use spatula or back of spoon to spread into an even layer over the surface of cheesecake. Immediately top with fresh or dried berries.
  

• Chill 10 minutes before serving. 

Make your time in the kitchen easier with these two great ideas:

Recipes and images provided by Iris Yee-Kiu To, Citizen Relations.