IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE!!!!!
It's here, it's finally here, it's really here!!! CHRISTMAS TIME!!!!! I'm so excited!! Can you tell? (insert jolly Santa chuckle here) Fall is my favorite of the four seasons, but Christmas is my favorite time of year. A cliche as this will sound, there's something about the lights, the trees, the music filling the air, and oh the foooooood. So, so, so much good food. But above all that is the sound of children's laughter, and families catching up on all the latest that they've missed throughout the year is the best. I love to see everyone laughing and having a grand ol' time. It brings to mind the days of my younger years. Other than the Grinches out there, let's be honest and say that Christmas time brings out the little kid in all of us.
As you know I'm hosting my family this year for a Christmas themed get together that's not actually Christmas if you catch my drift. I'm so looking forward to everyone being here. And I can't wait for the food. In the spirit of Christmas giving, here's the recipes that I will be doing that you are welcome to steal and claim as your own for whatever holiday get together you are doing. I'll start with the appetizers and go down the list to dessert and drinks. all cranberries are out of a can.
Baked brie with Cranberry sauce-mix cranberry, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange zest. bake at 425 degrees for 8 minutes.
Sweet Chili Cream cheese dip-soften cream cheese, add garlic and paprika and blend. Put in serving dish and top with Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce.
Slow Cooker Meatballs-frozen meatballs in the crock pot in a sauce of cranberries, brown sugar, and lemon juice.
Caesar Salad-pretty self explanatory on that one. You can even buy a kit.
Heart Attack Taters-baby red potatoes, sour cream, butter, salt, pepper, garlic, cheddar cheese, Monterrey jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and more garlic. No gravy needed...ever.
Green bean casserole-the recipe is on the french fried onions can...super hard (insert eye roll)
King's Hawaiian rolls-they come out of a package...again insanely hard.
Yams-yams (fresh or canned), brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, more brown sugar, butter-lots and lots. Bake at 375 degrees until soft. Lightly mash if desired.
Turkey-Bake at 350 for one hour, then at 215 until ready to serve (usually overnight if possible). Stuff with dressing halfway through. top with cranberry pineapple chutney. I don't make stuffing...I leave that to my father in law.
Cranberry pineapple chutney-pineapple, cranberry, onion powder, jalapeno, sugar, vinegar, candied ginger, salt, and nigella. Mix in a pot and bring to simmer. Stir regularly and cook down until thick-ish. About 20-30 minutes give or take a few.
Ham-follow directions on the packaging for heating. Top with maple brown sugar glaze.
Maple brown sugar glaze-brown sugar, butter, maple flavoring, a tiny amount of boiling water. Mix and dump over ham.
Pumpkin pie-this is the hardest one of all. Go to Costco. Purchase pie. Take home and unwrap from packaging. Slice and serve. Top with Whipped cream if desired.
Beverages-wine, wine, wine, Glogg- concentrate and port wine mixed then heated gently, eggnog-add rum, hot cider-apple cider, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon sticks. Warm in crock pot. Coffee-drip, espresso, french press, or other.
Yup, that about covers it. The trade secrets of a chef. We cheat half the time. I can't wait to start stuffing all this good food in my face. Yum, yum, yum.
So what about you all? What are your plans for the Christmas season? There is one little thing I'd like to start here on this blog as a Christmas tradition. Everyday for the span of the season we each tell someone Merry Christmas and do something to brighten their day. Even if it's as simple as holding the door for them or bringing them a cup of coffee. Even sending out an email to someone who you haven't talked to in a long while just to say hello is great. Then, I want to look in the mirror and say Merry Christmas to ourselves as a reminder that we can spread the Christmas cheer to ourselves too. That way we always get told Merry Christmas and we don't turn into Grinches. What do you say? Want to start it with me? Leave what you decide to do in the comments below. As the old songs say, spread peace and good will for the whole year. Merry Christmas!!!!!!!
As you know I'm hosting my family this year for a Christmas themed get together that's not actually Christmas if you catch my drift. I'm so looking forward to everyone being here. And I can't wait for the food. In the spirit of Christmas giving, here's the recipes that I will be doing that you are welcome to steal and claim as your own for whatever holiday get together you are doing. I'll start with the appetizers and go down the list to dessert and drinks. all cranberries are out of a can.
Baked brie with Cranberry sauce-mix cranberry, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange zest. bake at 425 degrees for 8 minutes.
Sweet Chili Cream cheese dip-soften cream cheese, add garlic and paprika and blend. Put in serving dish and top with Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce.
Slow Cooker Meatballs-frozen meatballs in the crock pot in a sauce of cranberries, brown sugar, and lemon juice.
Caesar Salad-pretty self explanatory on that one. You can even buy a kit.
Heart Attack Taters-baby red potatoes, sour cream, butter, salt, pepper, garlic, cheddar cheese, Monterrey jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and more garlic. No gravy needed...ever.
Green bean casserole-the recipe is on the french fried onions can...super hard (insert eye roll)
King's Hawaiian rolls-they come out of a package...again insanely hard.
Yams-yams (fresh or canned), brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, more brown sugar, butter-lots and lots. Bake at 375 degrees until soft. Lightly mash if desired.
Turkey-Bake at 350 for one hour, then at 215 until ready to serve (usually overnight if possible). Stuff with dressing halfway through. top with cranberry pineapple chutney. I don't make stuffing...I leave that to my father in law.
Cranberry pineapple chutney-pineapple, cranberry, onion powder, jalapeno, sugar, vinegar, candied ginger, salt, and nigella. Mix in a pot and bring to simmer. Stir regularly and cook down until thick-ish. About 20-30 minutes give or take a few.
Ham-follow directions on the packaging for heating. Top with maple brown sugar glaze.
Maple brown sugar glaze-brown sugar, butter, maple flavoring, a tiny amount of boiling water. Mix and dump over ham.
Pumpkin pie-this is the hardest one of all. Go to Costco. Purchase pie. Take home and unwrap from packaging. Slice and serve. Top with Whipped cream if desired.
Beverages-wine, wine, wine, Glogg- concentrate and port wine mixed then heated gently, eggnog-add rum, hot cider-apple cider, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon sticks. Warm in crock pot. Coffee-drip, espresso, french press, or other.
Yup, that about covers it. The trade secrets of a chef. We cheat half the time. I can't wait to start stuffing all this good food in my face. Yum, yum, yum.
So what about you all? What are your plans for the Christmas season? There is one little thing I'd like to start here on this blog as a Christmas tradition. Everyday for the span of the season we each tell someone Merry Christmas and do something to brighten their day. Even if it's as simple as holding the door for them or bringing them a cup of coffee. Even sending out an email to someone who you haven't talked to in a long while just to say hello is great. Then, I want to look in the mirror and say Merry Christmas to ourselves as a reminder that we can spread the Christmas cheer to ourselves too. That way we always get told Merry Christmas and we don't turn into Grinches. What do you say? Want to start it with me? Leave what you decide to do in the comments below. As the old songs say, spread peace and good will for the whole year. Merry Christmas!!!!!!!
Comments
Post a Comment