Christmas Dinner 2010

My parents (and a huge surprise...my sister) came from California to visit last week.  We decided to celebrate Christmas early, complete with a big meal together.  While I greatly prefer more of a Thanksgiving meal to anything else, I decided to try something different and try out a bunch of new recipes.  Here is what we enjoyed for our Christmas time together!

Cinnamon Rolls
I will post my version of this recipe soon.  I put them in the fridge overnight and missed the second rise on them so they didn't turn out quite right.  Also, since they were cold, they didn't cook correctly.  However, we still devoured them and I will be making them again as a special treat for Christmas day :)

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Brisket

covered with liquid smoke, wrapped in foil and cooked in a roaster on 225 for 10 hours

Watergate Salad

Crockpot Broccoli Casserole

Sour Cream Potato Casserole
Tangy Cole Slaw

Peppermint Chocolate Pie

Thanksgiving 2010

Morning

Cranberry Orange Bread

Cranberry Cider

Appetizers / Snacks

Spinach Dip

Cranberry Shortbread Bars

Turkey

Citrus Turkey Brine

Hands down best turkey we have ever had!!

Sides

Creamy Smashed Potatoes

Sweet Potato Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Marshmallow & Lime Jello Salad

Stuffing (Stove Top with diced celery, onions & water chestnuts added)

Biscuits (Flaky Layers)

Cranberry Sauce

Dessert

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

Christmas Baking 2009

This weekend included my annual baking day (it actually took 2 days). The recepients this year were mostly Seth's coworkers & it was fun creating some yummy treats for them to enjoy. Each container included:

Sugar Cookies with a Hershey's Kiss
(I used Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix)
White Peppermint Snowballs
Magic Mint Chocolate Bark
Carmel Filled Chocolate Cookies
Cranberry Bars
Old-Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies
Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies (made with M&M's instead of chips)

Everything was delicious and hopefully everyone will enjoy their little sampling :)

Thanksgiving 2009

Our meal for 4 was greatly lacking presentation, but was highly effective in quick clean/pack up which was needed to get 2 little guys in the bath on schedule :)

I would have loved to have made everything from scratch, but the 4 little feet and hands that are oh so curious and must accompany me in the kitchen, caused me to make the decision to go for convenience in many ways.

Turkey
I cooked a 21 pound turkey!! I stuffed the cavity of the bird with sliced oranges, lemons & onion. I did a butter wash on the bird then added salt & ground pepper. I massaged the big guy and cooked him in a turkey bag. It took about 3 1/2 hours and the result was not necessarily pretty, but so very yummy!!

Sides
Frozen Cranberries
Green Bean Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole
Mashed Potatoes (instant & never again :)
Stuffing (Stove Top with diced celery, onions & water chestnuts)
Biscuits (Pillsbury Grands, Flaky Layers)
Cranberry Sauce (canned)

Dessert
Pumpkin Roll