The Christmas Cookbook
Your One Stop Shop Mom always did most of the cooking and baking while I was growing up. Now that I have a house of my own, well.... Let's just say that I bake better than I cook. So, I have more than one Christmas cookbook here at home! And, that's the reason for this section. If I can be successful using these recipes - anybody can! Most of the holiday recipes included in my Christmas cookbook section are very easy to make. All of them are sure to get rave reviews! Many of them are from my own personal Christmas cookbook (actually, Mom's - thanks Mom!!). Some are given with permission by friends of mine, and some I have found on the web and sought out their creator's permission. The sections you'll find here are just like they would be listed in a regular cookbook, but with a few added features. Read on, and you will find links to each section of our Christmas cookbook! If you are looking for dishes specific to certain countries, please visit our Christmas Traditions section. As the Christmas traditions pages are added, they will have links to specific recipe pages in the Christmas cookbook.
Holiday Cooking Made Easy!!In the tips and hints section of the Christmas cookbook, you'll find useful information on making your dishes turn out perfect every time you make them! There are tips here covering a myriad of common cooking problems.
I use these ideas on a daily basis, and believe it or not - they actually help me to have fun with my cooking! For ideas to make creating meals your family and guests that will raved about, be sure to check out this section. Because most of the recipes listed in my Christmas cookbook use American measurements, I will include a page on measuring equivalents. But, this page will be a little different from most found in other cookbooks. By their nature, holiday recipes are more prone to increasing than others. I've included tons of information to make cooking for several dozen people just as easy as it is to cook for a family of four in the Christmas cookbook. Please be aware that it might take a week or so for the following links to become 'live' on the web. This is the first time I've tried to create a cookbook for web pages! Also, new recipes will be added as I try them out, so there will always be something new once these pages are up. Check back often!
Making the Meal - My Favorite Holiday RecipesMost general cookbooks have a section on preparing meats. Our Christmas cookbook doesn't just include the 'regulars'. There are recipes here for game birds, venison, and others as well! There is also some special information on how to tell when the meat is done - even if you don't own a meat thermometer!This is one Christmas cookbook you'll want to refer back to again and again. Try something new and exciting this year! And... don't limit yourself to just Christmas, either!! If these recipes will hold their own during the holidays, they'll be great any time! There is a special page for fish dishes, because fish are so versatile. Whether it's crab-cakes for lunch or salmon for dinner, we've got some great dishes to share. Holiday recipes for vegetable dishes (as Emeril would say,) will "kick it up a notch!" You don't have to break the bank to make excellent and memorable holiday vegetable dishes. Use these recipes whenever you want to spruce up ordinary side dishes to go with your meals. When most folks think about fruit they either think raw, as in salads, or baked into desserts. There is a whole new world of delicious fruit recipes to try this Christmas! Fruits aren't just for dessert anymore! Of course, we have the usual selection of sauces (think cranberry etc) and condiments in our holiday recipes as well. We cover the range from sauces perfect for fish and meats to ice-cream sauces. There are a couple unique recipes in here, too. One of my favorites is a 19th century walnut catsup that is simply to-die-for! In this section you’ll also find my favorite recipes for pickles, relishes, flavored oils and flavored vinegars, which make incredible gifts! Doing a Christmas brunch? The Christmas cookbook is the place to check out! There are egg and cheese recipes galore - each with their own special holiday touches. There are a couple special tips on this page specifically about eggs also. I've served my share of rubbery omelets in my day, but no more! And... What is a meal without bread? Whether you want to bake a loaf for completely home-made sandwiches, rolls for dinner or quick-breads you'll find lots of easy and tasty recipes for just about any kind of bread you need. Some of my absolute favorites are listed here - with complete instructions. If you don't have time to bake great bread from scratch, there are a few spruce-ups and short-cuts here as well. And, for those who want to doctor up store-bought dough, we've got some ideas for that as well! There is also a page just for special beverages just for the holidays. There are teas, coffees and punches (both with and without alcohol). I've included a cocktail or two, as well as some special recipes for other drinks you're sure to find both delicious and exciting.
From Christmas Cookies to Candy CanesThey say you cook best what you most love to eat. Well, for me that is anything sweet - especially if it contains some form of chocolate! Because of the number of recipes I've collected for these holiday delectables, there will be an entire Christmas Sweets cookbook devoted to nothing but holiday sweets!Every kind of sugary, sweet treat you can imagine has its own page. There are candies galore, cakes (frosting recipes are included here), pies, tarts - everything! In the Holiday Sweets section you will also find dozens of great Christmas cookie recipes - each to their own section. There are brittles, chocolates, fudges, hard candies - just about everything you can think of. Coffee cakes and other goodies of that nature are also listed here. And... let's not forget the ever-famous Christmas cookies! There are dozens of holiday recipes here to whet your whistle! Whether you bake from a mix or like to make everything from scratch, there will be something in this section for everyone. Best of all - nothing here requires a college degree in rocket science! Be sure to check back often... As I try new recipes, I guarantee I will keep adding to this section, too!
Regular Fare to Save Time and MoneyThe single most precious thing next to health that we have is our time. During the holidays, this resource is always at a premium. But, we still need to eat every day!Our Christmas cookbook would not be complete without some every-day dishes designed to make the most of your time throughout the season! Most of these are holiday recipes which can be made ahead (some in bulk to save for later), and are truly hearty and healthy dishes. With all the running around and stress created by the holiday season, this section is probably one of the most important here. Keeping your family healthy during the holiday season is something that is on everyone's mind. Saving time and headaches while doing it - well that's just a bonus! The Christmas cookbook has it covered... With these simple, nutritious holiday recipes, your family will have the very best fuel to keep those Christmas fires burning bright and strong! Healthy, fast and inexpensive, these dishes will create great every-day meals for the entire family, and might even become part of your year-round cooking! I will have a few sample menus, and a lot of ideas on creating your own here, as well. I've also included some sample party menus that will save tons of time and money on your holiday entertaining. This year, make yourself a promise to enjoy your Christmas party, and not to spend all of your time in the kitchen! Menus are great for an organized Christmas - they simplify not only cooking and shopping, but all the planning! No more nightly anxiety over what to make for dinner - you can prepare menus for the day, the week or even a month at a time. All the shopping is done at once, so everything is handy. Some items are purchased in bulk, saving a ton of cash. If you plan it right, you can even do most of the cooking at one time, and simply reheat when mealtime comes around!
Give the Gift of Food!!!For those who would like to give the gift of food, there will be a couple of Christmas cookbook pages for you, too!If there are a lot of people on your list who love great food, but they don't have a lot of time in their schedules, jar mixes make great gifts, and with a few special touches can be as beautiful as they are thoughtful. I am always adding new jar-mixes to my personal Christmas cookbook What better way to share some of your favorite holiday recipes?! Everyone on my list gets some sort of food as one of their Christmas presents. Each year it is something different. Last year, I made a selection of jams and jellies, along with some of my quick-breads. With a little creative packaging, my food gift baskets were a hit! I'll share some of my special Christmas cookbook recipes with you on these pages. Jellies are easy to make, but require some time and some space. Jelly is clear and translucent, which means that after the fruit is cooked the first time, it must be drained to get out all the bits and pulp. Jams are even easier, and they are faster, too. Because jams have bits of fruit, and sometimes seeds in them, there is no dripping time required. It frees up counter space to make jams, because you don't need to set the pot there for hours to catch the juice. For this reason, there will always be more jam recipes in the Christmas cookbook than those for jellies. (Besides that, I LIKE jams better, *wink!*)
My Very Best Cooking & Baking Secret...One of my best kept secrets for creating memorable meals is the quality ingredients I use. As I said before... I love to bake, but I am at best an average cook.To show how much money you can save by using premium Watkins products, I've created a comparison sheet. It contains current prices on Watkins, Spice Island and McCormick products. This page will prove that it is always better to use the very best ingredients! With a baby in the house these days, both time and money tend to be in very short supply. Be sure to check out the tips and tricks section of the Christmas cookbook for ideas on saving money and time with your holiday recipes! I've collected them from some of the best sources in print and on the net, and testing them happens nearly every day in our house! With the very best ingredients, a little time, and a touch of love, these holiday recipes will create meals people will talk about for years! Remember to check back often for my latest additions, And....
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