Baked Ham Christmas Dinner

Baked Ham Christmas Dinner

Baked Ham with Glaze
Potato Casserole

Do Ahead Spinach Casserole

Overnight Cole Slaw

Three Bean Salad

Red Lobster Biscuits

Frozen Toffee Dessert or Apple Pies Squares or Strawberry Torte

*******************************

Baked Ham With Glaze

You can score a "bone in" ham by cutting through the rind at one inch intervals, 1/2 inch deep, one way then again cutting across the ham in the opposite direction so that diamond shaped 'squares' are produced. For a fancy presentation, you can cover the ham with pineapple rings with a maraschino cherries in the center of each ring, secured with toothpicks and insert a whole clove into each 'diamond'. You may have to use the tip of a knife to make a small whole to insert each clove.

Baste ham while cooking with a mixture of
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. powdered mustard
pinch of allspice
pineapple juice to make the above a liquid

then decorate with:
1 large can pineapple rings
whole cloves

*******************************


Potato Casserole

1 cup sour cream

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup green onions -- sliced
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese -- shredded
3 pounds potatoes cooked -- peeled and cubed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup bread crumbs

Mix sour cream, soup, butter, green onions and 1 cup cheese in a greased deep 3-quart casserole. Gently stir in potatoes, salt and pepper. Top with remaining cheese and the bread crumbs. Bake in a 350* oven for 1 hour, or until bubbling hot. NOTES : You can put this together the day before and heat just before your dinner.

*******************************


Do Ahead Spinach Casserole


Make this the day before, then bake when needed


6 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, cooked and drained
1 lb. Jack cheese, grated
3 cans cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
2 eggs, beaten
Mix all ingredients and pour into ungreased casserole (12 x 9-inches). Let mixture marinate overnight. Bake uncovered in 350 degrees oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

*******************************


Overnight Cole Slaw


1 med. head cabbage, (12 cups shredded)
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 med. red onion, chopped
2 carrots, shredded
1 cup sugar

DRESSING:
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. celery seed
1 tsp. salt
1 cup vinegar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
In large bowl, combine cabbage, pepper, onion, carrot and 1 cup sugar. Mix. In a saucepan, combine dressing ingredients and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and immediately pour over veggies, stirring to cover evenly. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Stir well before serving. About 12 servings.

*******************************


Three Bean Salad


1 can cut green beans

1 can lima beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can cut yellow beans
1 onion -- sliced
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon tarragon
1/4 teaspoon basil
Combine beans and onions. Mix all other ingredients together and pour over beans.  Chill several hours or overnight. Serves 8.  Notes ... you can add a green pepper to this salad.

*******************************


Red Lobster Biscuits


1 tsp Garlic salt or powder

1 Tbsp Parsley flakes
1 tsp Italian seasonings
5 lb Bisquick
44 oz Water, cold (5 1/2 c.)
1 lb Cheddar, sharp -- grated
1/2 c Butter

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix Bisquick, water and cheese. Drop by large spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. After baking, (while hot) brush on melted butter or margarine mixed with garlic powder, parsley flakes and Italian seasoning. (Amounts will vary by the size batch you make, but a little goes a long way.) Serve hot. Makes 60.

*******************************


Frozen Toffee Dessert

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup soda cracker crumbs
1/2 cup melted butter or margarine
2 small packages instant vanilla pudding
1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
2 cups milk
1 ( 9 oz.) whipped topping
3 bars Butterfingers Candy ( frozen)
2 bananas, if desired
Mix both types of crackers with melted butter. Spread 2/3 crumb mixture in 9 x 13 inch pan. Chill in freezer. Mix pudding and milk well, add banana and ice cream. Spread over chilled crumbs. Return to freezer. Put whipped topping on top. Crush frozen Butterfingers. Add to remaining 1/3 crumb mixture and spread over top. Put in freezer.  Set out 15 - 30 minutes before serving.



Apple Pie Squares

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening
1 egg (separated)
1 cup cornflakes cereal, crushed
8 cups tart apples, pared and sliced thin
1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 to 3 teaspoons cinnamon

Topping:
1 cup confectioners sugar
3 to 4 teaspoons milk
Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening. Beat egg yolks with ½ cup water mixing well. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture. Divide into two halves. Roll half dough on floured surface to 17 x 12 inch rectangle. Fit into of 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 inch pan. Sprinkle cornflakes over dough. Top with apples. Combine sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle on top. Roll remaining dough to 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 inch rectangle. Place over apples. Seal edges. Cut slits in top. Beat egg whites until frothy. Brush on crust. Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes. Topping, combine confectioners' sugar with milk. Drizzle top. Cut into bars or squares. Yield 12 servings or 3 dozen bars. Variation: Italian Prune Plums, cut in half, may be used in place of the apple! Pastry is easy to make in a food processor.



Strawberry Bavarian Torte

1 pkg. strawberry jello (6 oz.)

1 c. boiling water
2 qt.. fresh strawberries -- sliced
1 c. heavy cream -- whipped
1 sponge cake -- cubed
Additional whipped cream and whole berries
In a bowl, dissolve gelatin in water. Add berries, allow to thicken partially. Fold in whipped cream, then fold in cake cubes, stirring until well coated. Spread into a greased springform pan. Cover and chill overnight. Remove from pan and place on torte plate. Frost with whipped cream and garnish with berries.  Make this the day before.

Gourmet Fruit Gift Ideas

Oregon Peaches

Grab a bunch of napkins before biting into one of these peaches-we guarantee you won’t find a sweeter, juicier peach anywhere!  Each peach is picked and packed by hand into a watercolor gift box and then rushed from the orchard to your doorstep in pristine condition. Enjoy the best fruit of the summer!

Dark Sweet and Rainier Cherry Combo

Can't decide between classic Bing and delicate Rainier? Then enjoy them side by side! The deep mahogany color of these Dark Colossals show up nicely along side the blushing color of the Rainiers. Both are firm, sweet and guaranteed to arrive fresh.

Citrus Medley
Sure to brighten your day, this selection of fresh citrus is guaranteed to be juicy, sweet and sensational. Whether it be a Navel Orange, Sugar Red Grapefruit or Satsuma Mandarin, this box is brimming with Vitamin C and sunshine. The citrus arrives fresh in a signature watercolor art box. The varieties of citrus can vary by season.

Holiday Petit Fours

What's more delicious than a little, scrumptious cake? Petit Fours are such delightful treats and they make wonderful holiday gifts too!

Tangerine Cherry Cranberry Sauce

Looking to refresh your cranberry sauce dish at the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table?  Try this great recipe from the Food Wishes blog.  The video is also very entertaining!

1 (12-oz) bag fresh cranberries
1 cup small dried cherries (larger ones can be chopped a bit)
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated tangerine or orange zest
1 cup tangerine or orange, plus water as needed
1 whole star anise
3 cloves
1 cinnamon stick

Gourmet Beef for the Holidays

London Broil - You've probably seen this popular entree in your favorite restaurant. But while most London Broil is cut from flank steak, this one is lean Top Sirloin... so it's the heartiest, most delicious London Broil you'll ever taste! Each 10 oz. portion makes a special meal for two -- just broil and cut in thin, diagonal slices.

Boneless Heart of Prime Rib Roast - Try this great American classic! This succulent Boneless Prime Rib Roast is tender, juicy and incredibly easy to prepare. Your guests are sure to be impressed by the presentation and the taste. 

Ribeyes - If you like the flavor of Prime Rib, you're going to love this Filet Of Prime Rib. Cut from the "eye" of a Prime Rib Roast, these Ribeyes are incredibly tender and juicy with the Prime Rib taste you hunger for! A 10 oz. Filet of Prime Rib is approximately 1 1/8 inch thick.

Fruit Cake Confection

These Fruit Cake Confections – made from an original 1947 recipe – is loaded with plenty of premium whole cherries, sweet golden pineapple, crisp English walnuts and Southern pecans. The ingredients are so delicate, the batches so small, each confection is individually formed by hand. The fruit's gently folded with just enough light golden batter to hold it all together for easy slicing.  Deliciously decadent!

Add Meaning to the Holidays with Christmas Traditions

What are your holiday traditions? If you'd like to add more, or are just starting out and want to choose some new traditions, then this list may just get you inspired. Add one or two new ones a year, and you'll find yourself looking forward to them as December rolls around.


A Traditions Book - Use a beautiful blank book (with acid-free pages) to record your holiday traditions. Make a note of the year at the top of the page... then write down where you lived (helpful if you move frequently), what the tree looked like, traditions you observed, and who was there. Ask guests and visitors to write a few lines as well. Record special gifts given or received. Take photos of the tree, your family, and guests, and add these to the book. It should be kept on a bookshelf (since closed storage may tend to make it musty).

Advent Calendars - One family we know has 3 different Advent calendars that have a special place on the dining room window sill each year. Day by day the windows are opened until December 25th. Many calendars are reuseable and have small decorations behind each numbered door. Choose one and use it each day.

Give to the Less Fortunate - Visit one of the "Giving" or "Angel" trees placed in many malls and department stores, where you can pick one (or several) ornament(s) listing the gift wish of a child. Purchase the items and deliver them to the collection point so they can be wrapped and distributed. Older children who have some money of their own may also find this a worthwhile activity and one that builds awareness and generosity.

Putting Up the Tree on a Specific Date - Pick your weekend -- whether it's Thanksgiving Friday, December 1st, or the second weekend in December -- make it a holiday tradition to get your tree on that date every year.

Special Ornaments - Perhaps you have a special tree topper, a set of antique ornaments, or handmade children's decorations... use these on your tree each year.

Opening Gifts - Children especially may find it helpful to know exactly when the gifts will be opened, so this is a perfect way to use a family tradition. You might open one gift on Christmas Eve morning, or after a special dinner in the evening. Open the rest on Christmas Day starting at 7AM. Put a clock by the tree so kids can count down the hours!

Food Traditions - Family recipes are often cherished harbingers of the holidays. Have a traditional holiday dinner menu every year. And make breakfast special as well. Serve a traditional beverage such as spiced cider, cocoa, mimosas, for special evenings or mornings. Choose things you enjoy making and love to eat.

Handing out the Gifts - Make it a tradition to distribute the gifts in a special way. In our family the children take turns putting on a reindeer headband (complete with felt antlers) and dashing about delivering gifts to the proper recipient. You might have a family member in a Santa suit to hand out gifts.

It doesn't matter so much which traditions you choose to observe as long as they are meaningful to you and your family. Incorporate things you love to do and they'll be a joy and not just another holiday chore.

Source: About.com