Happy holidays, Bay Area! Christmas is quickly approaching – and, if you’re still looking for those perfect holiday dishes for your family, here are two recipes that your guests will love (and won’t take much time in the kitchen).

Appetizer: Butternut Squash Rösti Cakes

Total Time: 45 Minutes

Services: Makes 4 Dozen Mini Cakes

In a bowl, combine the shredded squash and potatoes with the cornstarch, eggs and onion and season with salt and cayenne. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1/8 inch of oil until shimmering. Add 2 tablespoon-size mounds of the mixture to the skillet and cook over moderate heat, turning once, until golden and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels and repeat, adding more oil to the skillet as needed and wiping out the pan occasionally. Top the rösti cakes with sour cream, caviar and chives and serve hot.

MAKE AHEAD

The fried cakes can be kept at room temperature for 4 hours. Recrisp in a warm oven.

Dinner: Butterflied Cornish Hens with Sage Butter

Total Time: 50 Minutes

Prep: 20 Minutes

Cook: 30 Minutes

Ingredients
4 (1 3/4-pound) Cornish game hens, butterflied
1 stick butter, softened
5 to 7 sage leaves, finely chopped
1 lemon, zested
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil for sautéing
4 strips bacon, chopped

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Place hens on a sheet tray fitted with a cooling rack in the refrigerator to dry skin out for 1 hour. Meanwhile, in a small pan over medium heat, melt butter with sage, zest, salt and pepper. Remove hens from refrigerator. Preheat 2 large saute pans over medium heat, lightly coat with oil. Season hens with salt and pepper and sear, skin side down, in the pans. Sear until skin caramelizes and turns golden brown and crispy, about 7 to 10 minutes. Flip birds over and baste with sage butter.

Get the full recipe here.

July is almost over – so make sure it continues to be a memorable month! Take a look at these fun events that are happening in the Bay Area.

There’s plenty of laughs to be had this weekend in Pleasanton! Stop by the Firehouse Arts Center tomorrow night at 8PM for Summer Comedy Night 2015 featuring Joe Klocek. For tickets, click here.

Soulful tunes will fill your ears this weekend in Livermore! Local San Francisco jazz and blues vocalist Pamela Rose is coming to the Livermore Civic Center Library this Sunday, July 26^th at 2PM. Click here for more info.

Another legendary concert is happening at the Wente Vineyards in Livermore next week – and Ponderosa Homes is a proud sponsor! Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo celebrate their 35^th anniversary tour with special guest John Waite on Tuesday, July 28^th at 8PM. Go here for tickets.

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to Like the Ponderosa Facebook page.