I need an easy holiday cooking recipes?

Question

I love to cook but since i had my twins 5 months ago, I seriouly forgot a little, its been hard,so....i dont cook as much. I am invited to my in-laws for the holiday and i want to make a dish that will wow them. Any ideas appitizers, deserts or a nice dish.

Answer 1

Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Kosher salt
3 pounds boiling potatoes, such as Yukon gold, peeled
1/2 cup milk
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 to 1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

In a large pot, boil 4 quarts of water and 2 tablespoons of salt. Cut the potatoes into 1½”cubes and add them to the boiling water. Bring the water to a boil again, lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes, until the potatoes fall apart easily when pierced with a fork.

Meanwhile, heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan, making sure it doesn't boil. Set aside until the potatoes are done.

Drain potatoes and mash w/ hand masher or food mill. Stir in the hot milk-and-butter mixture with a whisk or rubber spatula. Add enough buttermilk to make the potatoes creamy. Add 2 tsp salt and the pepper, to taste, and serve hot.

--Ina Garten, FoodTV
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Perfect Roast Turkey

1 fresh turkey (12 pounds)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch of fresh thyme
1 lemon, halved
3 Spanish onions
1 head garlic, halved crosswise
4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick), melted
1/2 cup good olive oil
8 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
10 red new potatoes, halved
3 heads fennel, fronds removed, cut into wedges through the core

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Take the giblets out of the turkey and wash the turkey inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outside dry. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the thyme, lemon, one of the onions (quartered), and the garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey. Peel and slice the remaining onions, toss them with 1/4 cup olive oil, and scatter them around the turkey.

Roast the turkey for 1 hour. Toss the carrots, potatoes, and fennel with 1/4 cup olive oil and add to the roasting pan. Continue to roast for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh. Remove the turkey to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil; let rest for 20 minutes.

Stir the vegetables and return the pan to the oven. Continue to cook the vegetables while the turkey rests. Slice the turkey and serve on a platter with the roasted vegetables. Serves 8.

--Ina Garten
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Butter Pecan Sweet Potatoes

8 med. sweet potatoes (5 lbs.)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
Kosher salt
2 Tbsp. cold butter, cut into small pieces
2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
1/3 cup pecans
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Peel potatoes. Halve lengthwise, slice crosswise into ½” thick slices. On a baking sheet, toss potatoes w/ olive oil and salt. Transfer half the potatoes to a 2nd baking sheet. Bake until tender about 25-35 min., tossing occasionally. Toss potatoes with butter, brown sugar, pecans, and cayenne pepper, dividing evenly between both baking sheets. Bake again until sugar is caramelized and hard, about 10 minutes. Gently toss and serve. Serves 8.

--Everyday FOOD
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CREAM CHEESE VEGETABLE CASSEROLE

1 med. head cauliflower
1 med. to lg. bunch broccoli
6 to 8 carrots, cut in 1 inch slices
1 tsp. chives
Salt & pepper to taste
1 sm. onion
1/2 c. butter
4 tbsp. flour
8 oz. heavy cream
2 c. milk
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
Cheese, grated
Seasoned croutons

Steam vegetables until tender and crisp. Sprinkle chives and salt and pepper over vegetables. Place vegetables in large casserole. Meanwhile, over medium heat, saute onion in butter and gradually add flour, stirring constantly. Add heavy cream and milk. Add cream cheese. Stir constantly until thick and smooth. Pour cheese sauce over vegetables, gently fold. Sprinkle with grated cheese and seasoned croutons. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

Serves 8.

-- cooks.com
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Green Goddess Gelatin Salad

1 (28 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained, reserve juice
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 envelopes lime Jello
1 pint heavy whipping cream
2 tbs. cider vinegar


Place pineapple in large bowl; set aside. In meduim bowl, add Jello powder, 2 cups boiling water and stir until dissolved. Add 1 cup cold water and 1 cup reserved pineapple juice. Add vinegar. Let pre-set in freezer for a few minutes. With electric mixer, combine cream cheese and crushed pineapple. Add Jello mixture; mix until smooth. In separate bowl, whip the cream until it holds soft peaks. Gently fold whipped cream into Jello mixture. Transfer to a pretty bowl and refrigerate at least 4 hours or until set, preferably overnight.

Answer 2

How about some veggies and dip for an appetizer?

1 large red bell pepper, roasted
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces creamy goat cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt
Pepper
1/4 cup fresh oregano, chopped (optional)

To prepare the pepper:
Option 1:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place pepper on a baking sheet and place in the oven.
Roast for 20 minutes, turning occasionally, or until skin is charred and blistered.
Remove the pepper from the oven and place in a bowl.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 20 minutes.
Peel the pepper and remove the stems and seeds.
Option 2:
Open a jar of roasted red peppers

To prepare the dip:
Place the peppers in a food processor and puree until smooth.
Add garlic, goat cheese, lemon juice and sour cream to the peppers and puree until smooth.
Season with salt and pepper.
Remove the mixture from the food processor and mix in the oregano.
Refrigerate until ready to use.

Serve in a hollowed-out bell pepper.

Serve the dip with vegetables such as baby carrots, button mushrooms, asparagus (steamed until al dente), cherry tomatoes, cauliflower florets, broccoli florets

Answer 3

first let me say congratulations on your twins and id like to say that i just had a baby 3 weeks ago and my memory is horrible! i hope that you have a happy thanksgiving and i hope that this recipe helps! its my favorite paula deen recipe!

Pineapple Upside-Down Biscuits Recipe

1 (10-ounce) can crushed pineapple
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, at room temperature
10 maraschino cherries
1 (12-ounce) package refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (10 count)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Grease 10 cups of a muffin tin. Strain the can of crushed pineapple, save juice for later. Combine the pineapple, sugar, and butter, and mix well. Divide the pineapple mixture among the muffin cups. Place a cherry in the center of each muffin cup, making sure cherry hits bottom of cup. Place 1 biscuit in each cup on top of sugar and pineapple mixture. Spoon 1 teaspoon reserved pineapple juice over each biscuit. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden. Cool for 2 minutes. Invert the pan onto a plate to release the biscuits. Serve warm.

Answer 4

Here you go darlin'.... I hope these help... have fun and enjoy

CRANBERRY RUM COFFEECAKE

1 cup Craisins
1/2 cup butter
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup cold water
1/4 Myer's Rum
3/4 cup chopped nuts
confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Butter and flour an 8 inch square baking pan, tapping out any excess flour.

In a medium saucepan, combine Craisins, butter and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from burner and allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in 1/4 cup rum and 1/4 cup water.

In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg) until evenly mixed. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, break the egg and beat until light; stir in the cooled Craisin/rum mixture.

Gradually stir in the dry ingredients mixing only until the flour is thoroughly dampened. Mixture does not need to be smooth and may still have some lumps.

Gently fold in chopped nuts. Macadamia, walnuts, pecans and almonds or any combination may be used.

Tip: For extra flavor, toss nuts with melted butter and sprinkle lightly with confectioners sugar and a pinch of cinnamon, if desired before adding to batter.

Bake coffeecake for 35-40 minutes or until cake tests done (a toothpick inserted in center comes out nearly clean; cake will begin to pull away from sides of pan slightly).

Remove from oven. Brush top with melted butter and dust lightly with confectioners sugar while still warm. Cool on wire rack for 5-10 minutes; run a blunt knife along side of pan and remove cake from pan.


CRANBERRY APPLE CASSEROLE

1 cup whole cranberries
1 1/2 cups chopped apples, unpeeled
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter
1/2 cup oatmeal
2/3 cup flour

Combine cranberries, apples and sugar in an ovenproof baking dish. Mix nuts, sugar, butter and oatmeal with flour and pat into dish (mixture will be like a moist paste. Add a tablespoon of water, if needed.)
Bake at 350F for 45 minutes or until done.

Answer 5

Is dependent on the context really. Which is better as a snack - fruits to me. It's tastier and gives you that little of sweetness. Which can be better as a snack if you are trying hard to minimize back on sugar and lose weight vegetables

Answer 6

ham dip.....

1 lb of ham from deli (chopped small)
3 large pkg of cream cheese
1 bunch of green onions...( chopped small)

let cream cheese stand till soft mix all ingredients
chill
serve with crackers or what ever....
with this the longer it sits the better it gets will keep for a week if it lasts that long....

Answer 7

Here's a dessert dish for ya. Click on this link...

http://food.yahoo.com/recipes/kraft/63089/decadent-chocolate-chunk-cheesecake

...it's really, really good!

Answer 8

hash brown casserole is GREAT fall food!but if u want something alittle more..wow..then why not make some really good stuffing?or sweet potato pie?mmm

Answer 9

Try these out, they've always worked for me!
(Fresh cranberry salad) http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cranberry-suace-i
(Double layered Pumpkin Cheesescake) http://recipegal.com/pumpkincheesecake/double-layer-pumpkin-cheesecake

Answer 10

wow there are so many, try looking on the tvfoodnetwork.com