What You Need:

3 (16 oz) cans pork and beans

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped fine

3 T brown sugar

3 T brown mustard

1 1/2 C ketchup

1 T white vinegar

1/2 t chili powder

1/4 t hot sauce

How to Make It:

Place the beans juice and all into a large mixing bowl.

Add the onion and green pepper and stir to combine.

Sprinkle in the brown sugar.

Add the mustard, ketchup and vinegar and stir until all the ingredients are incorporated together well.

Add the chili powder and hot sauce and stir until mixed in thoroughly.

Set the oven temperature to 350 degrees and allow the oven to preheat.

Pour the bean mixture into an ungreased 3 qt baking dish.

Bake 30 minutes or until bubbling around the edges.

Allow the beans to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Serving Size:  10

These beans are very simple to make and go well with a ham dinner.  Add some crumbled cooked bacon to enhance the flavor even more. 

What You Need:

2 (1 oz) squares unsweetened chocolate

2 T butter

1 C + 6 T sugar, divided

2/3 C evaporated milk

1 t + 1/2 t vanilla extract, divided

1 qt. peppermint ice cream, softened

1 (9 in) deep dish pie shell, baked

3 egg whites

1/4 t cream of tarter

1/2 t vanilla extract

3 T peppermint stick candy, crushed

How to Make It:

Place a heavy saucepan over medium heat. 

Add the chocolate and butter to the saucepan and heat until both are completely melted and smooth, stirring occasionally. 

Add 1 C of sugar and the evaporated milk to the pan.

Continuing cooking, stirring constantly, for 8 minutes or until the sugar has completely dissolved.

Remove the pan from the stove and stir in 1 t of vanilla.

Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.

Spread half of the ice cream into the baked pie shell.

Place the shell and ice cream into the freezer until the ice cream has become firm.

Remove and spread half of the chocolate mixture over the firm ice cream.

Return to the freezer until set.

Repeat the layers one more time.

After the second layer of chocolate mixture return to the freezer and leave at least 4 hours or overnight.

Place the egg whites, 6 T sugar and cream of tarter into a heavy saucepan and place the pan over low heat.

With an electric mixer on low speed beat the ingredients while cooking for 12 minutes or until the mixture reaches 160 degrees on a candy thermometer.

Remove from the heat and pour in the vanilla.

Beat with the mixer until soft peaks form. 

Fold the crushed candy into the meringue.

Spread the meringue over the top of the pie and return to the freezer until ready to serve.

Serving Size:  8

What You Need:

12 hard boiled eggs

1/2 C salad dressing

1 t parsley flakes

1/2 t dried chives

1/2 t dry mustard

1/2 t dill weed

1/4 t paprika

1/8 t pepper

1/4 t salt

1/8 t garlic powder

2 T milk

How to Make It:

Split the eggs in half lengthwise.

Place the yolks in a bowl and lay the whites on a plate.

Mash the yolks with a potato masher or fork.

Fold in the salad dressing using a rubber spatula.

Sprinkle in the parsley, chives, mustard, dill weed, paprika, pepper, salt and garlic powder.

Carefully pour the milk into the yolk mixture.

Use a fork and stir the mixture together until all the ingredients are incorporated together.

Fill each egg white with the mixture.

Sprinkle the tops with fresh parsley and paprika before serving.

Serving Size:  24

To make hard boiled eggs easier to peel add a pinch of salt to the water when boiling the eggs.  Run under cold water and place the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.  When cracking the egg to peel crack the top and bottom of the egg and roll in your palms to loosen.

What You Need:

3/4 C butter, room temperature

1/2 C + 2 T sugar, divided

1/2 C brown sugar, firmly packed

1/2 t baking soda

1 1/2 t cinnamon, divided

1/2 t ginger

1/8 t salt

1 egg

1 t vanilla

2 1/4 C flour

Red and green miniature semisweet chocolate pieces

How to Make It:

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl.

Beat the butter with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. 

Pour in 1/2 C sugar, the brown sugar, baking soda, 1/2 t cinnamon, ginger and salt.

Beat with mixer on medium speed until well combined.

Add the egg and vanilla and continue to beat until completely incorporated into the mixture.

On low speed beat in the flour in it is completely moistened.

Divide the dough in half, cover and chill 1 hour or until the dough can be easily handled.

Place the oven temperature on 350 degrees and allow the oven to heat while finishing the cookies.

Combine the remaining sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl.

Lightly flour a flat surface and roll out half of the dough with a lightly floured rolling pin to 1/4 in thickness.

Cut the cookies with a scalloped cookie cutter.

Cut a 1 in circle in the center of each cookie.

Place the cut cookie dough on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Sprinkle the cookie dough with the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Press the red and green candies into the cough.

Continue in the same manner with the second half of the dough.

Bake the cookies 10 minutes or until lightly born and firm.

Cool on the cookie sheet 2 minutes then move to a wire rack to complete cooling.

Serving Size:  36 cookies

These little treats make great munchies during your Christmas day.  Make a double batch to be sure to have enough to go around. 

What You Need:

2 (16 oz) pkg. frozen cut green beans

2 t orange peel, grated

1 C cranberries, dried

1 C bacon bits

4 T honey

How to Make It:

Cook the green beans according to the manufactures directions on the package.

Include the orange peel with the beans when cooking them.

Drain the beans well.

Place the cooked beans and orange peel into a serving dish.

Add the cranberries and bacon and toss to combine.

Drizzle the honey over the beans and gently stir to cover them well.

Serving Size:  10

These beans are a change from the green bean casserole we seem to make every year and they are just as easy to make.  The tartness of the cranberries and the sweet taste of the honey compliment each other to make this a tasty holiday dish. 

Pasta is a dish that can be enjoyed by vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Fettuccine Alfredo can be prepared using canned sauce. Have shrimp and diced chicken on the side so dinner guests can choose what they want to add to their pasta.

The point is not to make the vegetarian guest feel out of place at your Christmas dinner. Add menu items that everyone will enjoy but are also appropriate for any vegetarians in the group.

If the meal is a vegetarian gathering, fashion a turkey breast out of seasoned tofu to keep with tradition. Pair with cornbread stuffing and meatless gravy for added flavor. Tofu has the distinction of taking on the flavor of whatever it is cooked or prepared with.

Desserts are usually easier to manage. Remember to use soy milk in recipes that call for milk or try non-dairy recipes like a gelatin mold, cookies, or brownies. Another idea is to ask a few guests to supply the desserts for the Christmas dinner. Ask all guests to prepare desserts that don’t contain dairy or meat products.

Vegetarian Christmas dinner ideas help you prepare a feast that is friendly to those who don’t eat meat. While they understand that some people will be eating meat, be sure to provide them with good foods to choose from as well.

Tradition says that the centerpiece at a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner is the turkey. For vegetarians, of course, a turkey just won’t do. Nor will a Tofurkey for most people! If you are vegetarians or have vegetarian friends attending your Christmas dinner, here are some ideas for vegetarian dishes to add to the menu.

There are different types of vegetarianism. You have traditional vegetarians who do not eat any meat or meat byproducts and then those who eat some dairy or seafood. Keep that in mind when cooking for them at Christmas dinner.

Add a few extra vegetable dishes, but watch the ingredients. Many people season their vegetables with some sort of meat. Forego that tradition this year and try some different spices to flavor the side dishes. Garlic is a good addition for asparagus and green beans.

Usually when a vegetarian is attending dinner, everyone brings a green bean casserole. While it is a good side dish, it isn’t a meal if five or six people bring a green bean casserole. Where is the variety? Other vegetables are great for Christmas dinner. How about a potato and corn chowder or a sweet potato casserole?

When it comes to the main course, you can still have turkey. If the vegetarians that you know eat seafood, add a pecan crusted salmon to the menu. It provides lots of protein and flavor. Salmon goes with green vegetables and any other side dishes you choose to bring.

What You Need:

5 to 7 lb. bone in ham

1 (6 oz) can pineapple juice

1 (10 oz) jar pineapple preserves

How to Make It:

Set the oven temperature to 325 degrees and allow the oven to heat up.

Score the surface of the ham by making criss cross cuts about 1/2 in deep into the outside of the ham.

Place a baking rack in a shallow baking pan and place the ham on the rack.

Pour the pineapple juice over the ham being sure to completely cover the top and sides of the ham.

Cover the ham tightly with aluminum foil and place in the oven for 1 1/2 hours.

Uncover the ham and brush the pineapple preserves all over the outside of the ham.

Return to the oven, uncovered, and continue baking 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in the ham reaches 140 degrees.

Remove from the oven and place on a serving platter. 

Allow the ham to rest 30 minutes before carving.

Serving Size:  12

Instead of using sticky gooey glazes try this with the preserves.  Any type will work including apricot or orange marmalade.  Just be sure to use the same type of juice as the preserves. 

What You Need:

3/4 C brown sugar, packed and divided

1/3 C pecan, chopped fine

2 T butter, melted

1 (9 in) unbaked pie shell

3 eggs

1 C canned pumpkin

1 t rum extract

3/4 t cinnamon

1/2 t salt

1/4 t ginger

1 1/2 C heavy whipping cream

How to Make It:

Combine 1/4 C of the brown sugar with the pecans in a medium size mixing bowl.

Add the butter and mix until completely combined.

Press the mixture into the bottom of the unbaked pie crust.

Break the eggs into a large mixing bowl.

Stir in the pumpkin, extract, cinnamon, salt and ginger.

Add the remaining brown sugar and stir until completely combined and smooth.

Use a rubber spatula to fold in the whipping cream.

Pour the pumpkin mixture into the prepared pie crust.

Set the oven to 400 degrees and allow the oven to heat up.

When the oven is ready bake the pie for 10 minutes.

Reduce the heat and continue baking 40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center of the pie comes out clean.

Cool the pie on a wire rack before cutting.

Garnish with extra pecans and whipped topping.

Serving Size:  8

Without the pumpkin pie autumn and especially Halloween or Thanksgiving dinner just would be the same. 

This is a new twist on an old favorite.  Remember to refrigerate any leftovers, if you’re lucky enough to have any, that is.

One of the best parts of Christmas dinner is the leftovers. The food always seen to taste better the second or third time you eat it. Here are uses and guidelines for handling Christmas dinner leftovers.

1.      Clean out the refrigerator prior to dinner. You’ll need room for those platters and bowls of leftovers. Anything that can be removed should be removed to make room for the remnants of the Christmas dinner.  

2.      Buy plastic storage bags and containers. Storing food in the original pot or dish is not a good idea. For one, it takes up extra space. Secondly, it leaves too much dead space for liquid to collect. Food keeps better and longer in containers where the leftovers are packed tightly.

3.      Never pack up warm foods. Wait until the meats and side dishes are completely cool before placing them containers to go in the refrigerator. This is another reason why it is better to serve food in bowls on the Christmas dinner table or have everyone heat their own plates at dinner time.