Christmas Recipes 2010

♫ Christmas Time's a Comin... ♫

Just a few recipes for our upcoming Cousin's Christmas party and Christmas Day dinner.

Warm Spinach Artichoke Dip
2 - 10 oz box frozen spinach, thawed & drained
1 6 oz jar marinated artichoke hearts
1 small onion, finely chopped
8oz sour cream
8oz cream cheese
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded parmesan
1 cup mayonnaise
House seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic, whatever you like)

Combine all ingredients in a 4qt or larger crock pot. Heat on high 2 hours, or until bubbly, stirring occasionally. Serve with tortilla chips.

Thank you Erika for the inspiration


Pimento Cheese on Celery
8oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayo
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
1/4 tsp garlic
1 jar diced pimentos

1 bunch celery

Beat cream cheese with mixer 2-3 minutes. Add cheddar, mayo, garlic, and pimentos; beating after each ingredient is added.
Cut celery stalks into 3-4" long pieces; spoon pimento cheese into hollow of celery.


Sweet Potato Pie
If my Sweet Potato Pie tastes the same two years in a row, it isn't by design. It's about time I put a recipe in place and stick to it. Here goes!
2.5lb Sweet Potatoes
1 stick butter
1 can condensed milk
2 eggs
2 capfuls (2 tsp?) pure vanilla extract (NOT imitation!)
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ginger
2 rolled up ready-made pie crusts

Bake potatoes in oven til soft. Peel & mash in large bowl. Add butter to hot sweet potatoes, and beat with mixer until smooth. Add milk and beat until mixed. Beat eggs separately (can be done by hand); add beaten eggs, vanilla, and spices to potato mixture - beat until smooth.

Smooth pie crusts into 2 deep dish pie pans (I prefer glass...). Pour mixture into pie crusts. Place foil strips around exposed edges of crust. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes, removing foil for final 10-15 minutes of baking.


Sweet Potato Casserole
by CMOORE1946 as posted on Allrecipes.com
4 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup chopped pecans

In a mixing bowl, combine the sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, milk, salt, 1/3 cup butter and vanilla. Mix together and pour into a greased 13x9 inch baking dish.

To prepare the topping, combine in a separate bowl the brown sugar, flour, 1/3 cup melted butter and pecans. Mix together and crumble over sweet potato mixture.

Bake uncovered at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes.