Search Results for: blog christmas dinner surf and turf

Holiday Meat and Potatoes

Steak and potatoes are a family favorite around my home, but the duo gets a makeover during the holiday season. Take a look: SIMPLE STEAK AU POIVRE Ingredients: 2 beef tenderloin steaks (8 to 12 ounces each) 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon olive oil Kosher salt 1/4 cup beef stock 1/3 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns 1 tablespoon finely chopped Italian parsley Directions: Coarsely grind peppercorns by placing them in a Ziploc bag and using a rolling pin. Spread crushed pepper on a plate. Sprinkle steaks with salt and then coat them on both sides with pepper. … Continue reading →

Holiday Rib Roast and Loaded Potatoes

In my family the holidays bring multiple generations into the kitchen. Like many clans, we have a handful of favorite holiday dishes that are made without fail each year. Pistachio-Crusted Rib Roast and Loaded Baked Potatoes are among my family’s favorite Christmas recipes. While the dishes may sound fancy, they are surprisingly simple to make. Follow the recipes carefully and you too can celebrate the holidays with these scrumptious seasonal eats: PISTACHIO-CRUSTED RIB ROAST Ingredients: 1 beef rib roast (2 to 4 ribs), small end, back bone removed (6 to 8 pounds) 1/2 cup unsalted shelled pistachios, finely chopped 1/4 … Continue reading →

Have a Merry Meaty Christmas

Meat is big at our home around the holidays. Whereas I am a huge proponent of twice weekly meatless meals, when Christmas and New Year’s roll around I give into temptation and pull out my favorite red meat recipes. The following dishes are perfect for large groups. If you are planning to host a holiday party, you might consider adding these recipes to your menu. Not only are they simple to make, but they also hearty enough to satisfy the meat lovers at your table. SPICY SLOW COOKER POT ROAST Ingredients: 3 to 5 pounds boneless beef chuck roast 2 … Continue reading →

Edible Christmas Masterpieces

Have you ever considered molding an igloo out of cream cheese to spice up your holiday buffet table? What about crafting a Christmas wreath from crescent rolls and chicken? Does it sound like something you’d leave to professional chefs? Well, think again. There are a slew of simple recipes that allow you to create amazing works of art for your holiday dinner table, without having to take a culinary arts course. Here are a couple of my favorites: CHICKEN AND CRESCENT ROLL CHRISTMAS WREATH Ingredients: 2 packages refrigerated crescent rolls 1/2 cup chopped red pepper 1/2 cup chopped frozen broccoli … Continue reading →

Super Shepard’s Pie for Christmas

Shepard’s Pie ranks up there as one of the most popular comfort foods in the world. This classic homestyle dish exudes warmth and is especially welcome on a cold winter’s day. If you are looking for an affordable Christmas dish that is loaded with flavor, you might consider making the following recipes. The first is for a Traditional Shepard’s Pie with ground beef. It is rich and hearty, but doesn’t require a ton of prep time. The second recipe is for a Ground Turkey Shepard’s Pie. It appeals to those who might be watching their fat intake, but still want … Continue reading →

Recipe for a Christmas Classic

When you think of classic Christmas dinners what comes to mind? Some families celebrate the occasion with a traditional Christmas turkey or ham, while others opt for prime rib. Christmas at my house always included my grandfather’s favorite Beef Wellington. If you are hosting a house full of people on Christmas and have the means to afford this elaborate dish, I highly recommend going all out for your guests. After all, Christmas comes just once a year. TRADITIONAL BEEF WELLINGTON Ingredients: 2 (8-ounce) steaks Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided) 3/4 pound mushrooms, minced 1 shallot, minced 2 … Continue reading →

Christmas Dinner: Surf and Turf

Not everyone is headed over the river and through the woods to spend Christmas with grandma, grandpa and 25 other relatives. Some clans actually spend time in their own homes, with their immediate family members celebrating the holiday minus parents, in-laws and second cousins. If you are one of the millions of families who has decided to go at it alone this holiday season you might be interested in the following festive recipes. They are spectacularly decadent and prove that you don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant or to another person’s home to enjoy a mouthwatering holiday meal. … Continue reading →

Recipes for a New Year’s Eve Feast

Whether you are ushering in 2009 with a romantic dinner for two or you are feeding the entire clan, the following recipes will make your New Year’s Eve bash one to remember. Simply adjust the ingredient portion sizes to match your needs and let the good time roll. BACON WRAPPED SCALLOPS Ingredients: 12 slices bacon, slightly cooked and cut in half 3 tablespoons minced scallions 1/2 cup maple syrup 1 tablespoon soy sauce 24 large sea scallops (about 1 1/2 pounds) Cooking Spray Toothpicks Directions: In a bowl, combine the green onions, maple syrup and soy sauce. Place scallops in … Continue reading →

Families.com 2007 Cookbook ‘A’

The families.com cookbook is organized according to ingredients rather than by type of dish. This way if you have an ingredient on hand, and are wondering what to do with it, or if you want a recipe that uses a specific ingredient, then you can look it up in the cookbook. If you want a certain type of dish. . .use the categories on the right! Acorn Squash Ranchy Breaded Fish and Candied Acorn Squash Adobo seasoning Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken Tex Mex Marinade Allspice Chai Spice Cutouts Spicy Mixed Nuts Oatmeal Waffles with Homemade Apple Butter Healthy Pumpkin Brownies … Continue reading →