6 Minute Read
In honor of the holidays, Visit Grand Junction’s Volunteer Ambassadors and Staff have brought you some of their favorite recipes that they make this time of the year. Most of these recipes have been handed down from generation to generation. Try the easy potato soup recipe that has cream cheese as the secret ingredient, or stir up some pecan pie muffins that you can pop into the oven for an easy and delicious breakfast. The Volunteer Ambassadors and staff hope you enjoy these recipes as much as they do.
Don’t forget to stop by the Grand Junction Visitor Center, Monday through Friday, on your next visit to town. You will be greeted with a friendly face and you get to pick out a FREE postcard that the volunteers will mail for you at no cost - stamp included.
Green Chile Enchilada Casserole
Larry's green chile enchilada casserole is pure comfort, layered with cozy flavors that warm you from the inside out. Mild heat from the green chiles mingles with melty cheese and tender tortillas, creating a dish that feels both familiar and special. This recipe is simple to make, and perfect for sharing on chilly nights or at lively family gatherings.
Matt’s Mac and Cheese is rich, creamy and famously “disappearing” because once it hits the table, it never lasts long!
Daniel's simple, melt-in-your-mouth microwavable fudge is his family’s go to sweet. It comes together in minutes and delivers the classic holiday dessert with minimal effort.
Teagan’s cinnamon roll cookies bring a classic breakfast item to the dessert table for a great addition to your morning coffee!
Garlic Butter Steak Bites and Cheesy Smashed Potatoes
Dillon’s garlic butter steak bites and cheesy smashed potatoes are the kind of comfort food that quickly becomes a weekly staple.
Inspired by Food Network Kitchen
Elizabeth's dish is not only delicious and always requested by friends and family, it can be made a day ahead and also can be reheated for post-holiday breakfast. It's nice to have one less thing to do on Christmas! Don't hesitate to make this your own and add whatever ingredients you wish - green and red bell peppers make it look a little more festive and adding ham or bacon is another way to enhance this recipe.
Kim’s creamy tomato tortellini soup comes together in just 15 minutes, making it a comforting, beginner-friendly favorite! Bonus: it’s a one-pot recipe, so cleanup is effortless!
Rebecca's four-ingredient no-bake cookies are great for a quick sweet treat. She recommends adding green food coloring and festive sprinkles to create little edible Christmas trees!
Beth's classic pot roast is a cozy, crowd-pleasing favorite. Perfect for filling the family table and guaranteed to leave everyone satisfied.
Penny's orange cookies have become the hit of the neighborhood! Delicious, nostalgic and first to disappear at any gathering.
Barbara's homemade noodles are a cherished family tradition, inspired from watching her grandmother roll fresh pasta in their Italian kitchen as a child.
Marilyn’s muffins are easy to make and offer all the rich, buttery goodness of pecan pie! This dish is great for breakfast, dessert, and anything in between.
Jim’s balsamic pot roast is a showstopper! It is tender, flavorful and hearty enough for a full-family feast, always leaving guests impressed!
For a healthier twist on tater tots, Sylvia Ehler shared this delicious recipe featuring spaghetti squash for us to try. This makes a perfect side dish for any potluck or a tasty appetizer!
Start your day with this cozy pancake recipe featuring apple pie filling, brought to you by Jim Nasalroad. Perfect for a warm and delightful morning treat!
This Tater Tot Casserole recipe has been a family favorite for Siggie Carpenter for over 40 years. The recipe is so easy to make, even her granddaughter can help!
For those of you who want to keep it simple, try Jim’s Oatmeal. This timeless staple is a tried and true way to kick off your morning.
Daniel’s Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth. It’s a dessert made for sharing, just as Daniel enjoys it with his family.
Mason’s Mouthwatering Monkey Bread
Mason’s Monkey Bread is the perfect treat to enjoy while wrapped in a warm blanket on a cozy morning. The fresh scent of cinnamon will have you craving another bite!
Elizabeth's Cranberry Candy is the latest holiday viral recipe, so we are serving this one up with all the fanfare it deserves! Half the fun is the POP you experience when you bite down on the candy - it's addicting! It's also the easiest thing to make, so give it a try. We have yet to find anyone who does not LOVE this sweet and a little bit sour treat.
Kim’s recipe for Mom’s Pumpkin Bars is a comforting treat that feels like home. It’s perfect for sharing and reminiscing with your loved ones.
Matt’s Peppermint Brownies transform a classic dessert into a festive holiday delight, guaranteed to bring the holiday spirit to your table!
For a meaningful recipe that holds many memories, Barbara Oliver offered this recipe. As a child, her grandmother would bake pies, cakes and bread that would last through the week. Barbara’s special treat, when she got home from school was a small bowl of warm, cooked raisins.
This Fiesta Corn Salad recipe shines not only in its taste but also in its simplicity. Marilyn Montoya has expertly combined fresh ingredients to create a visually appealing dish that has many colors and is great for any party or fiesta!
This easy classic provided by Jim Nasalroad takes simplicity to a whole new level, making it perfect for busy days, holidays, or when you're craving a quick, soul-warming meal.
Brought to you by Joan Hauschel, this zucchini bread recipe is as amazing as Joan is. The best part is that it makes two whole loaves, so you can share it with friends or gift it to your neighbors for the holidays.
For lack of finding a better name, this Mexican fruit cake really doesn’t have anything Mexican about it. As a super easy and simple recipe, Joan Hauschel says it’s one of her favorite recipes, and it’s delicious. It’s not your typical fruit cake, don’t worry!
Noted as the best cook in the world by Gerry Richmeier, this cranberry scone recipe is provided by his wife, Carol Richmeier. The best part about these delicious scones is you can freeze them and then bake them in the morning for a quick and easy fresh-baked treat without all the fuss.
This delicious recipe was provided by Sylvia Ehler and is perfect for a cold day spent indoors. When not cooking, Sylvia loves spending time outside hiking and enjoying the great outdoors.
Maxine Line’s Peanut Blossom Cookies
News anchor turned baker; Wayne McCormick provided this delicious peanutty cookie recipe. Wayne can be found enjoying a fine glass of bourbon and spending time with his wife.
Svenska Sockerkaka (Swedish Cake similar to a pound cake except sweeter and with a hint of lemon)
Bringing her traditional Swedish roots to the mix, Monica Peers provided this Swedish pound cake recipe. She says she is lucky if she can get it out of the house before her husband, Bruce Peers (notorious for his sweet tooth and love for Babe Ruth candy bars), starts digging in. Sometimes Monica has to hide it in the house.
Monica Peers also provided this recipe, and it has quite the story behind it. She and her granddaughter have made it a tradition to make this candy recipe every holiday season. They share an ongoing joke, where her granddaughter says, “Grandma keeps forgetting how to make the candy because she keeps trying to add raisins to it.” Monica is just being clever because she prefers to add the raisins to this recipe, but her granddaughter does not.
For more ways to taste the flavors of Grand Junction, check out the Official Grand Junction Visitor Guide.