Showing posts with label holiday cooking recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday cooking recipes. Show all posts

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Holiday Cooking Recipes - Almond Wild Rice Chicken Soup


Holiday Cooking Recipes - Almond Wild Rice Chicken Soup

What is holiday cooking recipes without tasty soup recipes? And making them in the crockpot is even better! It gives you ots of time to create the other courses of the holiday meal. this soup is substantial, so your main course can be lighter.

Make Full Use Of Your Crock Pot: 470 Crock Pot Recipes

Almond Wild Rice Chicken Soup

What You Need:

  • 2 T butter
  • 1/2 C dry wild rice
  • 6 C fat free low sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 C onion, minced
  • 1/2 C celery, chopped
  • 2 C chicken, cooked and chopped
  • 1/2 C slivered almonds, toasted

How to Make It:

  1. Place the butter into a small skillet over medium heat.
  2. Allow the butter to melt completely then add the dry rice.
  3. Reduce the heat to low and stirring occasionally sauté the rice for 10 minutes.
  4. Remove the rice from the skillet and place in the crock pot.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth and stir.
  6. Add the onion and celery and stir to combine well.
  7. Set the heat setting to low, cover the crock pot and cook 4 hours.
  8. Add the chicken and continue cooking on low 1 hour.
  9. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with the slivered almonds.

Serving Size: 8

This soup is very low in fat due to the fat free chicken broth. Regular chicken broth can be added if you prefer. Chopped winter squash is also a great addition to the soup.


Well, with this addition to your Holiday Cooking Recipes you should have an easy start to any kind of entertaining.


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Thursday, February 19, 2009

Holiday Cooking Recipes - Aleppo Chicken


Holiday Cooking Recipes - Aleppo Chicken

Sometimes suitable holiday cooking recipes needs to be easy. You do not always have a lot of time to prepare the food for a holiday meal. This recipe needs very little from you. The flavor comes from the sauce that is very easily made at the last moment.

Aleppo Chicken


Ingredients:

  • 1 chicken (about 4 lb boiler)
  • 1 cup fresh cream
  • ½ lb mushrooms
  • 1 onion
  • Piece of celery or celery salt
  • 1 glass sherry
  • 1 carrot
  • 4 egg yolks
  • ¼ lb blanched almonds
  • Salt to taste

Method:

  1. Boil chicken in enough salt water to cover, with carrot, onion and celery or celery salt until tender.
  2. Remove chicken from stock and put it on a serving dish to keep warm.
  3. Fry mushrooms in butter and set aside.
  4. Beat the fresh cream, egg yolks and add the sherry, almonds, mushroom and ½ pint chicken stock and cook over low heat until mixture thickens.
  5. Pour over chicken and serve while still hot.
  6. Serve with rice and a salad of your choice.

Are you still looking for some fun and easy recipes? Have a look at Hendrika's Hub Page, Fun Easy Salmon Recipes You will love all these recipes. Go and have a look.

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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

New Years Eve Recipes - Passionate Pomegranate Punch


Here is another fun New years Eve Recipe for you. This is a great punch to serve if you are having a Valentine's party. Pretty it up with heart shaped ice cubes colored red and pink with food coloring. If you prefer to serve an alcoholic punch you can substitute vodka for the club soda.

Passionate Pomegranate Punch

What You Need:

  • 2 tubs Cherry Pomegranate flavor drink mix
  • 8 C water
  • 2 C club soda
  • 2 C cranberry juice
  • ½ C lime juice
  • ½ C orange juice
  • Crushed ice

How to Make It:

  1. Put the drink powder into a punch bowl.
  2. Pour the water into the punch bowl and stir until the powder has completely dissolved.
  3. Add the club soda and mix well.
  4. Pour in the cranberry juice, lime juice and orange juice and stir until all the ingredients are incorporated together.
  5. Add the crushed ice just before serving.

Serving Size: 24


This is one of our very easy New Years Eve recipes, yet so taste and festive. Welcome your guests with this New Years Eve punch and your party id off to a good start.

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Thursday, December 11, 2008

Easy Holiday Recipes - Christmas Dinner for Two


Easy Holiday Recipes - Christmas Dinner for Two

Before some more Easy Holiday Recipes, let's have a look at Christmas dinner for two. Sometimes we don’t want the big gatherings at Christmas. It could be us and our spouse. If you want to forego the lavish Christmas dinner and share it with a special someone, here are some ideas for a Christmas dinner for two.

Christmas dinner does work even if there are only two people involved. Portion sizes are smaller and you won’t stay in the kitchen all day, but laughs and good memories are still made.

1. You will save money.

There will be less of everything to prepare when dinner is for two instead of twenty. If you still want leftovers, cook dishes in servings of four. This way, just enough is leftover for one maybe two meals so you won’t get tired of eating it.

2. Turn the Christmas dinner into a romantic meal.


Add candles to the table and set formal place settings. Both of you can dress for the occasion even if it is in your living room.

3. Prepare a Christmas dinner menu in advance.

It won’t be a big menu, but you can do it together. Fixing the meal together is also romantic. Talk over old times when you were dating or of Christmases past.

4. A Christmas dinner for two is not a solemn affair.

We are talking about choosing to celebrate away from the large gathering of relatives. You can certainly visit family for dessert or at some other holiday event.

5. You can still eat turkey with all the trimmings.

Cook a small turkey breast instead of a large whole turkey. Buying a bag of breadcrumbs to make the dressing should provide at least four servings of stuffing.

6. Order your dinner and pick it up.

Most grocery stores provide Christmas dinner options for small gatherings even as small as two. If you still want to make your Christmas turkey breast, order the side dishes and desserts from the grocery store. Their menu specifies serving sizes and prices. Order well in advance so there will be no problems with your order.

7. Try something new.

Since there is no one to impress, try some of those Christmas side dishes you’ve seen on Food Network cooking shows. Set up a taste testing for the two of you along with some wine to make the food taste better.

Christmas dinner doesn’t have to involve the entire family to be special. Spending quality time with our significant other at the holiday dinner table is a rewarding experience as well.

Easy Holiday Recipes - Christmas Hens for Two

What You Need For This Easy Holiday Recipe:

*2 T onion, chopped fine
*1/3 C long grain rice, uncooked
*4 T butter, divided
*1/2 C cream of celery soup
*3/4 C water
*1 T lemon juice
*1 t chives, dried
*1 t parsley flakes
*1 chicken bouillon cube
*2 (1 1/4 lb) Cornish hens
*1/2 t salt
*1/4 t pepper
*1/2 t tarragon, dried

How to Make It:

1. Place 2 T butter in a large skillet over medium heat and allow the butter to melt completely.
2. Stir in the onion along with the rice.
3. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice has begun to brown.
4. Pour the soup into the skillet and stir to combine.
5. Add the water, lemon juice, chives, parsley and bouillon cube being sure to stir well to combine the ingredients.
6. Allow the mixture to heat to a steady boil.
7. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet and allow to cook 25 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
8. Remove the skillet from the heat and allow the mixture to cool enough to handle.
9. Clean the hens with cold water and pat dry with paper towel.
10. Sprinkle the salt and pepper into both hen cavities.
11. Stuff the two hen cavities with the rice mixture.
12. Place the oven temperature at 375 degrees and allow the oven to heat.
13. Place a rack in a large baking pan.
14. Lay the hens' breast up on the rack.
15. Melt the remaining butter in a microwave safe bowl on high for 1 to 2 minutes.
16. Add the tarragon to the melted butter and stir to combine.
17. Brush the hens with the butter mixture.
18. Cover loosely with foil and bake 45 minutes being sure to baste with the butter mixture about every 10 minutes.

Serving Size: 2
Saucy Cinnamon Apple Cocktail


What You Need:

* 1 TBSP lemon juice
* 2 C apple juice
* 2 cinnamon sticks
* 1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
* 1/4 tsp. salt
* 2 Red Delicious apples, cored, peeled and diced
* 1 1/2 C pineapple chunks, in their own juice
* 1 orange, peeled and sectioned

How to Make It:

1. Pour the lemon juice and the apple juice together in a large saucepan.
2. Place the pan over medium high heat and bring juices to a rapid boil.
3. Once boiling add the cinnamon sticks, lemon peel and salt and stir well.
4. Bring mixture back to a rapid boil.
5. Reduce heat to medium low and cook, uncovered 10 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and allow cooling for about 15 minutes.
7. Place the apples, pineapple and orange segments into a large mixing bowl.
8. Remove the cinnamon stick from the juice mixture.
9. Stir the juice mixture to be sure all the flavors are incorporated together.
10. Pour the juice mixture over the fruit being sure to completely cover the fruit.
11. Seal and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Serves 4

Orange Glazed Carrots

Ginger not only livens up so many recipes but it also is used to ward off colds and flu!!

Ingredients:

* 1 pound of fresh or thawed frozen baby carrots
* 1/3 cup of orange marmalade
* 2 tablespoons of butter
* 2 teaspoons of Dijon style mustard
* 1/2 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger

Instructions:

1. Cook carrots in saucepan and drain or steam them, whichever you prefer.
2. Return carrots to saucepan and stir in the butter, mustard, marmalade and ginger.
3. Mix well.
4. Simmer on medium setting stirring frequently until carrots are glazed.

This makes a great side dish to any lunch meal. It can also be served as an appetizer or snack as well.
A Different Green Bean Dish

Were you put in charge of the green bean dish this year? Spice it up!

Ingredients:

* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 onion, finely chopped
* 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 6 links spicy pork sausage, sliced
* 1 cup water
* 2 pounds frozen green beans
* Seasoning salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Sauté the garlic and onion until tender
2. Add sausage to skillet and brown all over.
3. Add 1 cup of water and bring to a boil.
4. Now add the green beans.
5. Cover, reduce to a simmer and let cook for about 30 minutes until green beans are ready.
6. You may need to add a little more water about half way if it starts to get low.
7. Season to your tastes.



Sunday, December 7, 2008

Fun Holiday Recipes - Planning a Christmas Dinner Party

Easy Holiday Recipes - Planning a Christmas Dinner Party

Why are you looking for easy holiday recipes? I do not think that is a very good question! Let us look at planning a Christmas dinner party and then move on to the easy holiday recipes.

We all love spending time with family and friends during Christmas to share the blessings of the season. A very good way to do that is hosting a Christmas dinner party for your friends. Here are a few tips when it comes to planning the perfect party for the holidays.

A Christmas dinner party is an elegant affair. People get a chance to dress up and mingle with coworkers and other friends in an adult setting. It is as much fun as it is formal.

1. Invite guests at least three weeks in advance.

The Christmas engagement calendar fills up fast and you want to get your dinner party on the roster. Host a Christmas dinner party for your office department. For a dinner party that is purely personal, invite friends and their dates or spouses. Specify on the invitation that it is for adults only. This gives everyone time to find a sitter for their children.

2. Plan the menu.

On the invitation ask if anyone has any special dietary concerns. There could be vegetarians in the group but here we are more concerned with food allergies or conditions such as diabetes. Plan the food courses accordingly so no one feels left out.

3. Get back to your guests if they do not respond.

If everyone hasn’t responded a week out from the Christmas dinner party, contact them with a quick message just in case they forgot. For sit down formal dinners having an accurate head count is necessary to be sure there is enough food for everyone. As a standard rule of thumb, allot at least two pounds of food per person attending the dinner party.

4. Decide on cooking or catering.

There is nothing wrong with catering a dinner party. Cooking can be an all day affair and no one wants to be stuck in the kitchen during their own dinner party. The host or hostess wants to mingle with the rest of the guests. If you decide to cook, keep the menu simple and opt for a buffet presentation instead of table service.

5. Set up the table and decorate a day in advance.

This way, if anything is missing, there is time to go out and find it. Leave glasses until the last minute so they don’t gather lint and dust particles overnight. After setting the table, go ahead and clean up a bit especially in the common areas where guests will be mingling.

6. Lay out the food a half hour before guests arrive.

If a caterer is handling the affair there are no worries there. For a home cooked buffet style dinner party, light the liquid fuel under the food pans half an hour before guest arrive so the food will be warm.

An elegant dinner party is a nice way to get to know coworkers away from the office or to relax with friends you don’t see much of during the year. Everyone has a chance to show off their best holiday clothes and share a few laughs.

Now let us have a look at some really easy holiday recipes:

Balsamic Turkey Breast with Cranberry Sauce


What You Need:


  • 1 (7 lb.) turkey breast
  • 6 tbsp. balsamic vinegar, divided
  • 3 tsp. rosemary, crushed
  • 3 tsp. thyme, crushed
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 1/2 C frozen fruit punch concentrate
  • 1 1/2 C cold water
  • 1 (10 oz.) pkg. dried cranberries
  • 2 tbsp. cornstarch


How to Make It:

  1. Using 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar rub the turkey breast on all sides well.
  2. Sprinkle the turkey with the rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper.
  3. Place the turkey breast on a rack that has been placed in a large roasting pan.
  4. Bring the temperature of the oven up to 350 degrees.
  5. Place the turkey breast in the oven for 45 minutes.
  6. After 45 minutes, baste the turkey again with 2 tbsp of the vinegar.
  7. Return the turkey to the oven and continue roasting an additional 45 minutes or until the internal temperature of the turkey is 170 degrees.
  8. Remove the turkey and allow standing 20 minutes before carving.
  9. Place the fruit punch concentrate and water into a large saucepan over medium high heat.
  10. Stir the cranberries into the mixture.
  11. Bring the mixture to a heavy boil.
  12. Place the heat on low and continue cooking 5 minutes.
  13. Place the remaining 2 tbsp of the vinegar into a bowl.
  14. Add the cornstarch and whisk until completely combined.
  15. Add the vinegar mixture to the cranberry mixture after 5 minutes.
  16. Continue heating, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches desired thickness.
  17. Pour the cranberry sauce over the turkey after carving.

Serves 8

After carving the turkey, place it on a platter that has been warmed in the oven . This ensures that the turkey stays warm and moist for all your guests to enjoy.




Honey Mustard Turkey Breast Microwave Style


What You Need:

  • 1 (7 lb.) turkey breast, thawed
  • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1/4 tsp. curry powder
  • 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
  • 2 tbsp. Dijon style mustard
  • 1/2 C honey

  • How to Make It:

    1. Place a plastic rack into a large deep sided microwavable dish.
    2. Place the turkey, breast side down, on the rack.
    3. Melt the butter in a microwavable safe bowl on high heat for 15 seconds.
    4. Once melted completely add the curry, ginger, mustard and honey to the bowl.
    5. Stir until all the ingredients are completely incorporated together.
    6. Baste the turkey skin with the honey mustard mixture.
    7. Cover the turkey with wax paper.
    8. Microwave the turkey on high for 14 minutes.
    9. Rotate the turkey 1/4 turn and baste again.
    10. Continue cooking for 13 minutes.
    11. Remove the turkey from the microwave.
    12. Drain off any juice that has gathered in the dish.
    13. Turn the turkey breast side up and baste with the honey mustard mixture.
    14. Re-cover with wax paper.
    15. Microwave on medium high temperature for 28 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees.
    16. Remove the turkey from the microwave and cover with aluminum foil.
    17. Allow the turkey to set covered for 20 minutes before carving.


    Serves 8

    By covering the turkey with foil after removing it from the microwave you allow the turkey to continue cooking through and the heat to equalize making the turkey moist and juicy when carved.

    Not So Everyday Apple Salad


    What You Need:

    • 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
    • 1 (16 oz.) can julienne beets, drained
    • 1/2 C radishes, sliced
    • 1/4 C green onions, sliced
    • 1/4 C vinegar
    • 1/4 C olive oil
    • 1 tsp. sugar
    • 1/4 tsp. salt
    • 1/8 tsp. pepper


    How to Make It:

    1. Place the apple slices in a large mixing bowl.
    2. Add the beets, radishes and onions.
    3. Toss to combine.
    4. In a separate bowl whisk together the vinegar and olive oil.
    5. Add the sugar, salt and pepper and mix together well with a rubber spatula.
    6. Pour the mixture over the apple mixture.
    7. Seal tightly and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
    8. Toss well before serving to reincorporate the flavors.


    Serves 6

    To give this salad a little zip, add a couple of drops of hot sauce to the dressing before pouring over the apples.

    Christmas Time Bonbons

    What You Need:

    • 4 1/2 C confectioner’s sugar
    • 2/3 C sweetened condensed milk
    • 1 t vanilla
    • 1 teaspoon almond extract
    • Red and green food coloring


    How to Make It:

    1. Place the sugar into a large mixing bowl.
    2. Pour in the milk, vanilla and almond extract.
    3. Blend the mixture together well.
    4. Separate the mixture into 2 separate bowls.
    5. Add the red food coloring to one bowl and the green food coloring to the other bowl.
    6. Knead the mixtures with your hands until smooth and creamy.
    7. Cover both bowls with a damp kitchen towel.
    8. Refrigerate both for 24 hours.
    9. Remove the bowls and form both mixtures into balls.
    10. Place the balls on wax paper and keep refrigerated until ready to eat.


    Serving Size: 4 dozen

    These wonderful Christmas colored bonbons can be dipped in chocolate, butterscotch or caramel. They can also be rolled in colored sugars or powered sugar for a special treat.

    I will be back on another day, probably tomorrow, with more easy holiday recipes!
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