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| Super Easy Christmas Dinner Ideas |
by Kim TilleyWhy is it always assumed that holiday dinners have to be back-breaking work? Give yourself a break, and enjoy a nice, casual Christmas dinner. The recipes below are great when you have a small gathering, but would work fine for a larger crowd - just double them, and ask the relatives to bring some of the side dishes to take the workload off of you! Easy Appetizer Ideas -Keep your appetizers really simple- just as a fresh fruit or veggie plate with a nice dip. We love "Insanity Sauce" (recipe below) as a dip or salad dressing- it's wonderful! -If you love shrimp, try something a little less expensive but just as good- imitation crabmeat chunks. We really like the brand carried by the Cub Foods seafood department. It's usually on sale for around $2 a pound, and their cocktail sauce will knock your socks off- spicy but good! A large plate of the imitation crab chunks can be purchased for around $10 - much cheaper than shrimp! -Try the traditional Velveeta and salsa dip. It's very easy, and guests love it. Just diced up one large block (I think it comes in a one pound "loaf" size) and 2 cups of salsa. We have a small, inexpensive crockpot we use just for this dip. Add some chip and/or veggies and you're all set. Pita chips or toasted tortillas also go well with this dip. Kim's Insanity Sauce 1 cup of ranch dressing (we get the gallon size at Sam's) One or two drops (yes, DROPS) of "Dave's Insanity Sauce", an explosively hot sauce (I found it at Kitchens store in the mall, here is the web site: Dave's Gourmet Mix ingredients well. If the sauce is at all slightly pink, it will probably blow your mouth off! The pepper sauce is advertised as being "the hottest sauce in the world" and let me tell you, it is one of the hottest I've tried, but excellent if mixed with a lot of a "cooling" agent like sour cream, yogurt or ranch. I keep a container mixed up in the fridge at all times. It is truly wonderful and our friends love it too (we entertain alot!) Main Dish Ideas -Do something in the crockpot - homemade chili, pot roast, chicken, etc. Keep it fun and familiar. -You could make a Christmas pizza- just whip up your favorite pizza dough and sauce recipe, form in Christmas tree-shaped pan (or use foil to shape pizza). You can cut pepperoni into Merry Christmas if you want to be festive and have the time. I've done Valentine's and birthday pizzas- the kids love them. This is a great idea if you have sick kids or husband and have to stay at home for the holiday. -Grill it! One of our favorite dishes is Stuffed Flank Steak. Just purchase a fairly thick flank steak, cut it horizontally, and stuff with provolone cheese, onions, and hard salami. Use toothpicks to close it back up, and grill. It's wonderful, and your man can get in on the cooking! Favorite Pot Roast This is a wonderful and easy meal-we've literally made this hundred of times over the years. Start it the night before, or early in the morning, and let it cook all day. No strain, no fuss! Note: You can also do this one in the pressure cooker- just double the amount of bouillon/water. 3-4 pound beef rump roast 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp seasoned salt 1/4 tsp seasoned pepper 1/4 tsp paprika 1 tablespoon instant minced onion 1 cup beef bouillon (or 1 cup water plus 1 bouillon cube) 1. Combine salt, seasoned salt, pepper and paprika. Rub all sides of meat with spice mixture. 2. In a crockpot, combine seasoned beef with onion and bouillon. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until meat is tender. Remove from pot and slice (we like it shredded). 3. If gravy is preferred, thicken juices with flour dissolved in small amount of water after removing meat from the pot. Note: If desired, vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, small white onions, celery or turnips may be added with the bouillon and cooked the same time as the meat. Serves 4-6. Side Dishes -Have the relatives bring these or go the easy route- baked potatoes, salad, stuffing, or the fresh veggies you used as an appetizer, etc. -Glazed carrots are very easy and make an elegant side dish- just boil some chopped up carrots in orange juice until tender and serve. -Homemade bread is always delicious with a holiday meal. You can make bread ahead or time and freeze or use a bread machine (borrow one if you have to!). Here's an easy and delicious recipe: Easy Italian Bread A French-bread lover's delight, this Italian bread is similar to most French breads except for the addition of olive oil, which adds to the flavor. Serve the bread hot, and tear it apart for authentic Italian eating. It is great with any Italian dish, including spaghetti and lasagna. For a 1-pound loaf: 1 teaspoon active dry yeast 2 cups bread flour 1 teaspoon salt 5 ounces warm water 4 teaspoons olive oil For a 1 1/2-pound loaf: 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast 3 cups bread flour 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 cup warm water 2 tablespoons olive oil Add ingredients to your Bread Machine pan in the order given. If your machine has a French bread setting, use it with this recipe for a more authentic crust Dessert Ideas If you can't con the relatives into bringing dessert, try one of these ideas: -Baked Apples- so delicious, and super easy! Wrap pie pastry (homemade or otherwise) around cored apples, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, bake for one hour. -Mousse- mix up a package or pudding (we like chocolate), then add 1-2 cups of Cool Whip. Yummy! -Fruity Jello- mix up a box of Jello, then add a can of fruit cocktail before it is totally set. You need to start a few hours before serving so it turns out properly. -Country Style Banana Pudding- This one comes from the Black-Eyed Pea Restaurants, where I worked as a teen. If I worked there now, I'd be huge because their food is awesome! Simply line a corning ware dish with vanilla wafers. Add a layer of sliced bananas, then vanilla pudding. Repeat until you have as many layers as you want. The pudding makes the vanilla wafers very soft- and really delicious. -Toby's Special Dessert- I'm not sure what to call this, but my friend Toby brought this to a luncheon at work and it was absolutely amazing, and very elegant. Easy too! Just take a box of Lorna Dune shortbread cookies and line a large glass baking dish. Mix 1/2 of a half gallon of butter pecan icecream with a box of vanilla pudding, spread evenly over cookies. Top with Cool Whip and refrigerate. The best dessert I've ever had! (c)
Copyright, Kim Tilley
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About the Author: Kim Tilley, a tightwad at heart, is a wife, a mother of three active boys. |
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Happy Halloween
