Holiday Feast

Hi! I have a GREAT "Sweet Potato Casserole". It is a southern dish and a HUGE hit every year - even for those who typically do not like sweet potatoes. It has cinnamon and butter in the sweet potato part, but the topping is the best. Brown sugar and pecans and more butter! Yum! I'm at work now, but I'll try to get online tonight and get it you when I get home.

T.

I was going to suggest the same as the other reader=) Check out www.foodnetwork.com, right now everything is about thanksgiving and you can find some amazing recipies there. I am going to try the cornbread stuffing this year instead of the "usual". Good luck and have fun with it!

this is my favorite holiday recipe because i LOVE cranberries and it seems fancier than the canned jellied kind. bonus is...you can make it two days before the day you'll eat it!

one bag fresh cranberries
2 apples (i like fugi or gala the best for this)
2 oranges
lots of sugar

cut up apples and oranges. put cranberries, 1 apple and 1 orange into food processor. (i have an antique food grinder that works best but a processor works well.) drain off as much juice as you can. then, add more of the apple and orange until it's the right mixture of all three. then, start by adding 1 c. of sugar. taste for tartness. add as much as you like for taste.

just remember after it has sat in the fridge for two days it will be much sweeter than the day you prepared it, so go easy on the sugar. i like mine tart. you can always add more sugar the day of the feast!

Hmmm. Well, I cooked dinner for my extended family the first year I was married and made a sweet potato soup instead of the usual candied yams which came out really good...my step father, who doesn't like yams/sweet potatoes LOVED it. One other thing that I like to do is make cornish game hens for everyone instead of a turkey it works out well since I am not a big fan of turkey. Alton Brown on the Food Network has a REALLY tasty brine for turkey/chicken you might want to try. And I think that is where I found the soup recipe... My suggestion is what do you like? Is there a dish that you don't particularly care for...if so, just tweak it a bit. The Food Network is a fantastic source for recipes...one other thing, there is a series of cookbooks called "Gooseberry Patch" and they have some really great ideas/recipes that are easy and usually inexpensive as well as tasty.

Better yet, since you are expecting in January...opt for everyone to bring their favorite dish and you make the main course. Of course, you'll want to tell each person what type of dish to bring so you don't end up with four "five cup salad"s. :) Good Luck. Hope I helped a little.

I know cooking for the family can be nerve-wracking. I did one year for the Easter dinner (with my father-in-law). I called it the dinner from Hell. I couldn't get the gravy for the potatoes the cook and I dropped the whole pan of candied yams. My dad was supposed to make dessert and he ended up being very ill so we had no pie.
The food (that didn't drop to the floor) was good, but it seemed like a lot of wasted worry. Don't try to best your mother-in-law. Just make what you like and aren't too stressed to try. The holidays are supposed to be FUN! have you ever tried making a fruity (apples and dates) dressing. It's unusual and very tasty. Good luck!!!!

I have a couple great recipes that I like to use. One is super easy! I know the recipe off the top of my head, so here it is:
Creamed Chicken
4 lg chicken breasts (or more)
1 can cream of chicken soup (1 can to every 4 breasts)
paprika
heavy whipping cream (you will need enough to cover the chicken)
salt and pepper to taste.

Arrange chicken in a oven pan ( I use a roaster)season with salt and pepper, dust with flour. Pour cream of chicken soup over the chicken. Cover chicken with cream and sprinkle with paprika. Bake 350 until chicken is done. Approx 1 hour for 4 breasts. You can turn the heat up to 400 if you like. Serve cream gravy over potatos.
You may think the recipe sounds gross, but it is really yummy! I have made if for several people and it has been a hit every time!

I also have a recipe for Sweedish Meatballs. I don't have it handy, but if you would like it please email me! (otherwise I'll forget!)

Good Luck with your Thanksgiving!
K.

Hi. I have encountered the same problem.. My mother in law loves good food.. I am a very good cook but I am always looking for new recipes.. I found a website call ALLRECIPES.com. It is a free membership plus they send you daily recipes. I have found some really outstanding recipes on this website, I hope you can as well..

*****Ribbon Pie*****
prep time 15min
INGREDIENTS

4oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
4tbsp. sugar
1 tub (8oz) Cool Whip Whipped Topping, thawed, divided (any flavor)
1 prepared chocolate flavor crumb crust (6oz. or 8in.)
2cups cold milk
2pkg. (4 serving size each) Jell-o any flavor instant pudding & pie filling

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

(1) Beat cream cheese, sugar and 1tbsp. milk in a large bowl until smooth. Gently stir in 1/2 of the whipped topping. Spread on bottom of crust.

(2) Pour 2 cups of milk into a large bowl. Add pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk for 2min. (Mixture will be thick.) Pour over cream cheese layer.

(3) Refrigerate or Freeze for 4 hrs. or until set. Just before serving, spread remaining whipped topping over pudding layer. Garnish with shaved chocolate or chocolate curls. Makes 8 servings

I second what everyone's said about the internet, and would add www.bhg.com to the list of suggestions--they have 4 or 5 entire menus to choose from.

as far as general changing things up, i'm doing a trifle instead of a pie this year (easier AND fancier!), ditching the green beans for glazed carrots, and throwing some sweet potatoes in with my mashers instead of having both.

I do a brown sugar cured turkey with wild mushroom and sallot gravy. Sounds complicated but it really isn't. I got the recipe from Epicurious.com. We tried it many years ago when my husband and I were doing our first Thanksgiving on our own and we wanted to start our own family traditions. I also do orange candied yams and suasage and wild rice stuffing. If you are interested just let me know and I will gladly give you the recipes.

I know you've already gotten a ton of responses and probably already have a list of things to try. I just wanted to chime in and say a few things...

1) TEST the recipe before the big day!!! I can't tell you how many times I've been excited about a recipe that sounds fantastic when reading it and when it was on the table, it was nowhere near what I wanted it to be. Also, testing it allows you to make changes based on the outcome, or figure out timing, etc. and then make the 'perfected' version on the big day.

2) I used to make a different sweet potato dish and a different pumpkin dessert every year, until I found something that everyone really loved. So if you decide to venture out and make some new version of a old favorite - keep notes! next year, you won't remember what worked and what didn't.

3) Time everything. The hardest part about doing a holiday meal is having everything hot and ready at the same time. Some stuff you can make ahead or just earlier in the day, and then while the turkey is resting, re-heat in the micro or in a hot oven. If you have a separate roaster or slow cooker that you can use for some things, that is a big help. Take the pressure off your oven and stove top if you can. And use a turkey bag. They seem to cook the turkey's faster and keep them moister. And if you do use the bag, cut the top off in the last 15-20 min of cooking time so that the skin browns better.

4) I have landed on a turkey recipe that is phenomenal. Well, my family loves it anyway. It's basically an herb butter prep that really flavors the meat and keeps the turkey moist. Also, a twist on the standard green bean casserole that really makes a difference. If you want to try them, I'd be happy to give you the recipes. If you've already found something you're excited about, then follow your instincts. And have fun!

edit- oh wow. just saw the dates on this. I'm later than I thought with a reply!

Green bean Casserole is always a great hit! http://www.campbellkitchen.com/recipedetail.aspx?recipeID... I dont use the soy sause and I use canned green beans instead. Good Luck !!

Ili, aside from home recipes from my mom...I have found some GREAT ideas from the internet. Try allrecipes.com, they have MANY recipes & comments from people that have already tried them...that's where I go when I need some new ideas for everyday meals & holidays too. If that doesn't help, try Martha Stewart....she's got some great ones too!

Hi Ili,
A fun twist on an old favorite is a Pecan Pumpkin Pie. Just bake the pumpkin pie as usual, then bake the pecans (about 1 cup) in a baking dish or pan for about 5 minutes or until fragrant and toasted. Arrange on the top of the pie in cicles or whatever. Just before you serve it, drizzle with carmel or butterscotch ice cream topping. It is a great way to dress up a pumpkin pie and is always a hit! Oh, yeah, and its pretty easy too!!
Hope this helps!
R. A
Salmon, ID