RECIPES

"This is my family's all-time favorite pumpkin recipe," Seivert says -- and it was the 2014 contest winner as well!
1st Place winner in the 2014 Savor the Season Lillie Newspapers holiday recipe contest

It's the sauerkraut that gives these meatballs the extra tang that keeps people coming back for more.
2nd Place winner in the 2014 Savor the Season Lillie Newspapers holiday recipe contest

This pie is adaptable through the seasons. Try gooseberries cut in half or chopped rhubarb in season, or simply freeze fresh cranberries for a later treat!
3rd Place winner in the 2014 Savor the Season Lillie Newspapers holiday recipe contest

We've learned over the years to expect top-notch recipes from Sandy Andersen, and here's yet another! Andersen says her family enjoys this every Christmas morning, topping it with butter, syrup or whipped cream according to taste.

Looking festive and seasonal with pecans and pomegranate, this salad can be stretched by adding more greens. Some of our judges said the cayenne and ground pepper "snuck up" on them, but others found the heat just the right accent to spark up a holiday meal.

In Linda Triplett's circles, she's famous for this recipe, which, amazingly, she created the first time she tried making cherry pie. "I just couldn't bring myself to pour the cherry filling from a can into a pie crust and call it my own," she explains. The key: whole tart cherries give it a fresh taste even though they're canned. Though the recipe has been "top secret" until now, it was among the top finishers in our contest -- and now the secret's out!

The color and sweetness of orange and the richness of caramelized almonds make this a special side salad for any occasion.