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When it comes to great cooking, it’s hard to top grandma. Grandma is the one person in the house with experience and a love of good eating. She knows exactly how to take any collection of ingredients and make it special. Christmas is a time for family. Every Christmas all over the world, turn to grandma for warm family memories and fabulous food. If you’re looking to recreate her deft touch, you’re in luck. Grandma’s out on the net and ready to share what she knows with you. Her favorite recipes are all about homemade goodness and love with each bite.
Getting Started
A good Christmas party begins with a truly hearty welcome. If you’re making plans to bring in a group at your home or you just want a little celebration, you’ll want something that your guests can snack on the second they get in the door. Good appetizers, as grandma knows, are all about waking up the mouth. When Christmas comes along and the weather starts to get colder, your guests are looking for something that will warm them up the second they walk through the door. With that in mind, these appetizers are there for your guests to enjoy.
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Puff Pastry Holly Leaves please the eye. Grandma knows that people want something that looks good. She also knows that modern ingredients make cooking easier than ever. There’s no need to make puff pastry from scratch. Instead, you can turn to premade as a base. For this one, all you need is the premade puff pastry, tangy feta cheese, cream cheese and a bit of pimento for color. Mix all of these ingredients together and then place them on top of your puff pastry. When it’s done, you can cut out the dish into the festive holiday shape of your choice.
Mushrooms take center stage in the next recipe that you can consider for your guests. Grandma loves how easy it is to find new types of mushrooms on the market. She’s more than happy to make use of portobellos. Follow in her footsteps with these Stuffed Portobellos. Spinach, bacon and tomato form the basis of the luscious filling. Panko breadcrumbs straight from Japan give it an updated touch that adds flavor. This is one recipe that you can make in advance and set aside. Grandma knows that’s one of the secrets to good cooking: allowing things to be done in stages.
Grandma also knows one of the secrets to a happy Christmas is bringing in lots of fun for the children. You can do the same. These Tortilla Rollups With Salsa are easy to make. They’re also an appetizer that can be assembled into a Christmas tree. All you have to do is put the filling in the tortillas. You can pick your personal favorite ingredients. Then you can roll them up and slice them into pretty slices with colors that say this is the season. After than, it’s easy to put them into stacks that mimic a Christmas tree. Top with tomatoes and peppers cut into stars.
The Main Event
Any Christmas celebration needs a centerpiece. A good Christmas party has a main course that fills the room with delightful scents the first time people walk through the door. Grandma loves the idea of people coming inside and relaxing as they realize they’re about to enjoy some truly fabulous cooking. Her main courses are about making the entire house a place to embrace the holiday season. You can do the same with a few well chosen main courses that make your guests feel they’re home.
Sometimes she wants to get just a little bit fancy. This Mustard-Crusted Boneless Prime Rib Roast with Cream Sauce is where grandma gets to show off. While it may look really fancy, it’s also a really easy dish to prepare. A good quality prime rib roast takes center stage. If you don’t see one, you can always ask. Roast it carefully so it’s tender inside as seen in this recipe. Grandma also knows that any good roast needs a fabulous sauce to add moisture and cut the richness. Sour cream, mustard and horseradish add intense layers of flavors that people know and love.
Pork is another meat that people often associate with this time of the year. One of the most delicious ways to make pork is to give it a milk bath. Italians have been braising pork in milk for centuries. You can do the same today. Make your Italian grandmother proud with this Maiale al Latte or Milk-Braised Pork. Garlic and sage join the milk to add additional flavors that will please your guests. The milk bath allows the meat to braise slowly over time. That creates a dish that comes with it’s own complicated and enjoyable sauce.
While some people love meat, grandma also knows there’s room at the table for the vegetarian. She also knows chili is one dish that is a real crowd pleaser. Christmas is the perfect time to make this Vegetarian Chili with Wheat Berries, Beans, and Corn. Wheat berries add an additional level of nutrition. If you don’t see them on your local shelves, you can substitute your own favorite grain. The trick here is to make this dish well in advance. It needs several hours of simmering to come together. Add the ingredients in your slow cooker and then serve to your guests in festive bowls.
A Sweet Ending
Few things are more fantastic than Christmas desserts. Christmas is a time to bring out the sweets and decorate them with flair. Grandma has always had her own personal twist to the end of the meal. She understands that a good Christmas dessert is one that has lots of little details that make it a great coda to your gathering. Her desserts are about homemade flavors. You can remind your guests when you look to her for inspiration. These amazing Christmas desserts are yours to appreciate with her.
Cookies are something everyone can eat. One of the things grandma likes to do is set out a tray of cookies. You can find lots of different types of cookies. Offer guests a selection. That makes it easy for friends and family to pick out the kinds they like best. Try these homemade Ginger Snap Cookies. They’re all about the use of easy ingredients you already have on hand. Another old favorite are macaroons. You don’t have to settle for the store bought kind with these Coconut Macaroons from Ina Garten. A little bundle of goodness can be found with these Pecan Snowball Cookies.
Pie is another tradition that you can make your own on Christmas. Grandmothers love serving pie. Pies, as she’ll tell you, are very easy to make in advance and bring out when you want. They’re also something you can craft to your own personal taste. A Black Bottom Pecan Pie has the crunch your guests can enjoy with abandon. If you want a pie that is all about the use of marvelous texture, look to this wonderfully flavorful The Great Pumpkin Pie Recipe. Top this one with whipped cream and make everyone happy this Christmas.
