December Dashing Dishes
Festive Chicken Primavera
1 tsp. cooking oil
2 red bell peppers, chopped
1 yellow sweet onion, chopped
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken
breasts, cut in 1 inch chunks
½ c. frozen green peas, thawed
1 jar (16 oz) Alfredo sauce
8 oz. spaghetti, cooked and drained
In a nonstick skillet over medium-hi heat, heat oil and cook bell peppers and onion until crisp-tender. Stir in chicken and peas and cook 5-8 more minutes. Stir in Alfredo sauce, reduce heat to medium and simmer 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked thru, stirring occasionally. Serve hot over warm spaghetti. Serves 4.
Santa Fe Snack Mix
1/2 stick butter
¼ c. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. ground cayenne pepper
12 oz. corn Chex cereal
8 oz. pretzel sticks
8 oz. dry roasted peanuts
8 oz. pecans
8 oz. Goldfish crackers
In a saucepan over medium heat stir butter, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and cayenne until butter is melted. In a large roasting pan toss remaining ingredients together and drizzle with butter mixture and hand toss to coat well. Bake for 1 hour in a 350 degree oven, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool and store in an airtight container.
Christmas Morning Syrup
2 c. apple cider
1 ½ c. brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ground cloves
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and
bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium and cook until liquid is reduced by half and forms syrup. Serve warm over toasted frozen waffles of your choice.
Carrot & Broccoli Cheesy Bake
1 lb. bag frozen broccoli florets
½ lb. frozen sliced carrots
½ c. sour cream
¼ c. milk
1 ½ shredded cheese
½ c. French-fried onions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 1 qt. microwave-safe dish, combine broccoli, carrots and ½ c. water. Cover with plastic wrap and heat on hi 5 m until crisp tender and drain. Stir in sour cream, milk and cheese. Sprinkle with French-fried onions and bake 15 to 20 minutes until bubbly and vegetables are tender.
Pinecone Cheese Ball
8 oz. cream cheese
2 c. finely shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 c. finely chopped green onions
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 c. roasted almonds
In a food processor, blend all ingredients, except almonds, until well blended. Shape into a cone shape and place on a serving dish. Vertically insert almonds one at a time until cheese ball is covered and resembles a pinecone. Chill before serving.
Holiday Ham Loaf
4 Tbsp. sweet onion, minced finely
1 ½ c. bread crumbs
2 large eggs
½ c. milk
2 ½ lb. ground ham
1 ½ lb. ground pork
Salt and pepper to taste
½ c. brown sugar
Combine first four ingredients. Mix ham, pork, salt and pepper. Form into 2 loaves and place in loaf pans. Cover each loaf with brown sugar and cover pans with foil. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 ½ -2 hours. Uncover for the last 20 minutes. Serve 10-12. Recipe may be cut in half to make 1 loaf that serves 5-6.
Maple Melts
2 c. flour
1 c. butter, softened
¾ c. sugar
1 ½ tsp. maple extract
¼ tsp. salt
2/3 c. pecan halves
Combine all ingredients, except pecans and beat until fluffy. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Press a pecan half into the center of each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely. Yields 4 dozen.
Old-Fashioned Egg Nog
2 eggs very well beaten
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. salt
1 qt. milk
½ pt. heavy cream, whipped
Cinnamon
Combine well beaten eggs, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and salt. Beat in milk. Fold in whipped cream and refrigerate until well chilled. Ladle into serving cups and sprinkle with cinnamon.
OOooops on me! I diligently look every month at the editor’s deadline for the next paper and try to write the column a few days ahead of time. Then that leaves me time to reread and review the column again, check it for errors and spelling. And once in awhile I rewrite my own comments that you usually see in this space. So this column I was ahead of the game, anticipating being busy at Thanksgiving time with our daughters visiting, and I wrote the column EARLY. And apparently I didn’t give it any more thought after that!! Early this month I opened the website and was surprised to not see Dashing Dishes on the back page of This Is Potwin. Then something triggered in my mind that said, “Did you really put the finishing touches and send that in?” And the short answer is –“NO”!!! I had forgotten to go back and add my recipe notes and my comments. I have heard through the ever reliable grapevine that some of you have been asking for the recipes. So here they are. And I apologize for the lateness of the column. I will try not to let it happen again!!
The recipes for December, I think, will give you a nice variety of things to bring to your holiday table! There are a couple main dish recipes like the Chicken Primavera and the Holiday Ham Loaf that will offer either a non-traditional or a more traditional feel to your meal. The carrot and broccoli cheese bake gives you one more simple and beautiful way to present vegetables on your holiday table.
The rest of the recipes offer a variety of treats that will be easy to have on hand for gatherings and celebrations. They are equally easy to have at your home or to pack up and take with you to a party!
From our house to yours, we wish you a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas season.
Happy Cooking,
Rochelle