Basil & Salt Living

12/18/2025

This is the kind of roast that anchors the table.
Deeply browned on the outside, blushing and tender within, this herb-crusted prime rib is coated in fresh rosemary, garlic, and Dijon—creating a savory crust that locks in every juicy slice.

Serve it simply with horseradish cream or spoon those rich pan drippings over the top. It’s timeless, celebratory, and exactly what a holiday gathering calls for.

This recipe is part of which means you’ll be able to watch one of our chefs prepare it on next holiday season—bringing the technique, timing, and final touches straight to your screen. But today, you can get the full written recipe at the link in our insta bio and here:

https://basilandsalt.com/2024/12/18/herb-crusted-prime-rib-with-garlic-and-rosemary/

12/17/2025

Create a DIY Hot Chocolate Bar that’s equal parts festive and fun—think cozy mugs, sweet toppings, and a rich homemade cocoa mix you can keep in the pantry or wrap up as a thoughtful gift under the tree. It’s perfect for holiday parties, family nights in, or any evening that calls for something warm and chocolatey.

Find the DIY hot cocoa mix recipe plus tips for styling your own Hot Chocolate Bar at the 🔗 in my insta bio or below:
https://basilandsalt.com/2023/12/17/warm-up-your-winter-crafting-the-perfect-holiday-hot-chocolate-bar/

12/16/2025

A Little Heat for the Holiday Table 🎄 Creamy, rustic, and just bold enough to steal the show.

Whether you love horseradish silky and smooth or boldly rustic, this classic sauce is the perfect companion to prime rib, roasted vegetables, and even baked potatoes. Balanced heat, gentle creaminess, and timeless flavor—these recipes were made for festive gatherings and cozy winter meals.

You’ll find both horseradish sauce recipes, plus a complete guide to planting, harvesting, and preparing horseradish, on the blog now.

🔗 Read the full guide here:
https://basilandsalt.com/2024/12/16/the-ultimate-horseradish-guide-history-cultivation-recipes-tips-and-recipes/

12/16/2025

🍸 The Velvet Elf
A winter soirée cocktail with a mischievous wink

Soft as velvet, pale rose in hue, and elegant without trying too hard — The Velvet Elf feels like it belongs at a candlelit holiday gathering where crystal glasses clink and secrets are shared just a little too easily.

The Velvet Elf

Ingredients
• 1 ½ oz Pink Gin (Malfy Rosa or Beefeater Pink)
• ½ oz Lillet Rosé
• ¼ oz Crème de Rose (or rose liqueur — very light hand)
• ¾ oz Fresh lemon juice
• 1 egg white (or aquafaba)
Optional: 1 dash orange bitters (barely there)

Method
1. Add all ingredients to a shaker without ice.
2. Dry shake hard for 15–20 seconds to build that silky foam.
3. Add ice and shake again until well chilled.
4. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Garnish (keep it refined):
• No garnish, or
• A single micro rose petal, or
• A whisper of edible gold dust on the foam

12/15/2025

12/15/2025

🎄 Smoked Salmon Holiday Bites

Cream Cheese Base
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 2–3 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
(2 Tbsp = subtle & elegant, 3 Tbsp = more herb-forward)
• Optional: ½ teaspoon lemon zest
• Optional: Pinch of salt (only if needed — salmon is already salty)

Assembly
• 6–8 oz smoked salmon, thinly sliced
• 20–24 rye crisps or crostini
• Fresh dill sprigs & cracked black pepper for finishing

Yield
• Makes 20–24 appetizer bites

Whip the cream cheese briefly with a fork or hand mixer before folding in dill — it makes the spread lighter and gives you cleaner, more elegant swirls for camera-ready bites.

12/14/2025

12/14/2025

Winter has a way of softening the world, doesn’t it? The garden goes quiet, the beds settle under their blanket of snow, and the hustle of the growing season slows to a gentle, thoughtful pace. But…

12/13/2025

Peppermint Cranberry Sour ✨
A festive cocktail with a snowy peppermint foam and a ruby-red sip beneath — holiday magic in a glass.

Ingredients
🍸 2 oz vodka
🍒 1 oz cranberry juice
🍬 ¾ oz peppermint schnapps
🍋 ½ oz fresh lemon juice
🍯 ½ oz simple syrup
🥚 1 egg white (or aquafaba)
❄️ Ice

How to Make
1️⃣ Add everything to a shaker without ice and shake hard (this creates the foam).
2️⃣ Add ice and shake again until icy cold.
3️⃣ Strain into a candy-cane-rimmed coupe and let the foam rise.
4️⃣ Finish with crushed peppermint and a candy cane.

Why it works
The egg white creates that fluffy white top — no cream needed — keeping the cranberry base bright and festive.

Perfect for Christmas parties, cozy nights in, and holiday toasts 🥂🎄

12/13/2025

Warm berries, a buttery crumble, and that just-out-of-the-oven moment everyone waits for.

You’ll need
• 4 cups mixed berries (blueberry, blackberry, raspberry)
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• ¾ cup flour
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 6 tbsp cold butter, cubed

How it comes together
1. Toss berries with sugar, cornstarch, and lemon. Spoon into a buttered baking dish.
2. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly.
3. Sprinkle crumble generously over the fruit.
4. Bake at 375°F for 35–40 minutes, until bubbling and golden.

Serve warm. Bonus points for vanilla ice cream melting into the edges.
Simple, cozy, and made for sharing

12/13/2025

Begin the weekend with a little North Pole cheer 🦌
Santa’s Reindeer Pancakes are prancing onto the breakfast table—golden and fluffy, with banana-and-blueberry eyes and a bright strawberry nose to lead the way. Almost too adorable to eat… almost. 😉

From our kitchen to yours, wishing you warm mornings, cozy moments, and a very Merry Christmas 🎄❄️
— Basil & Salt