These are words I am taking to heart this year. The days left until Christmas are limited. My energy is limited after a round of bronchitis. But the spirit IS here. Our family starts arriving this weekend. I am trying to think of easy recipes for the few meals when we will all be together.
How about you? Are you a big decorator? Do you love shopping and wrapping gifts? Do you bake elaborate recipes? If so, go for it. But I'm aiming for simple and low-key this year.
With lots of extra people here for a few days, here are a few easy recipes that I might (or might not) make. We will see how it goes the next few days go.
MAKE AHEAD RECIPES
✔Ham Delights - Delicious little ham & cheese or turkey & cheese sandwiches for a party or for supper. Put them in the freezer and you'll only have to pop them in the oven when you need them. (These are already done!)
✔Damn Good Chili - I usually make a double batch, sometimes triple and put it in the freezer in quart containers. Only takes minutes to thaw and serve.
QUICK & EASY
Old-Fashioned Potato Soup - Not the thick, loaded kind you get at restaurants. Just a simple delicious soup that my folks love.
Baked Bowties w/ Tomato & Mozzarella - One of our favorite pasta dishes. Creamy and flavorful. You can make it early in the day and have it ready to bake at dinner time. I have also frozen this after I've baked it. Just thaw in the refrigerator before heating.
Pasta Bake - It's not unusual to have "no red meat" eaters or vegetarians in the family nowadays. This is good enough to feed the meat eaters and non-meat eaters alike. One dish feeds them all. Make it early in the day. Bake it later.
BEVERAGES
Blushing Apple Juleps - Delicious and it's so pretty.
Hot Cocoa - Perfect for sipping while you watch the Christmas tree lights twinkle.
BREADS
Sweet Potato Biscuits - Make them ahead and freeze them. Just bake when you're ready.
✔Corny Cornbread - Goes well with the chili or the potato soup.
BREAKFAST
Homemake Pancakes - If you measure you dry ingredients the night before, it doesn't take long to mix the batter. You might need to double or triple the recipe if you are feeding a big family.
Apple-Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal - Mix this the night before and refrigerate. All that's left to do the next morning is to bake it. This is so very good.
By Thursday, I'll have a meal plan and a grocery list. That doesn't mean that I will stick to it exactly, but the better prepared I am, the more I can relax and enjoy the company.
Just now getting here and discover you have been sick and are still recovering. Hope you get the chance to rest enough (is that possible??)
ReplyDeleteand can just ENJOY the holidays with family and friends. That's the best.
Merry Christmas to you all.