Christmas Dinner Recipes

All of my favorite Holiday Dinner Recipes

My all time favorite Turkey Recipe found: here

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     This is the moistest turkey recipe I have ever tasted.  I didn't know it was possible for white meat to

     be moist and this was excellent.  And the flavor was great as well!  It is really easy and falls off the bone.

     The only draw back I found? It ties up the oven for a hours.

Easiest Ham Recipe:

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     Just follow the instructions on the package, BUT cook in the crock pot. 

Holiday Sweet Potato Recipe found: here

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     This Sweet Potato Casserole is amazing, and I am not a huge fan of sweet potatoes, but this is like

     dessert. Only cooks for 30 minutes and can be cooked in advance.

Holiday Vegetable Recipe found: here

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    The perfect vegetable side.  Better and healthier than traditional Green Been Casserole.

 I personally don't like Green Bean Casserole, but even if you do, this is still excellent.  It is healthy and

     fresh and has great flavor.

Candied Walnut Salad found: here

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My all time favorite salad, perfect for every occasion.

Pears can be swapped for raspberries or strawberries.

Pretzel Jello Recipe found: here

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This side is really like dessert and always a hit.

Cranberry Bread with Cream Sauce found: here

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The cream sauce makes this.  And it is more dessert than bread, but it is excellent.

Graham Cracker Crust Jello

This is one of those recipes I had since I was a kid.  We weren't a jello family, but this was part of our holiday dinners and it is like dessert.

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Graham Cracker Crust Jello

Crust

1 ½ c crushed graham crackers

¼ c sugar

½ c melted butter

Mix together and pat into bottom of 9x13 pan. Chill until set.

Jello

3 pkg (3 oz each) strawberry jello

3 c boiling water

1- 16 oz pkg frozen strawberries (optional)

1 – 20 oz can crushed pineapple w/juice (optional)

8 oz cream cheese- softened

1 c sour cream

¼ c sugar

Directions

In large bowl dissolve jello in boiling water. Add frozen strawberries and un-drained pineapple. Pour half the mixture into a 9x13 pan and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. (make sure the jello is cool and starting to set before putting into the graham cracker crust or the crust will soften and start to float up into the jello) In mixer, beat cream cheese with sour cream and sugar; spread over chilled, set layer. Gently spoon remaining gelatin mixture on top. Refrigerate until firm. About 2 hours. (or you can use the cream cheese filling to top the jello instead of in the middle).

Cranberry Bread with Cream Sauce

It's called Cranberry Bread, but it is really cake and since it is bakes in a bunt pan...I think it should be called cake. We eat it for breakfast Christmas Morning, for dessert, for snacks...because it is so good, you end up eating all day.

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Cranberry Bread with Cream Sauce

2 c sugar

4 tsp baking powder

6 Tb butter

½ tsp salt

2 eggs

2 c milk

4 c flour

3 c whole cranberries (rinsed)

 

Directions:

Blend well; sugar, butter, eggs. In separate bowl mix together; flour, baking powder, salt. Add dry ingredients to sugar mixture alternately with milk. Stir in cranberries. Pour into greased and floured loaf pans (2) or bunt pan. Bake 45 minutes at 350’.

Cream Sauce (what makes it Divine)

1 c sugar

½ c butter

¾ c cream

1 tsp vanilla

splash of lemon juice

Bring to slow boil for 3 minutes. Stir constantly.

Candied Walnut Salad

This Salad is another favorite.  My cute sister in law made if for Thanksgiving a few years back and it is my favorite. (the image below shows pears, but she used strawberries and it was excellent)

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Candied Walnut Salad

½ c walnut halves

¼ c. sugar

3 c. mixed greens

½ c. dried cranberries

½ c. crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

1 tbsp raspberry vinaigrette

1 tbsp white vinegar

1 tbsp olive oil

*Optional: Pears, Raspberries or Sliced Strawberries

Directions:

Candied walnuts: Place walnuts and sugar in a skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves into a light brown liquid and coats the walnuts. Remove walnuts from skillet, and spread them out on a sheet of aluminum foil to cool.

Salad: Place in a large salad bowl the mixed greens, cranberries, cheese, vinaigrette, vinegar, and olive oil. Toss gently; add candied walnuts, and toss again.

Baked Vegetables

These mixed vegetables are another new found recipe this year.  While visiting friends on vacations, they made these...and the flavor and texture was excellent.  So we added them to our holiday spread and will definitely continue it in the future.  They were easy, fast, and healthy!

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Baked Vegetables

green beans

broccoli

cauliflower

garlic clove, minced

olive oil

Parmesan cheese, shredded

1 lemon

Line cookie sheet with foil. Wash, cut, and prep vegetables. Spread vegetables over foil, drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with minced garlic and Parmesan cheese. Bake at 400 for 45 min. Remove from oven and squeeze juice of lemon over the top.

*I prefer to toss vegetables in bowl with oil, garlic, and Parmesan cheese.

Ruth Chris' Sweet Potato Casserole

This is another recipe new to me this year...and it is also excellent! 

A friend brought this to a Holiday Recipe exchange and I will definitely make it every year in the future. 

And before now, I avoided all Sweet Potato Casseroles.

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Ingredients

Crust

1 c brown sugar

1/3 c flour

1 c chopped pecans

¼ c butter, melted

 

Sweet Potato Mixture

3 heaping cups mashed sweet potatoes

1 c sugar

½ tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs, beat

½ c butter, melted

Directions

Combine brown sugar, flour, nuts and butter in mixing bowl. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine sweet potatoes, sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs and butter in a mixing bowl in the order listed. Mix thoroughly. Pour mixture into buttered baking dish.

Bake for 10 min.

Sprinkle the surface of the sweet potato mixture evenly with crust mixture. Bake for 20 minutes. Allow to set at least 20-30 min.

Brown Paper Bag Turkey

I'm not the biggest turkey fan.  I like it on sandwiches and I enjoy it for the holidays, but I have never been impressed with it.  Until this year.  A cute friend of mine, gave me this recipe and it made the most moist and flavorful turkey I have ever had.  It is easy, but it takes the oven for a while...but completely worth it!

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1.Thaw turkey as instructed on package.

2.Remove wrapper, giblets & neck from inside turkey cavity. Wash turkey inside and out.

3.Prepare spices by pouring salt, pepper, garlic, sage, etc. into medium bowl. Mix together and rub spices inside & outside of turkey. Be generous with spices. I usually use 4 good handfuls.

4.Oil the inside of large paper grocery bag. I use stick of butter.

5.Place turkey inside the bag. Staple closed. If turkey is too large put one on each end.

6.Place bagged turkey (with breast down) in roasting pan. I used a large stainless steal bowl works, as it keeps the juices up around the turkey.

7.Cover securely with aluminum foil.

8.Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Roast turkey for 30-45 min. (10-12lb. Turkey for 30 min, bigger turkey takes longer.)

*The purpose is to thoroughly heat the whole bird to eliminate the chances of salmonella*

9.Reduce heat to 250 degrees. Roast for remainder of time. 10-12lb turkey for 7-9 hours, a 20lb turkey for 10-12 hours. (I suggest using a digital thermometer...it helps insure it isn't dry.

10.Remove from oven with enough time to de-bone and make gravy

 

*After slicing, pour some of the juice over the meat.

Favorite Spritz Cookie Recipe

This is my favorite Spritz Cookie recipe.  It has a hint of orange in it, that really makes the difference.

Ingredients:

4 ½ c flour

1 tsp baking powder

dash salt

1 ½ c butter

1 c sugar

1 egg

2 tbsp orange juice concentrate

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375. Sift flower, baking powder and salt. In mixer cream butter and sugar. Then add egg and mix. Add juice and mix. Stir in dry ingredients. Refrigerate about 20-40 min. until desired constancy for pushing out of Spritz Cookie Press.

*Not shown: My personal favorite, is to dip half the cookie in melted dark chocolate.

DIY Board Book

I saw a cute board book on chefmessy.com. And I loved the idea. 

I followed her tutorial for making it, but she suggests printing the pictures on card stock then using double sided sticky tape and a dollar store board book. 

I made a few minor changes.  I wanted the book to be a little more durable.  So I ordered my pictures from Walmart.  Real photos last longer through the chewing and drool. 

To ensure that the pictures would hold, I peeled off the outer layer of the board book and each of its pages. Until it was just card board. (it pulls off easily)

Then I Glued and Modge Podged the pictures on securely.

It was really quick and easy...and a perfect Stocking Stuffer idea!

Knock off Christmas Light Post

I saw this light post at Hobby Lobby decorated with greenery, berries and a bow...and loved it.

But the price tag was really high, $93 with tax.  So I decided to look around and it was worth it.

The entire Christmas Light Post was just under $22.50, including tax.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

So there are always left overs and initially I love making the traditional Turkey Sandwich with cream cheese, cranberry sauce, and gravy on homemade rolls.  But after that, left overs get a little old.  So here are a few of my favorite recipes that use Thanksgiving Left Overs.

Here are tons of recipes from Rachel Ray.
Recipes found: here
And another by Rachel Ray found: here


I like that their is more than just Turkey Casserole, where you still feel like it's the same thing.  There's Turkey and Rice recipes, Soups, Enchiladas, etc.

And when I just need something on the fresh side I like,
Turkey Salad with Cranberries found: here



*I also freeze left overs and I like to make stock and freeze it in ice cube trays.  9 ice cubes equals 1 cup.

Key words: Turkey leftovers, Thanksgiving leftovers, Turkey leftovers recipes, Thanksgiving leftovers recipes.

Season Crate

I love this crate...my dad and husband made if for me years ago on a whim and I still use it constantly.
I exchange Christmas tree clippings with berries, pine cones, and candles, for wheat grass and eggs in the spring. Summer I use wheat grass with pails, flags, flowers, and 4th of July decor.  Then in the fall twigs, leaves, gourds and pine cones. Or any other ideas I come up with.

How it was made...
10: 3 ft x 1.5 inch strips of wood.
5: for the base, two for each long side
1: cut into four, 9 inch strips, two for each short side.
Simply Nail together on each short end board.

Fall Decor

Book Pumpkins found: here

Coffee Filter Wreath found: here

Fall Wreath from Coffee Filters

As I was taking this wreath down, I realized I never posted the making of it.
And my photo really washes the color out...and the crazy wind removed a few of my branches and berries, but after the few months on my door, I still love it. 

Plus it was super simple and inexpensive.

Materials:
floral foam wreath
Coffee Filters (300 pack from dollar store)
Tea Bags (about 50, also from dollar store)
Hot glue gun
Ribbon, twigs, berries, etc as desired

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450' F.  Fill large pot or bowl with hot water and dump in 50 tea bags.  Let sit for 15 min. Then stir and squish them getting the water as dark as possible.
2. Drop in approx. 50 coffee filters.  Separate before putting them in tea. Stir around, add another 50 and repeat.
3. Wring out coffee filters and spread out on cookie sheet.  Place in hot oven to dry. Bake approx. 15 min. or until dry.
4. While they are in the oven, repeat step 2.
5. Continue through all of the filters.
6. Glue a ribbon on foam wreath for hanging purposes.
7. Once dry, pinch center of each coffee filter and glue to wreath.  Place them pretty close together and securely glue them. Don't worry about putting them on the back.
8. After gluing all filters on, glue on ribbon and decorations.

caramel apples

I recently went to a girls night where they made and tasted Caramel and chocolate dipped apples with different candy coatings.  They were amazing.  So we had some friends over and made some ourselves.
Completely easy and really good.

Ingredients:
7 green apples
7 Popsicle sticks
Wax paper, sprayed with Pam
1 bag of Kraft Caramels
1 bag of chocolate chips
1 bag of fun size candy bars, chopped not smashed (shown are Snickers and Butterfingers)

*You can mix up the type of chocolate chips. We did some milk chocolate and some dark.  White chocolate is excellent, but any kind work.  Also, instead of candy bars you can use crushed Oreo cookies, pretzels, etc.  And, a big hit was white chocolate with cinnamon and sugar over it....tasted like apple pie!

Directions:
Wash apples (and take off stickers!)
Insert Popsicle sticks.
Melt caramels in nonstick pan over medium heat. Once fully melted spread over apples with spatula. It doesn't have to be nice and pretty or smooth, because it will all be covered and not seen. Place on GREASED wax paper.  They will stick if not greased! Once all the apples have been coated in caramel, push down any bubbles in the caramel. Melt chocolate chips in microwave.  Heating in increments of 30 seconds, then mix.  Once melted and at frosting consistency, spread over the caramel layer.  Again, it doesn't need to look pretty. Immediately roll and pack with chopped candy bars.

I like to slice them to serve...that way everyone can have some of each flavor.