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Slow Cooked Corn Casserole

December 2, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
corn

cornWhat You Need:

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, soft
1/3 C of sugar
1 C of milk
1/2 C of egg substitute
2 T of butter, melted
1 t salt
1/4 t ground nutmeg
1/8 t of pepper
2 1/3 C of frozen corn, thawed
1 (14 3/4 oz.) can cream style corn
1 (8 1/2 oz.) corn muffin mix

How to Make It:

Place cream cheese and sugar into a mixing bowl and beat until smooth.
Gradually add the milk, beating the mixture while adding.
Blend in the egg substitute, butter, salt, nutmeg and pepper and mix well.
Fold in both types of corn.
Stir in the muffin mix and blend well.
Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray on the bottom and sides.
Put the corn mixture in the slow cooker.
Cook covered on high for 4 hours or until the center is set.

Makes 10 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 10 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 4 hours
Total Time: approximately 4 hours 10 minutes

Prepare this dish in a slow cooker and give yourself extra room in the oven for the rest of your Christmas dinner. You may also add chopped onions and bell peppers for extra flavor to this dish.

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Orange Cranberry Yuletide Tea

December 1, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
teawithlemon

teawithlemonWhat You Need:

4 quarts of water
1 1/2 C of sugar
6 cinnamon sticks
8 C of cranberry juice
4 C of orange juice
1/3 C of lemon juice

How to Make It:

Pour the water into a Dutch oven pan and place over low heat.
Add the sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Add in the cinnamon sticks and adjust the heat to high.
Bring the water mixture to a quick boil then reduce the heat to low.
Cover the pan and simmer 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove the cinnamon sticks and discard.
Stir in the cranberry, orange, and lemon juices until well blended.
Serve warm with a cinnamon stick and a slice of orange or lemon in each cup.

Makes 32 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 5 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 25 minutes
Total Time: approximately 30 minutes

A warm cup of tea will liven up your Christmas celebration. The bit of citrus in this cinnamon laced cranberry tea gives it a little spark. Pour it into a crock pot on low temperature to keep the tea warm and tasty all day long.

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Toasting with Holiday Beverages

December 1, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

punchBeverages are a big part of a holiday celebration. Holiday beverages are the perfect topper for a great dinner or the wake up for morning breakfast and are important when it comes to those holiday toasts.

Eggnog tops the list of holiday beverages. Eggnog is made with eggs of course. Some people may be concerned about raw eggs. If that’s the case, you can purchase chilled eggnog in the carton. There are numerous recipes for eggnog. Finding the one that suits your taste buds and needs won’t be hard to do.

Eggnog is traditionally an alcoholic drink but it’s not an absolute necessity to add the alcohol. Adults and children alike can enjoy a tasty non-alcoholic version. Add a little nutmeg or cinnamon to the top of each glass to give it a special holiday taste.

Heat up some apple cider for the holiday toast. This warm apple drink keeps the chill away when the weather outside is frightful. Add slices of citrus fruits and cinnamon sticks. Use citrus peels to garnish each cup.

Wassail is a popular European holiday drink that has found its place in our holidays. Served hot this spiced punch can be made with mulled cider instead of the traditional mulled beer. The ingredients were heated together and topped with toast. Even with the soggy bread this punch is a holiday tradition in many homes.

Punches of all kinds are a hit when it comes to holiday beverages. A sparkling punch, fruit punch or citrus punch can spruce up any holiday gathering. For presentation add colored ice cubes. Red and green Kool-Aid make great holiday punch ice cubes. Add red and green maraschino cherries for a special touch.

How about a Christmas tea? Peppermint teas are a great way to toast the holiday. Cinnamon teas give you that Christmas warmth. If you have a diabetic family member teas may be easier to handle than some of the sweet or alcoholic type of beverages.

One last beverage to remember is the hot chocolate. Use milk instead of water for a creamier version. There’s nothing like hot chocolate to warm the body on a snowy Christmas night. Don’t forget the marshmallows.

There are so many different types of beverages to help you toast the holidays. Try one of these or create your own. Either way here’s to you and yours and a happy and safe holiday season.

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Chilies Devilled Eggs

November 30, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
devilledeggs

devilledeggsWhat You Need:

12 hard boiled eggs
1/2 C of mayonnaise
1/2 C of green chilies, chopped very fine
2 t of chipotle pepper in abode sauce
1/2 t of garlic salt
6 teaspoons of salsa

How to Make It:

The eggs are cut in half and remove the yolks to a mixing bowl.
Place the egg whites on a serving platter.
With a fork or potato masher, mash the yolks well.
Mix in the mayonnaise, green chilies, chipotle pepper and salt and blend well.
Fill each egg white with about a tsp of the yolk mixture.
On top of each filled egg place 1/2 tsp of the salsa.
Refrigerate covered at least 60 minutes before serving.

Makes 12 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Total Time: approximately 15 minutes

Any Christmas buffet is incomplete without deviled eggs. These will spice up your Christmas meal. You may leave out the green chilies if you are serving children.

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Zesty Christmas Side Dish

November 29, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
christmasdinnersetting

christmasdinnersettingWhat You Need:

3/4 lb. of bacon
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
4 (15 1/2 oz.) cans of hominy, drained
1 (14 1/2 oz.) can of diced tomatoes with juice
1 (10 oz.) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce

How to Make It:

In a skillet over medium heat cook the bacon 10 minutes or until crisp.
Drain the bacon well on paper towels then crumble.
Add the onion and green pepper to the skillet with the bacon drippings.
Sauté the vegetables for 5 minutes or until tender then drain well.
Put the hominy, both cans of tomatoes with their juice and the tomato sauce into the bottom of the crock pot
Add the cooked bacon, onions and green pepper and stir to combine.
Cook covered on low for 6 hours or until heated through.

Makes 12 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 5 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 6 hours 15 minutes
Total Time: approximately 6 hours 20 minutes

This dish goes great with pork, chicken or turkey. It will add a touch of zest and color to your Christmas buffet.

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Holiday Citrus Christmas Punch

November 28, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
orangeinpunch

orangeinpunchWhat You Need:

4 maraschino cherries
1 orange, sliced thin
1 lemon, slice thin
1 lime, sliced thin
2 3/4 C of water, divided
1 (12 oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 (12 oz.) can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
1 (12 oz.) can frozen pineapple orange concentrate, thawed
2 liters ginger ale, chilled

How to Make It:

Layer the cherries, orange, lemon and lime slices into a ring mold.
Add enough of the water to the mold to fill 2/3 full.
Place the mold in the freezer and freeze until solid.
Place the remaining water into a punch bowl.
Blend in the lemonade, limeade and pineapple orange concentrates.
Pour the ginger ale into the bowl and stir to combine.
Place the fruit ice ring in the punch fruit side up.

Makes 24 servings

This punch is tasty and a colorful addition to your Christmas buffet. Pineapple rings or chunks may also be added to the fruit ice ring.

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Moist Carrot and Squash Stuffing

November 27, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

What You Need:

1/4 C of flour
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
1 (8 oz.) container of sour cream
2 yellow squash, sliced
1 onion, chopped
1 C of grated carrot
1 (8 oz.) pkg. stuffing mix
1/2 C of butter, melted

How to Make It:

Whisk the flour, soup and sour cream together in a large mixing bowl.
Gently fold in the squash, onion and carrot and coat well.
Empty the stuffing mix into a separate bowl.
Pour the melted butter over the stuffing and stir until well moistened.
Smooth half of the stuffing mix into the bottom of a slow cooker.
Spread the vegetables over the stuffing.
Smooth the remaining stuffing over the top of the vegetables.
Cook covered on low 5 hours or until the vegetables are tender.

Makes 10 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 5 hours
Total Time: approximately 5 hours 15 minutes

If you want to serve something different from the traditional stuffing this is the dish to serve. Substitute zucchini for the yellow squash if you like.

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Deep Fried Fritters with Apple Jelly

November 26, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
friedfritters

friedfrittersWhat You Need:

1 T olive oil
1 sweet onion, halved and sliced
2 t balsamic vinegar
1/3 C of apple jelly
1/3C canned tomatoes, diced
1 T of tomato paste
1/8 t of curry powder
1/8 t of cinnamon
1/2 t salt, divided
1/8 t of pepper
2 C of baking mix
1 (11 oz.) can yellow and white corn, drained well
2 eggs, beaten lightly
1/2 C of milk
1/2 C of sour cream

How to Make It:

Place a skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil.
Stir in the onion and sauté for 5 minutes or until golden brown.
Pour in the vinegar and stir continuously for 2 minutes.
Remove from the stove and set aside.
Add the jelly to a saucepan and stir in the tomatoes and tomato paste.
Blend in the curry powder, cinnamon 1/4 tsp of salt and the pepper.
Heat the mixture 5 minutes over medium heat.
Stir in the onion and cook for 3 minutes longer.
Remove the saucepan from the heat, cover and keep warm.
Toss the baking mix and corn together in a mixing bowl.
Add the eggs, milk, sour cream and remaining salt and mix well.
In a deep fryer heat the oil to 375 degrees F.
Into the hot oil drop the batter by tablespoonfuls.
Fry the batter 1 1/2 minutes then flip.
Fry for 1 minute or until crispy brown.
Drain the fritters well on paper towels.
Serve the warm jelly on the side with the fritters.

Makes 2 dozen fritter and 1 C of jam

Add a little southern delight to your Christmas buffet by using these fritters as an appetizer. They are so good you might want to make a double batch.

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Curb Their Hunger with Christmas Appetizers

November 26, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
fruitveggieplates

fruitveggieplatesIt’s Christmas and everyone is anticipating the Christmas dinner. The mouthwatering smells from the kitchen have everyone’s stomach growling. Sneaking to kitchen to take a bite is often the most stressful time for family and friends. They don’t want to be in the way but those smells make it impossible to stay away.

Appetizers can help to curb the hunger but still leave room for that turkey and all the fixings. Appetizers don’t have to be heavy. Depending on how long it will be before dinner or if a hearty breakfast was served will determine on the type of appetizers you serve.

Some examples of Christmas appetizers might be:

• Nuts
• Cheese
• Vegetables and dip
• Fruit
• Finger sandwiches
• Chicken nuggets

Nuts can be placed in bowls right from the package. Roasted nuts such as pecans or walnuts are quite tasty. Spruce them up by adding a sugar glaze.

Cheese can be cut in cubes and placed on trays. Cheese and crackers are also a good idea. Cheese balls rolled in nuts or herbs or spreadable cheese topped with bacon, tomatoes or olive slices are great with any type of crackers.

Vegetables and dip make a great appetizer. It’s healthy and won’t spoil their Christmas dinner appetite.

Another healthy appetizer is fresh fruit. Sprinkle the cut fruit with lemon juice to keep it from turning brown. Add a fruit dip made with yogurt for a special treat.

Finger sandwiches are easy to make. Chicken, tuna, ham and turkey salad are great ideas for finger sandwiches. Be sure to leave them refrigerated until time to serve. Anything that is made with mayonnaise shouldn’t be left out for more than a few hours. Deli sliced roast beef and cheese also make easy but tasty finger sandwiches.

Chicken nuggets make wonderful appetizers. Bake them and place them on a tray with toothpicks. Add sides of barbecue sauce or honey mustard for dipping. Wrap them in bacon before baking for something a little fancier.

These are just a few ideas for your Christmas appetizers. Add them to your grocery list this year and keep the nibblers out of the kitchen until it’s time to help with the clean up.

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Host a Theme Dinner This Christmas

November 24, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
tableholidayfood1

tableholidayfood1Christmas dinner always seems to be a mad crazy rush. Sure the family gets together and great time but it can always be better. Why not host a Christmas theme dinner this year.

Are you asking yourself what is a theme dinner? It’s a dinner based around a specific theme. Of course in this instance the theme should be based around Christmas. Here are a few ideas for a Christmas theme dinner:

• Family history of holiday meals

Think back in your own family history. Maybe your family is of European, Asian or African descent. Fill the table this year with foods that reflect what would have been eaten by your family members hundreds of years ago. Research the traditional dress of the time so that everyone can look the part.

• Spiritual themes

Christmas is not just about spending time together but the spiritual significance. Everyone could dress as the people did in biblical times and enjoy foods prepared as they would have been enjoyed in the New Testament around the time that Jesus was born.

• Holiday recipes

Holiday recipes come from all sorts of cookbooks. You may decide on a down home Christmas meal or eat dinner as the Pilgrims may have enjoyed it with pheasant instead of turkey as the main dish. Try a recipe book based on holiday songs or poems. You’ll find a lot of references to meal ideas with those.

• Regional foods

Regional themes can reflect the variety of traditions in different corners of your own country. How about a traditional New England feast or a Southwest meal? Go down south to Texas and you will find some other favorites you may not have thought to add to your Christmas meal before.

• Holiday movies

Let’s start with holiday movies. Take your favorite movie and use that as a starting point. Use the time period and any mention of food in the movie to set up your menu and what the attire will be for the evening.

These are just a few ideas for a Christmas theme dinner. Be sure to plan early so that everyone can have enough time to add their special touch. It might be a tradition that will carry on for years and years to come.

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