Christmas Eve Dinner

This year's Christmas Eve dinner was the best ever! The veggie was zucchini with onions, and one of my daughters put in a late request for corn on the cob. Our dessert was a homemade version of Chili's chocolate molten cake, courtesy of my husband. Sooooo good!

As I plan the New Year's day meal, I'm thinking how blessed we are to have access to fresh, locally grown winter veggies. Rutabagas, turnip roots, onions, butternut squash, radishes, greens. Mmmmm. They will go well with a slow-cooked roast. What are you cooking for New Year's Day?

Homemade Cheesy Cream Potatoes

Every Christmas I gift my family by cooking whatever they request for Christmas Eve dinner. I decorate the dining room table, and serve a hodge-podge of favorite dishes. One year we had spaghetti with hot dogs; another year, sweet potato casserole with fried tilapia. Now that my daughters are older they are better at choosing foods that go well together. This year's menu consists of fried chicken, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce (how hard is that!), and "homemade, not the kind you add water and cook in the microwave, but homemade cheesy cream potatoes". Sounds like someone is paying attention to my food philosophy! I'm adding something green, and a dessert that has yet to be announced.

Homemade Cheesy Cream Potatoes

Wash, peel, slice and dice 6-8 medium potatoes. Cover with water in saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook for 20-25 minutes, until tender. Remove from heat and drain. Salt and pepper to taste. Add 1/2-3/4 stick butter. Use mixer on low speed to mix while slowly adding 1/4-1/3 cup milk, maybe a little more or a little less to get desired consistency. Transfer potatoes to serving bowl and cover with shredded cheese. Just before serving, microwave for 45-60 seconds until cheese melts.

 

Mom's Holiday Punch

We all look forward to my Mom's Holiday Punch. It is the BEST ever! So simple to make and freeze ahead. Simply mix 2 packages lime kool-aid, 2 cups sugar, 2 quarts water, and 46 oz. pineapple juice. Then, freeze. Before serving let it thaw just a little. Pour in 1 quart ginger ale (about half of a 2 liter bottle), and chop up the ice block. Yummy and such a pretty green color, too.

Mom serving Holiday Punch



Christmas Traditions



Run, run, run as fast as you can! You can't catch me; I'm the Gingerbread Man!

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without baking cookies at Grandmother's house. The grandkids sleep over and wake up to homemade doughnuts. Then, they spend hours baking from scratch. The sugar cookies and gingerbread men aren't complete until covered and decorated with homemade frosting. What a treat, and what a great memory for all. What are some of your Christmas traditions?