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(I just had to post this when I read Mr.
White's recipes. They sound incredible and might just be a part of
my holiday feast. Emgy)
Yummy Yuletide Recipes You'll Love
by Jeremy White
Of all the traditions you'll embrace this
Christmas season, few are as resplendent and revered as a bounteous
holiday feast. A table full of family and friends with cups that runneth
over truly brings joy to the occasion. Here are a handful of recipes to
help with your holiday dinner preparations.
We're not chefs and space constraints do
not allow us to plan your entire meal, but the recipes here are easy,
time tested and will make a nice addition to the other dishes you plan to
produce.
Whether you opt for ham, turkey or roast
beef as your meat of choice, you won't go wrong with a side of
garlic-cheese mashed potatoes. Give this recipe a whirl:
Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes 3 pounds
potatoes, peeled and diced 8 cloves garlic, peeled and mashed 9
tablespoons butter, softened 3/4 cup half and half 1/4 cup cheddar
cheese, shredded 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded 1/4 cup Romano
cheese, shredded Salt and pepper, to taste
Halve potatoes and boil until tender,
about 25 minutes. Drain and set aside. Melt butter in pan. In separate
pan, bring half and half to boil and remove immediately when it begins to
boil. Mash the potatoes. Beat in butter first, then half and half. Add
mashed garlic and cheeses, then mix to melt cheeses. Season with salt and
pepper and continue to mix until potatoes are smooth.
While you are cooking and the children are
playing, you'll need a soothing drink to keep your heart warm and your
spirits lively. Apple cider is perfect for this.
Hot Apple Cider 1 gallon apple cider
(apple juice will work) 4 cinnamon sticks 4 whole cloves 4 allspice
berries 1 orange peel, cut into strips 1 lemon peel, cut into strips
Pour cider into a large stainless steel
pot. Place spices and peels into a cheesecloth. Drop cheesecloth into
cider. Heat until the cider comes just short of boiling. Remove
cheesecloth and keep cider on the stovetop, over low heat. Serve warm
throughout the day.
If you seek to serve a traditional feast,
chances are cranberry sauce will find its way to your table. Sure, you
can buy a canned sauce. No harm, no foul. If you'd prefer to make your
own the day before the meal, however, here's how:
Cranberry Sauce 4 cups fresh cranberries 1
cup apple juice 1 cup honey 1 orange rind, grated
Mix cranberries, juice and honey in a pot.
Cook on low heat for about 5 minutes, until cranberries pop. Remove from
heat and stir in orange rind. Let cool to room temperature and
refrigerate.
Lastly, it isn't a proper Christmas meal
if you aren't breaking homemade bread. Try these yummy yeast rolls. It's
a batter bread recipe, which is relatively quick and easy for beginning
bakers!
Yeast Rolls 3/4 cup milk 1/4 cup sugar 1
teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup warm water 2 packages instant
dry yeast 1 egg 3 1/2 cups flour
Heat milk, then stir in sugar, salt and
butter. Set aside and let cool. Add warm water to large bowl, then add
yeast. Stir until dissolved. Add milk mixture, egg and two cups flour to
the water/yeast mixture. Beat until smooth and then add remaining flour
to make a soft dough. Transfer to a greased baking tray, cover with clean
towel and let rise for 30 minutes. The dough will nearly double in size.
After 30 minutes, punch down dough and shape into rolls. Place them back
into greased baking tray and bake in preheated, 400 F oven until done (10
to 12 minutes).
About the Author
Jeremy White, a writer for Imaginary
Greetings, Inc. (http://www.imaginarygreetings.com),
is a regular contributing author specializing in features, sports,
business and food writing, and frequently contributes to a variety of
print and online publications. Imaginary Greetings offers highly
imaginative personalized family oriented products and services. To make
your holiday display magical, visit http://www.holidaylighting.com.
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