christamas dinner ideas?

Question

im am looking for some awsome side dishes to cook. not to expensive but with great flavor. any ideas?

Answer 1

MASHED SWEET POTATOES WITH HONEY AND GINGER
5 lb sweet potatoes
1/2 stick butter (1/4 cup)
3 Tbsp honey
1 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
3/4 tsp each salt and pepper
garnish: chopped parsley
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pierce each potato one with a fork and place in jelly-roll pan.
2. Bake 50 minutes to 1 1/4 hours until very tender.
3. When cool, plit and scrape pulp into a large bowl.
Add remaining ingredients; mash until smooth.
Spoon into serving bowl; garnish with parsley.




BUTTERMILK MASHED POTATOES

5 lb large baking potatoes (about 8 oz each)
3/4 cup (6 Tbsp) butter
2 cups buttermilk
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup snipped chives or finely chooped scallions
(add the chives just before serving)
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pierce each potatoe once with a fork; place in jelly-roll pan.
2. Bake 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until very tender. When cool split and scrape pulp into a large bowl.
Add butter, buttermilk and salt; mash until smooth. Stir in chives; spoon into serving bowl.



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BAKED GREEN RICE

2 cups cooked rice (approx. 1 1/4 c. uncooked)
1 can chopped green chili peppers (4 ounce) - not hot
1 small onion, chopped fine
2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
1 cup finely chopped parsley
1 cup melted unsalted butter
2 eggs
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 4x5 inch loaf pan lightly and line the bottom with wax paper, then grease paper lightly. Combine the rice, chili peppers, onion, cheese, and parsley. Mix well. Add the melted butter and mix. Beat eggs lightly and add the milk. Stir and add to the other ingredients. Mix thoroughly.

Pour into the pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Allow to cool completely, loosen sides, and turn out. Remove waxed paper. Use a very sharp knife to cut into slices. Can be eaten chilled or warmed in microwave. Serves 6.

HERBED CARROTS

In a heavy saucepan combine 2 tablespoons each butter and water, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Add 4 cups quartered carrots. Cover tightly, cook over low heat 15 to 20 minutes. Season to taste. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon snipped parsley and 1/4 teaspoon dried whole tarragon, crushed. Don't drain. Serves 6.

BROCCOLI PARMESAN
2 1/2 pounds fresh broccoli, cleaned & cooked
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
2 tablespoons butter, melted
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Arrange broccoli in a serving dish.
Season with salt & pepper.
Pour melted butter over broccoli.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Place under broiler for 2 minutes or until cheese is golden brown
Yield: about 8 servings.

Answer 2

Roast Parsnips
3lb/1.4kg Parsnips, topped, tailed and peeled
3 tbsp Oil
3oz/75g butter
3tbsp Clear honey
Pre-heat oven to 220 ºC / 425 ºF. Cut the parsnips in half lengthwise, or in quarters if they are very large, trimming out any woody centres.

Pre-heat a sturdy roasting tin on top of the stove and add the oil and butter. Fry the parsnips until golden brown on all sides. Roast them in the pre-heated oven for 20 minutes, turning occasionally.

Pour the honey over the parsnips and carefully turn them, making sure they have all been covered. Put them back in the oven for about 5 minutes. The parsnips will now be tender and sweet.

Put then in large serving dish and spoon some of the honey glaze from the pan over the top to finish.

Answer 3

Green Beans with Shallots

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for the cooking water
1 pound fresh green beans
1 large shallot
1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper

Bring a medium pot of cold water to a boil over high heat and salt it generously. Trim the stem end off the green beans. Peel and finely chop the shallot.
Drop the green beans into the boiling water and cook, uncovered, until crisp tender, about 4 minutes. Drain in a colander set in the sink and rinse with very cold water until cool. Drain well and pat dry with paper towels. (The vegetables can be prepared up to this point, up to 4 hours ahead.)

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallot is just golden, about 2 minutes. Add the green beans, increase the heat to high, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are heated through, about 4 minutes. Season with the 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper and serve immediately.

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Herb-Roasted Potatoes Recipe

2 pounds red new potatoes, quartered
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Leaves from 1/4 bunch fresh thyme
Salt

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Toss together the potatoes, oil, and thyme, and sprinkle with salt. Dump the potatoes out on a baking sheet and roast until tender and crisp on the edges, 30 to 40 minutes.

Answer 4

lightly brown some asparagus in a pan with some olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper,

Answer 5

Try currying turkey. It sounds odd but it really works well.