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Christmas Recipes

From the popular Christmas ham to traditional ethnic dishes to Christmas candy recipes and Christmas cookies for Santa, there are somany delicious and easy food ideas to try! Perhaps youre preparing adish for a special Christmas party or for a small dinner with friendsor family. Weve got plenty of Christmas recipe ideas and tips,including recipes for Christmas morning breakfast, Christmas horsdoeuvres and appetizers for holiday parties as well as sweet treatsand desserts such as candy, cakes and fudge.

Sun-dried Tomato Basil Bruschetta

A festive red, green and white appetizer/munchie that will make your guests sing, for sure!

Reindeer Food

Reindeers get hungry too! Mix up some oats, coconut, cranberries, and almonds as a healthy snack for Rudolph and the gang. Come on, he can only eat so many carrots!

Christmas Caramel Corn for Santa's Crew

Everyone knows that elves need a snack while they're on the sleigh with Santa. Whip up a batch of caramel corn with red and green M&M's to give it the sweetness of Christmas.

Gingerbread Santa Cookies

Make Santa festive gingerbread cookies in his likeness to munch on as he places presents under the tree on Christmas Eve.

"No Bake" Elf Ball Bites: Peanut Butter and Mini Chocolate Chip Balls

Give the elves a special treat all their own with these peanut butter and mini chocolate chip "no bake" cookies. Mom can prep the mixture in the food processor and then the kids can roll this yummy dough into balls.

Ginger Pear Muffins

Courtesy of: Asa Ransom House, a member of Select Registry:Distinguished Inns of North America

Ingredients:
6 cups all purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup oil
2 Tbsp. baking powder
4 eggs
3 cups milk
15 oz. diced pears with juice drained
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. fresh peeled and grated ginger
1 Tbsp. of ginger

Preparation:
Place eggs and drained pears in a large mixing bowl. Top with all the dry ingredients. Add half the milk and mix. Keep adding milk until the mixture has the texture of wet sand. Scoop with a standard muffin scoop into sprayed muffin pans. Bake at 300 degrees in a convection oven for 25 minutes or at 350 degrees in a standard oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove when cool. Yields approximately 24 scrumptious muffins.

Eggnog Scones with Dried Cranberries

Courtesy of: Shelburne Inn & China Beach Retreat, a member of Select Registry:Distinguished Inns of North America

Ingredients:
9 cups unbleached white flour
-cup fine, granulated bakers sugar
3 Tbsp. of baking powder
1 Tbsp. of baking soda
1-1/2 tsp. salt
-tsp. ground nutmeg
2-1/4 cups unsalted butter cut in small pieces
3 cups eggnog
1-1/2 cups dried cranberries
Grated rind of one orange

Preparation:
Sift dry ingredients together into a large mixing bowl. Add butter that has been cut into small pieces and stir until the mixture forms coarse crumbs, leaving some large crumbs. Add dried cranberries, orange rind and eggnog, and stir gently until the dough pulls together and no dry parts remain in bowl, being careful not to over-mix.

Gather the dough and knead a few times to make a cohesive mass. Divide into four equal portions. Roll out each portion to a thickness of 1 inch and cut in desired shape. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar before placing in preheated 425-degree oven for 12 " 15 minutes. Tops should be lightly browned. Serve warm. Makes 76 scones in small Nordic ware scone pan.

Pistachio & Poppy Seed Slices

Courtesy of: Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, a member of Slect Registry:Distinguished Inns of North America

Ingredients:
-cup shortening
-cup butter, softened
-cup granulated sugar
-cup packed brown sugar
tsp. baking soda
tsp. salt
tsp. ground allspice or nutmeg
1 egg
3 Tbsp. milk
2 tsp. finely shredded lime peel
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp. poppy seeds
2 Tbsp. of milk
2/3 cup finely chopped pistachio nuts

Preparation:
In a large bowl, beat shortening and butter with electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, salt and allspice. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, 3 tablespoons milk, lime peel and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in poppy seeds and any remaining flour with a wooden spoon. Divide dough in half.

Shape into two 1-inch-long rolls. Chill in refrigerator for 4 " 24 hours. Reshape roll if needed. Brush rolls with 2 tablespoons milk. Roll in the nuts. (Note: Or, stir pistachios into dough instead of rolling the dough in nuts if you like.) Cut the rolls of cookie dough into -inch slices. Place 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake in a 375-degree oven 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Makes approximately 60 cookies.

Baked French Toast Casserole With Pecan and Wild Blueberry Topping

Courtesy of: Buttonwood Inn on Mt. Surprise, a member of Select Registry: Distinguished Inns of North America

Ingredients:
1 16-oz. loaf of supermarket French or Italian bread, sliced into 1-inch pieces
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened to coat baking dish
8 large eggs
2-1/2 cups whole milk
1-1/2 cups heavy cream
1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
-tsp. ground cinnamon
-tsp. ground nutmeg

Topping:
4 Tbsp. of unsalted butter, softened
-cup packed light brown sugar
1-1/2 Tbsp. light corn syrup
1 cup pecans, chopped coarse
1 cup of wild Maine or other fresh blueberries

Preparation:
Spread bread cubes in a baking pan and bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes or until dry and hard. Take out of oven to cool. Butter a 13 x 9-inch baking dish and pack the dried bread cubes into it. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl until combined. Then whisk in the milk, cream, granulated sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes. Cover the entire mixture with plastic wrap and push the bread down into the egg mixture until soft and well coated. Refrigerate overnight.

For the topping, stir the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup together until smooth and then stir in pecans. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

To bake, unwrap the casserole and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle the blueberries on top, then the pecan topping mixture and bake for another 15 minutes until golden brown and bubbling. Serve immediately with warmed maple syrup. Enjoy!

Holiday Breakfast Casserole

Courtesy of: Glynn House Inn, a member of Select Registry:Distinguished Inns of North America

Ingredients:
1 cup diced ham
-cup green onion, chopped
3 Tbsp. of margarine
12 eggs
1 3-oz. can of mushrooms
1 recipe cheese sauce
4 Tbsp. melted margarine
2-1/4 cups soft breadcrumbs (3 slices of bread put in food processor)
1/8-tsp. paprika

Preparation:
Cook ham and onion in margarine. Add eggs and scramble until just set. Fold mushroom and eggs in cheese sauce. Use 9 x 12-inch pan. Combine remaining melted margarine in crumbs with paprika and sprinkle on top of eggs. Chill for 30 minutes before baking. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Cheese Sauce:
Melt 2 Tbsp. margarine, 2 Tbsp. flour, -tsp. salt, 1/8-tsp. pepper in saucepan. Add 2 cups milk, stir until bubbly. Stir in 1 cup or 4 oz. Velveeta cheese until melted. Yields six servings.

Fresh Apple Cake

Looks and tastes impressive.

Dessert Gingerbread

Great as a dessert or a snack, especially when topped with sliced fresh fruit or yogurt. This recipe is a traditional holiday favorite.

Lemon Loaf Cake

Serve frosted as an appetizing dessert or plain as an accompaniment with fruit.

Quick Fudge Frosting

If you like fudge, you will love this chocolate frosting!

Red Devil's Cake

This cake's delicious flavor and rich mahogany color makes it a favorite for holiday celebrations.

Fluffy White Frosting

An ideal frosting for almost any cake.

Brown Velvet Cake

This traditional favorite makes a perfect cake for any occasion.

Date Nut Bread

A delightful addition to any holiday meal, this fruit-filled bread is delicious and easy to make.

Pretzel Critters

These dough creation appetizers may be even more fun to make than they are to eat!

Cheese Bread

Uniquely flavored with caraway seeds--this bread is perfect for rounding out any appetizer tray.

Clover Tea Rolls

These are delicious, unusually-shaped rolls that can accompany any holiday meal.

Recipe makes about a dozen rolls.

Crudites Plate With Veggies

What could be easier than a few chopped veggies and some dip? Simple and healthy, this platter is perfect for any occasion.

Spruce this platter up for the holidays by opting for only red and green veggies and placing on a festive plate.

Ingredients:

Vegetables of your choice: we suggest carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and peppers.
Favorite dip or dressing: make your own or purchase ready made.

Squash Soup

Another great twosome is a Pumpkin Pie cocktail partnered with my Sir Squash Soup
Food Stylist DYI: As a wonderful starter, serve the soup in little bowls, or for an innovative appetizer use tiny shot glasses filled with soup for the perfect sip at your next cocktail party.

Holiday Seared Bacon Wrapped Bay Scallops

Seared holiday Bay Scallops wrapped in center-cut Bacon perched atop a Mache & Fennel Salad with supremed oranges & pomegranate jewels are a new way to serve a delicious classic.

Mache & Fennel Salad

For our first dynamic duo, I've combined a strawberry and champagne cocktail with a new and improved bacon-wrapped scallop dish.

This scrumptious couple is a triple threat of taste pairings --sweet & salty, crunchy & chewy and hot & cold.

Rosemary Roasted Almonds

Try this party snack recipe of ours to keep it simple, filling, and healthy.
This will give you about 2 cups. Simply double (or triple) the recipe for more.

French's Green Bean Casserole

Mashed potatoes with a twist

Christmas is just around the corner and I am sure all ambitious (or amateurs) cooks are scratching their head: what else can we do to add a dimension to the traditional mashed potato recipe? I think I have an answer. Why don't you add some root vegetables? Together with your potatoes (sweet or not), boil a couple of parsnips or carrots and you will get a taste with a twist. The result is delicious, a big surprise for your guests appetite.

Cajun Shrimp Deviled Eggs

These spicy little appetizers will have your guests begging for the recipe - and a glass of water!

Easy Chicken Posole - a Mexican meal for your Fiesta

Recipe from Foodnetwork.com

**Try substituting pork or cod for the chicken in this hearty soup.

Biscochitos - Traditional Mexican Christmas Cookies

Recipe from Allrecipes.com

These cinnamon-sugar cookies are a favorite Christmas treat.

Tamale Pie (Topping) for a Mexican Fiesta

Recipe by Epicurious.com

See recipe for Tamale Pie Chili.

Tamale Pie (Chili) - for a Mexican Fiesta

Recipe from Epicurious.com

Chili for Tamale Pie (See Topping Recipe)

A modern spin on a favorite classic dish that easily feeds a crowd.

Make your own Marshmallows

If youre feeling ultra-adventurous, try and make your own marshmallows. Heres the Christmas candy recipe to get you started.

Cinnamon Fruit Kebabs

Cinnamon flavored skewers give this Christmas hors d'oeuvre a festive flavor.

Cheesy Christmas Wreath

This deliciously edible Christmas wreath is made with crescent rolls, cream cheese and sour cream and beautifully garnished with red and green veggies and a green bow made from celery leaves.

Image courtesy of Kraft Foods

Asparagus Bruschetta

Toasted French bread slices topped with red and green ingredients make for a great Christmas hors doeuvre.

Easy Royal Icing

Colorful icing will be the glue holding all of the decorations to the cookies. A basic royal icing mixed with a little food coloring will do the trick.
Plan for at least three batches of icing: one red, one green and one white.

Christmas Recipes

From the popular American Christmas ham to traditional ethnic dishes to Christmas cookies for Santa, there are so many delicious options. Whether youre preparing a dish for a special Christmas party or for dinner with friends or family, weve got plenty of Christmas recipe ideas and tips.

Christmas Food

From the popular American Christmas ham to traditional ethnic dishes to Christmas cookies and candy for Santa, there are so many delicious options. Whether youre preparing a dish for a special Christmas party or for dinner with friends or family, weve got plenty of Christmas recipe ideas and tips.