At Wendt, our team knows that the best recipe for success comes from mixing a little bit of everyone’s unique “flavor” into the work we do. So it’s in this spirit that our resident “foodies” believed it fitting to share our favorite holiday recipes. This collection of goodies inspire our festive feasts outside the office, warm our hearts, stir up memories, and remind us of the people and traditions we hold dear.
Just like our creative projects, each recipe tells a story. As you scroll, you will find a delicious mix of our individual heritage, and a dash of our personalities—the secret ingredient that makes our team shine. Whether it’s a cherished family dessert, a creative twist on a classic, or a simple dish that brings comfort after a long day, every recipe represents the individuality that makes our team great.
So grab a plate (and maybe a second helping), and enjoy this collection of our favorite holiday flavors. From all of us at Wendt, we wish you all the warmth, spice, and sweetness this holiday season has to offer.
Happy holidays from our table to yours!
Brenda's Authentic
Swiss fondue
Did you know that Brenda’s title of CEO stands for Cheese Executive Officer? Ok maybe not, but what she does share in common with this savory treat is her warmth, authenticity, and her ability to make any event fun. Here’s what she has to say about it:
“One of our fondest memories of traveling to Switzerland was going to the Gruyère factory and eating cheese fondue! After that we started the tradition of enjoying Swiss Fondue every Christmas Eve.”
Grandma Mayernik's chocolate oatmeal cake
Creativity definitely runs in the Mayernik family. Much like this holiday treat, Kara is the perfect blend of a timeless classic and an entity of unconventional innovation. In fact, she shares a lot in common with this beloved family treat: they’re both sweet and beautiful on the outside, and once you dive in for a bite, they are flavorful, warm, and exciting!
Jen's Breakfast Casserole
The best holiday recipes come from the heart, and from a recipe card passed down through the generations. Jen is an excellent steward for The Wendt Agency’s legacy, and a President that approaches everything she does with an incredible amount of intention and heart. But she doesn’t just approach the agency that way, she also brings her thoughtfulness to the holiday table. Make this comforting breakfast ahead of time and enjoy soaking in the holiday memories.
Kattie's NOSTALGIC
SHRIMP DIP
She’s stylish, she’s smart, she’s strong, AND she’s sensational a chef? That’s definitely Kattie. You’ll never catch her repeating the same recipe twice, and the holidays are the perfect opportunity to flex this culinary creative’s muscles. With all of that said, there is one recipe staple that never fails to stir those nostalgic holiday memories for her:
“Maybe one day I’ll get old enough to settle on favorites, but for now, I enjoy the adventure. I will share the only recipe I ever remember being repeated in my house, and it is a special one from my dad, who has since passed. Growing up, I thought it was the strangest thing, but it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a cherished memory of him making it every Christmas Eve for our extended family… Pro tip: don’t forget a dash of love, it is my secret sauce and makes everything taste better.”
CAROL's WARMING WASSAIL
364 days a year, Carol is a staunch coffee devotee. But at least one day a year, she makes a swap and reaches for this fruity and spicy treat, (which can double as a home potpourri!).
Here she comes a-wassailing, and a Carol-ing! (Sorry Carol):
“This says holiday season to me because it’s a warm, cozy, spicy beverage—perfect for sipping on while doing all of the holiday things: wrapping or opening gifts, hanging lights, making a list and checking it twice, watching Christmas Vacation—sky’s the limit!”
Angela's Never-Fail New ENGLAND STUFFING
Like Santa, Angela has been a little bit of everywhere, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. This coddiwomple Controller was bound to pick up some delicious recipes in her travels, and this stuffing is the culinary culmination of a person who works hard, plays harder, and loves her family the hardest. Here’s what she has to say:
“We make this for all the holiday dinners. This recipe was handed down to Gene’s mom from his full-blooded Italian grandmother on his dad’s side. My family won’t have stuffing any other way, and even my brother’s ex-wife still makes it for her dinners.”
MERLE's Sensational Sweet N' Sour Smokies
Merle is known around the office as a low-key legend, and someone who effortlessly amazes us with her no-fuss approach to life. It is no surprise then, that she would deliver on a recipe that is not only delicious, but incredibly easy to execute. Leave it up to Merle to keep us all running as efficiently and deliciously as possible this holiday!
Johnny's 7 Layer Salad
Johnny is a multi-layered man in his own right. He is a talented designer, an astounding angler (who caught the only Grayling ever recorded in the Sun River?!), a recently retired deliverer of pizza, and a great son, brother, and everything else to his family. What does a guy like that reach for to get in the holiday spirit? Something that brings him back to his humble roots of home:
“7 layer salad has been in my family for as long as I can remember. My Dad makes it pretty much every holiday every year, haha! But for good reason, because it’s delicious!”
SHEENA's Beloved black bottom Cupcakes
When it comes to her creative pursuits at Wendt, Sheena looks for opportunity in every detail to dream up designs that are bold, complex, rich, and satisfying. If there was a recipe to match up with her delicious designs, it may be these incredibly crave-able cupcakes. Not only are these cakes delightfully decadent, they also have a sweet backstory:
“These are a family favorite that my mom would make.”
HALEY’S RECIPE FOR HOLIDAY HAPPINESS
Our Operations Manager has no shortage of exciting recipes to share (especially if they involve jalapeño tequila). But something that can’t be measured in a mixing bowl is her love for her family:
“My favorite holiday recipe = family and good food.”
Caitlin's Christmas Day French Toast
If there is anyone at Wendt that deserves the title of “Curator of Special Moments”, Caitlin may be the top contender. This successful young woman doesn’t let her professional victories or self-proclaimed aversion to the kitchen get in the way of savoring special memories with the people that mean the most:
“I can’t take credit for this recipe, but it has become a Christmas morning staple. Wake up, coffee, presents by the tree—all wrapped together with a breakfast (or brunch) as magical as the day. And while a savory bacon and eggs is always on the menu, Joanna Gaines’ French Toast brings the true warmth of the season. And, it’s easy—which is saying a lot from someone who doesn’t like to cook. Here’s to making your morning even sweeter!”
JULI'S MEXICAN
CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
One of Juli’s brightest qualities is her ability to take something conventional and make it into something exciting. If you’re lucky enough to know her like we do, you’ll sample her mojito sorbets in the summertime, and this spiced take on a classic in the winter. Here’s what she has to say about it:
“When I think of Holidays I think of the cheesecakes my family always beg for haha. This is one of my favorites to make!”
TYSON's Luscious LASAGNA
Give this man a kitchen, a glass of red, and an unsupervised afternoon and he will give you a culinary feast you’ll be talking about for the next several holidays. Tyson wears his account manager hat in the daytime, and his chef’s hat at night, and he wears them both well:
“Let’s discuss how challenging it is for me to even give this out, but for this effort I can at least give the basics while maintaining my secrets.“
Didn’t we mention he takes his culinary efforts seriously? We don’t blame him for trying to gatekeep this one.
Kaitlyn's YUMMy RUMMY CAKE
Kit takes the warmth of the holiday season seriously, and this cake is guaranteed to warm you from the inside out. Meant as an homage to a glass of hot-buttered rum, this golden confection is sure to bring you tidings of comfort and joy.:
“This cake was an accidental discovery from my college days when all I had in the house were some pantry ingredients… and the types of drinks college kids enjoy haha. It turned out to be an overwhelming hit with my family, and now they ask for it every year!”
Trista's Made-With-Love Lemon pie
She’s bold, bright, unexpected, and incredibly refreshing. We could be describing our UX/UI designer, or we could be describing her go-to holiday dessert. When life gives Trista or her family lemons, she ditches the bad vibes and tops life with a big dollop of whipped cream:
“For Christmas and Thanksgiving my favorite pie is lemon pie—forget pumpkin. My aunt and uncle team up to make the family favorite—he’s great at crusts and she makes the filling. She got the filling recipe from my grandmother who learned the recipe in a high school home economics class. It’s easy and just the right amount of tart/sweet ratio. We don’t do meringue—just freshly whipped whipping cream.”
Dallas's Mimi's Holiday Cucumber SaLAD
When we think of Dallas, we think of her ability to bring fun and unsolicited karaoke to the office. But there is another side to this festive human. She is an old soul, a lover of the vintage and antique, and someone who values family above anything else. The holidays are a perfect time for her to break into Christmas carols and walk down memory lane:
“Soupy, simple, and made the way she did—by taste, not by measurement. Every holiday, my Mimi made this cool and tangy cucumber salad. The cucumbers weren’t thinly sliced or overly softened—they still had that fresh, slight crunch to them. She always made it soupy on purpose, with the cucumbers suspended in the creamy dressing. She never measured, just mixed and tasted until it felt right. That’s still how I make it today.”
COACH CASEY's CLASSIC ROLLS
Once this fearless woman plants her feet on the floor in the morning, she is an unstoppable and optimistic force of nature that gives Santa a run for his money. It’s in this spirit that Casey reaches for a quick and timeless holiday classic… Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls! Here’s what she has to say:
“I am being honest and genuine—can this be my favorite holiday recipe? We make them every Christmas morning!”
To Casey we say, why fix what isn’t broken? See package for directions, and enjoy!
