Christmas Eve

Fruit and Veggie Trays

Sausage Balls, Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs

MENU:

Appetizers

Fruit Tray - assorted cut fruit with dip

Sausage Balls

Dinner:

dinner rolls

Baked Ginger Glazed Ham

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Spinach Salad with Pear and Gorgonzola

Green Beans with Crispy Onions

Homemade Rolls

Dessert:

Caramel Bundt Cake

Christmas Cookies (see Baking Day)

RECIPES:

Salad:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/butter-lettuce-salad-with-gorgonzola-and-pear-dressing-recipe.html
I perfer spinach or kale to lettuce, so I will be swapping those in the above recipe.

Fruit Dip

1 (4-5 oz) plain (or Honey, or Vanilla flavored), Greek yogurt

1/2 cup cool whip

2 tbsp powdered sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Ham
1 large ham 
(7+ lbs, this ham will be used in 4 recipes through out this and next week) cook according to directions on

packaging - usually 20-30 minutes per pound in a 350F oven. 
I cover with foil except for the last 30 minutes, which is when I put on the glaze.  For glaze recipes click here. Serve with Sweet Potato Casserole.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

3  pounds red skinned potatoes

2+ tbsp salt

1 cup half-and-half

2 tbsp butter

6 cloves garlic, crushed

Directions

Peel (if desired) and dice potatoes, making sure all are relatively the same size. Place in a large saucepan, add the salt, and cover with water. Add garlic to water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce heat to maintain a rolling boil. Cook until potatoes fall apart when poked with a fork.

Heat the half-and-half in a medium saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Remove from heat, add butter, and set aside.

Remove the potatoes, drain. Add half-and-half, butter and mash together with potatoes. Add salt and pepper if necessary/desired. Serve warm.

Special Green Beans: 
1/2 lb bacon

2 lb Fresh Green Beans
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/4 sliced almonds, if desired
Boil or steam the green beans until tender but not mushy. Dice bacon and cook crispy. Drain. Toss together with toasted almond slices, salt and pepper.

Baked Beans: 2 (11 oz) pork and beans. 1/4 cup ketchup. 1 tbsp deli style brown mustard, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp maple syrup. Mix together. Cook on stove top day of for 15-30 minutes, or until desired thickness is reached.

Caramel Cake

This is a dense but moist and delicious cake!

3 cups AP flour

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature

2 cups dark brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

5 large eggs

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup milk

In a standing mixer: Cream butter and sugar until lightened and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, milk, mix until combined. Add flour, baking powder, salt. Mix until combined. Whip batter for 1 minute. Pour into greased and floured bundt cake.

Bake 325F for about 40 minutes, or until golden brown and a tooth pick comes out from the middle clean.

Allow to cool completely. Invert onto a stand or platter. Drizzle with caramel syrup.