(StatePoint) - It’s never too early to learn new holiday recipes to make the entertaining season easier. With only a few ingredients, you can quickly create drinks, dips and desserts, leaving you more time to socialize with family and friends at your next soiree.

Holiday cheer(s): Greeting company with a beverage at the door is a sure sign of great hosting. Easily create batches of signature drinks in a high-powered blender for everyone to enjoy.

(StatePoint) Whether you’re hosting a big party for friends or it’s a movie night in with the family, you can sweeten the fun with an iconic treat that can be enjoyed any time of year.

Consider going beyond the Classic S’mores recipe that family and friends have been enjoying for decades. HERSHEY’S is offering some great twists to the classic snack.

Many people feel dessert is the best part of any meal. When dining out, diners who can’t wait to peruse the dessert menu may find several items they think they can only enjoy at restaurants. But food fans need not be experts in the kitchen to enjoy their favorite desserts in the comforts of home.

(StatePoint) The average American eats 27 pounds of bananas every year -- and it’s no wonder, bananas not only taste great, they are also good for your health. As an excellent source of dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and other nutrients, bananas are low in calories, have no fat, sodium or cholesterol. So, incorporating them into your diet just makes sense.

Slow cooking has grown in popularity in recent years, and perhaps no dish is more synonymous with slow cooking than ribs. While it helps to be a professional or seasoned amateur when preparing ribs, you don't need to be a proficient pork preparer to enjoy the following recipe for "Coriander Spare Ribs With Cilantro Butter" from Andrew Schloss' "Cooking Slow" (Chronicle Books). Coriander Spare Ribs With Cilantro Butter Makes 6 servings 3 tablespoons ground coriander 2 tablespoons raw sugar 1 tabl...

Backyard barbecues may be synonymous with burgers and hot dogs, but grillmasters needn't feel beholden to such traditional fare when firing up their grills. While salad and grilling might seem like strange bedfellows to many grilling enthusiasts, the following recipe for "Grilled Radicchio and Brussels Spouts With Hot Bacon Dressing" from Karen Adler and Judith Fertig's "The Gardener & The Grill" (Running Press) combines salad and grilling for a memorable, delicious and unique dish. Grilled ...

Men and women who want to lose weight or just eat healthier need look no further than foods native to the Mediterranean. Dubbed "the Mediterranean diet," this lifestyle choice involves enjoying an abundance of vegetables, grains, legumes, and seafood, while dairy, poultry and red meat are consumed sparingly. Mediterranean foods are high in monounsaturated fats, fiber and antioxidants.

Onion rings are a popular side dish. Though many people reserve their consumption of onion rings for nights out at the diner, onion ring aficionados need not wait until their next night out on the town to enjoy their favorite side dish, as onion rings can easily be made right at home. Those who want to add a little extra kick to their onion rings can do just that thanks to the following recipe for "Rings of Fire" courtesy of Bob Blumer's "Surreal Gourmet Bites" (Chronicle Books).

Holiday dinners vary depending on the household, but certain staples seem to pop up no matter where you sit down to enjoy your holiday meal. Dinner rolls are one such staple, as few things supplement a hearty holiday meal better than freshly baked homemade dinner rolls.

Men and women with gluten allergies may want to avoid traditional dinner rolls, but holiday hosts can take steps to ensure everyone gets to enjoy dinner rolls regardless of their dietary restrictions. 

The scent of freshly baked bread can fill a home and instantly draw the interest of that home's inhabitants. Such is the case with the following recipe for "Buttermilk Cornbread" from Linda Collister's "Quick Breads" (Ryland, Peters & Small). Buttermilk Cornbread Serves 6 to 8 1 cup fine yellow cornmeal, preferably stone-ground 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 11/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1 extra-large egg 4 tablespoons melted butter 3 tablesp...