Christmas dinner (part 2) with recipes.... 12/16/12

Well I left you waiting to see what I was going to do for 3 more side dishes for my christmas feast.... side dish # 2 is going to be traditional mashed potatoes and gravy. side # 3 is going to be sweet corn..... my step-children tell me that these are a must for christmas, their mothers (both have passed away) use to make these two dishes...... so I added it to the list. But I want a couple of wow factors in my feast....soooo???


                                                      APPLE GLAZED CARROTS

Cooking Time: 25 min

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 pound baby carrots, peeled and trimmed
• 1 cup apple juice, unsweetened
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 tablespoon green onions, minced tops

Instructions

1. Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add carrots and saute until carrots begin to brown slightly, about 8 minutes.
    
2. Add apple juice and honey and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until carrots are tender and liquid is reduced to glaze, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
    
3. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl. Sprinkle with green onion tops and serve.

So that is one more side.......I guess that will have to do for now.  I will try and wow them with some creativity.....


                                                     CHRISTMAS TREE BISCUITS


2 (7.5 oz_ cans of low -fat buttermilk biscuits (*** 10 biscuits per roll: you will only need 19)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
5 grape tomatoes, cut in half
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan Cheese

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-fat cooking spray. Place one biscuits right next to each other on the cookie sheet in the shape of a tree. Starting with one biscuit on the top, 2 biscuits for the second row, 3 biscuits for the third row, 4 biscutis for the fourth row, and 5 biscuits for the last row. To make the trunk of the tree, place 2 biscuits directly underneaththe tree right in the middle and 2 more under those...one trunk. Make sure all the biscuits are touching each other. Spray the top of the biscuits with non fat cooking spray. Sprinkle the basil evenly over the biscuits, omitting the trunk. Place the tomato halves, cut side down, in each spot where four biscuits are touching. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the entire tree. Bake for 8 to 10 minuts.
Let cool a minute or two. Then carefully transfer the tree onto a large plate by using your hand to slide it from the baking sheet.


Now what can we have to drink to be very festive.... nobody likes eggnog here...mhmmm????

For the the grown ups:

Candy Cane Cocktails

A perfect holiday cocktail.

Serves: 8

Cooking Time: 10 min

Ingredients

• 4 cups watermelon puree
   
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
   
• 1 large box cherry flavored gelatin
   
• 8 shots peppermint liqueur

Instructions

1. In large bowl or pitcher, stir watermelon puree, pomegranate juice and a heaping tablespoon of the cherry gelatin. Chill.
    
2. In two plates, place some water and remaining dry gelatin in an even layer, separately.
    
3. Rim 8 champagne glasses with cherry gelatin. Dip in water and then in saucer with gelatin.
    
4. Pour a shot of peppermint liqueur into each glass, top off glasses watermelon mixture.
    
5. Serve immediately.

For the kiddies:

Chocolate Malt Peppermint Cooler

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 3 cups chocolate milk
• 1 quart vanilla or chocolate ice cream
• 1/4 cup malted milk powder
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• coarsely crushed hard peppermint
• candies
• 6 peppermint sticks

Instructions

1. In a blender container place the chocolate milk, half of the ice cream, the malted milk powder, peppermint extract, and ground cinnamon.
    
2. Cover and blend till smooth.
    
3. Pour into six large, chilled glasses.
    
4. Top each drink with a scoop of the remaining ice cream. Sprinkle with crushed candy pieces. Place a peppermint stick in each glass.

I think we will tackle desserts and appetizers tomorrow.....shoo! these always look so easy when grandma threw things together for 100+ people.. I believe she paid alot of  attention to my great grams and her plans for holidays. My grandmother was the oldest of 16 kids and my mother was in the middle of 12 kids...so as I said Grams and Grandma's houses were always full and active, but mostly just full of love.... I hope to make this small family feel that kind of love and fun. We will be sharing that journey here.... See ya'll tomorrow!