Holiday Cooking Crisis

[BrittBritt1027]

I have a 13 month old daughter and my boyfriend has a VERY large family. I've never been very creative in the kitchen, and he's expecting me to come up with at least one good dish. Any ideas??

[AM-BRAT]

If you're not a good cook, and not interested in trying something crazy make these cookies, and put them in a beautiful basket with a giant red bow and hope for the best, lol!

1 cup Peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

dash vanilla

 

Mix, roll into balls, and place on cookie sheet. Make criss- crosses with a fork, sprinkle with sugar. 350 * 10-12 minutes.

 

This only makes about a sheet of cookies. I'd say double or even triple to make enough for a whole family. But they are the BEST EASIEST cookies EVER. Enjoy!

[elasmimi]

A green bean casserole is always a hit, and easy as anything I can think of. Get a can of Durkees fried onions is on the label.

[SanDiegoMaxMom]

As a new member of the family, I'm guessing that you're not going to be responsible for a main item....try these appetizers:

 

Spinach Dip

As you can see, this is basically the recipe from the back of the Knorr package with twice the spinach and less mayo.

• •v  2 packages frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• •v  1 carton sour cream  

• •v  About ½ a cup mayonnaise  

• •v  1 or 2 cans water chestnuts

• •v  1 package Knorr Vegetable Soup mix

• •v  Few shakes of Worcestershire sauce (optional)

Combine all items in the food processor, pulse until combined, refrigerate few at least an hour before serving.  If you don't have a food processor, just dice the water chestnuts and stir to combine.

Serve with bread bowl, pita chips, crackers or crudités.

 

Simple Humus

• •v  1 can Garbanzo Beans, drained (reserve some liquid)  

• •v  2-5 cloves garlic

• •v  1 tbsp sesame oil

• •v  5-7 shakes of Worcestershire sauce

• •v  Olive oil

• •v  Lemon juice-one squeeze (optional)  

• •v  Salt and pepper to taste

Start with garlic and a little olive oil and salt in the food processor.  Pulse until finely chopped.

Add garbanzo beans, sesame oil, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and pulse several times.  Begin to add olive oil until it reaches the right consistency.  You can substitute some of the liquid from the can if you want less fat.  You can eat this right away, but the flavors marry well after about an hour.

 

My cousin gave me this recipe for Mississippi Sin....huge hit!!

Mississippi Sin

1 French Bread or Italian Bread Loaf (the wider the better)

2 c shredded cheddar cheese
2 c chopped ham
½ c chopped green onions
1 8 oz sour cream
1 8 oz cream cheese
¼ c green chopped green chilies
few jalepenos

Hollow out the loaf of bread by cutting the top of loaf and removing it (try to keep in one piece and don't discard --this is placed back on top).
Mix all ingredients in bowl. Scoop into the bread-place top back on and wrap in foil two times. Bake at 325° for 1 hr 20 minutes.

 

Serve with chips, crackers, tortilla chips, veggies.

 

ENJOY

 

 

 

 

 

 

[taxidriver]

Something everyone will enjoy and real simple.

sweet potatoe casserole

2 cans of sweet potato (mash)

1  cup of sugar (to your taste)

1/4 tsp of vanilla

2 eggs

1 can of condense milk

TOPPING

pecan pieces

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/2 tsp of butter (melted)

mix together in bowl, will be crumbly

Mix (use electric mixer) everything together in bowl until smooth; pour into a 9x13 casserole dish, add the chopped pecan pieces on top and bake for 50 min. in a 350 degree oven.

 

[ZsMommy]

Here's a simple way to "cheat" making pumpkin cheesecake...add pumpkin pie mix (the canned pumpkin with the spices already in it) to one of those Jello brand no-bake cheesecake box mixes (about a 1/2 a cup...no more than 3/4c)

You can stir in mini chocolate chips and garnish with more on top if you like the pumpkin/chocolate combo.

I know this is a dessert-and you're looking for a side dish-let me think on it-all my ones I make are time consuming-let me see if I can find something simple but yummy to add a reply.

[ZsMommy]

Found this-looked simple and all had really good reviews

Thanksgiving Medley

By Lvs2Cook on September 15, 2005

Ingredients:

Servings:

4 4

4-6

Servings Size

• Update

• 3 large sweet potatoes or 3 large yams
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 6 -8 ounces fresh cranberries
• 1/2 cup golden raisin

Change Measurements: US | Metric

Directions:

Prep Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 1 3/4 hrs

1. 1 Preheat oven to 400º.
2. 2 Peel and quarter sweet potatoes lengthwise. Place in greased 12x9 glass dish.
3. 3 Top with butter and brown sugar. Bake at 400º for 30 minutes.
4. 4 Add cranberries and raisins, reducing heat to 350º. Continue baking for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender.
5. 5 Top with coarsely chopped pecans if desired.

[michiganmom116]

Here are few of our favorites that are so easy to make:

Party Cheese Ball with crackers

• 2 8 oz. cream cheese
• 8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 Tbsp. finely diced onion
• 1 Tbsp. finely chopped green pepper
• 1 Tbsp. finely chopped pimento
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. lemon juice

Mix all ingredients together. Form into a ball or press into a small serving dish. The ball can be rolled in finely chopped nuts or parsley if desired.

Green Bean Casserole - from the French's French Fried Onions can

• 4 cups (32 oz.) regular cut green beans, cooked
• 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 3/4 c. milk
• 1/8 tsp. black pepper
• 1 2.8 oz. can french fried onions, divided

In 1 1/2 qt. casserole dish mix soup, milk, pepper and 2/3 c. (1/2 can) french fried onions. Stir in beans. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Top with rest of french fried onions and bake an additional 5 minutes.

Pea Salad

• 1 16 oz. pkg frozen peas, thawed
  
• 1 cup Miracle Whip or mayonnaise
• 1 small white or red onion, diced
• 1 cup finely shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled
• Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients except veggies in a bowl. Stir in veggies. Store in refrigerator.

Simple Cinnamon Sweet potatoes:

Open a large can of sweet potatoes, drain and mash. Put in casserole dish and drizzle with about 1/4 c. each melted butter or margarine and honey. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

Taffy Apple Salad

• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 can (20 oz.) pineapple tidbits, drained (save the juice)
• 8 oz. Cool Whip
• 5 medium size apples, cored and diced
• 2 c. miniature marshmallows
• 1 c. salted peanuts

In a small heavy saucepan, combine brown sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, egg, and pineapple juice. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

In a medium bowl, fold chilled lemon-egg mixture into whipped topping until blended.

In a large bowl, combine pineapple, apples, marshmallows and peanuts. Stir in topping mixture.

Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours before serving.