Christmas dinner recipes?

[Flaxbee]

Anyone have any favorites? Just me and my husband this year, we usually don't do much (often take-out) but we've moved to a very small town where EVERYTHING is gonna be closed on Christmas so we need to feed ourselves, preferably with something yummy and not requiring excessive cooking skill.

Anyone have any favorites they'd like to share? Thanks!

[cornermouse]

1. This close to Christmas, easy, and simple?

I'd say get some nice quality pre-cooked (not water-added) ham slices. Warm them, open a can of cherry pie filling, put some cherries on top the ham.

Rolls from the grocery deli section, boiling water for corn on the cob (about 10 minutes), mashed potatoes, and a cake mix?

[Flaxbee]

2. I'm not what you'd call a planner....

especially not when it comes to food!

[cornermouse]

3. Sometimes it does get to be a little bit of a hassle.

I do like to cook sometimes, but if you spend your entire holiday cooking and cleaning up afterwards while everyone else is doing something fun, well... If you had more time in advance, you could soak a turkey in kosher salt for several hours (makes it moist) before baking.

You might also want to consider getting a tub of cool whip, a can of eagle brand milk, a can of cherry pie filling, a can of drained crushed pineapple, and a cup of pecans. Throw them all into a bowl and stir. An easy favorite.

[displacedtexan]

4. Roasted Herb Chicken w/ Wild Rice and Green Salad

Very easy.

Get a roasting hen with the pop up thingy that tells you when the bird is done, a box of Uncle Ben's Original Wild Rice, and a bag of salad.

Remove the bag of icky things from the bird's butt.
Spray the inside and outside of the bird with PAM or slather butter all over it.
Season the skin liberally with Kosher salt, black pepper, sage, and Italian seasoning.
Set oven to bake (400 degrees for 30 minutes-- for crispy skin).
After 30 minutes, turn temp down to 375 and roast until done (most grocery store roasting hens take about 90 minutes).

Follow directions on the rice box (It takes 20 minutes).

[The Zanti Regent]

5. Missy's Sweet Potatoes Lyonnaise

SWEET POTATOES LYONNAISE


3 strips bacon
3/4 c. chopped onion
1 1/2 lb. sweet potatoes, cooked and peeled
1 tsp. salt
From 1/4 to 1 tsp. sugar

Cut bacon into half-inch pieces with kitchen scissors. Put into a skillet and saute with the onion until done, or about 5 minutes. Add the diced sweet potatoes and seasonings and cook uncovered over medium heat until potatoes are hot through and acquire a golden crispy crust on underside. Serve immediately. 4 servings.

[mac56]

9. Do you use any oil to saute the onions and bacon?

nm

[The Zanti Regent]

12. You can add some butter for the sauteeing

but Missy generally lets the bacon grease do

[koopie57]

6. I am very inept in the kitchen

and I understand how you feel.

I buy a turkey breast and put it in my crock pot with a can of turkey or chicken broth and let that cook all day. Heat up a can of sweet potatoes, open a can of cranberries and make a box of stuffing and buy a frozen pumpkin pie. If I'm really ambitious I make some jello and buy some whipped cream. You can also buy small carrots and dip for nibblies.

[The empressof all]

7. Depending where you are...

Microwave some clams with butter and garlic for a quick zuppa de clams. Have a side of spagetti in garlic and oil. Lots of bread to sop up the clam nectur.


If you are in the middle of the country---too far from the sea, buy yourselves the best steak you can afford. Grill or Broil with a side of mushrooms. Baked Potato and a side salad.

When in doubt about dessert---go with a good quality of ice cream, really good chocolate sauce and whipped cream on top.

[bif]

8. Very simple Greek Chicken

Buy a whole chicken. Make a mixture of juice from two lemons, about a1/3 cup olive oil, some garlic powder, salt, pepper and oregano. Roast the chicken for about 1 & 1/2 hours at 350. Baste the chicken every 15 minutes with with lemon mixture. Don't baste for the last 15 minutes so the chicken gets crispy. It's fantastitc. Serve with rice (pilafi) and a salad.

[yellowdogintexas]

10. Get a pork tenderloin, sometimes you can get them marinated

Easy, and don't take too long to cook; perfect for two

Scalloped potatoes:

Slice potatoes thin
slice an onion thin, or dice it
layer the potatoes and onions in a casserole with butter, salt and pepper
pour milk about 1/2 up the side of the potatoes
extra butter on top
bake at 375 until bubbles and the milk cooks down.


Squash casserole:

Slice about 2 pounds of summer squash real thin
dice or grate a small onion
add some garlic

In a microwavable casserole, cook the squash and onion with a little water, until tender. Drain.

Combine w/ the squash in the casserole:

1 to 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 stick of butter
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup milk
dill if you like it
salt and pepper to taste
about 1/2 stack of Saltines, crumbled up

Stir this all together, then bake At 375 until brown on top.


This is a favorite meal with my daughter and her best bud, and I fix it for them often on Sunday night.

You can add a salad, or another green veg, like say green beans or asparagus, or brussel sprouts.

Nice thing is you can do it all in one oven, unless you have really big pans. The squash can be done in a loaf pan, and you could also do the potatoes in a loaf pan. Quantities are of course adjustable.

Dessert could be a nice pie from the freezer case, like a Marie Callendar ..or a simple fudge brownie w/ice cream or whipped cream on top.

brownies:

1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup each flour and cocoa

1 cup of nuts of your choice if desired.

melt butter, add sugar, then eggs w/salt and vanilla. Add cocoa and flour, stir until no white streaks show. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes in an 8 or9 inch square pan. Check them at 15 minutes, sometimes they bake faster, depending on your oven. You do not want to overbake these .

These are to die for, and please use butter, not margarine. Makes all the difference in the world.

ENJOY

[Flaxbee]

11. Thanks everyone... I'll run a few of these by my husband

and see what appeals to him (he's got a horrible cold, poor thing, and nothing seems to sound very good to him). I appreciate it!