Christmas Dinner

Since this is the first Christmas in our home I have decided that I'm going to cook my first Christmas dinner. I'm kinda nervous and have been  having nightmares about it going all wrong. Cooking Christmas dinner is  a lot of work, not only is there a lot of items I am making but I have to make sure everything is started at the right time so that it is all done by dinner time! So here's whats on the menu and recipes to follow.

Christmas Dinner Menu:

• Herb-Crusted Prime Rib
• Blender Yeast Rolls
• Fruited Wild Rice Pilaf
• Maple Glazed Carrots
• Bacon and Garlic Green Beans
• Fruit Salad
• Strawberry Cheesecake
• Pumpkin Pie

 

Recipes:

Herb-Crusted Prime Rib

8 servings

• 6 gloves of garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons sage
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 3 teaspoons pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 bone in beef rib roast 5 pound

1. Mix all the seasonings and oil together very well. Rub over the roast and place on a rack in a large roasting pan.
2. Bake uncovered at 350° for 2-2 1/2 hours until mean reaches desired doneness. Medium rare 145°, medium 160°, well done 170°.
3. Remove roast to a serving platter and keep warm; let stand for 15 minutes before slicing.

Blender Yeast Rolls

Yield 1 dozen

• 1 cup warm 2% milk (110°-115°)
• 1 package active dry years
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt

1. In a blender, combine the warm milk, yeast, sugar, eggs and oil; cover and process on low speed for 30 seconds or until blended.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add yeast mixture; stir with a spoon until combined (do not kneed). Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.
3. Stir down dough. Make into 12 balls and place in a 13 by 9 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
4. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks. Serve warm.

* You can put these rolls in any kind of pan you would like to I just prefer to have nice square rolls instead of muffin shaped rolls.

Fruited Wild Rice Pilaf

8 servings

• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup craisens
• 4 tablespoons chopped almonds

1. In a large saucepan, saute onion and celery in butter until tender. Add rice and saute for 5 minutes. Add broth and water bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 50-55 minutes until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
3. Remove from the heat and fold in craisens and almonds.

Maple Glazed Carrots

6 servings

• 4 1/2 cups baby carrots
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 6 tablespoons maple syrup

1. In a saucepan bring carrots and water to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook for 10 minutes until tender.
2. Drain, stir in butter and syrup until butter is melted.

Bacon and Garlic Green Beans
8 servings

• 6 thick sliced bacon strips chopped
• 1/4 cup onion chopped
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 9 cups fresh green beans
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

1. In large skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove to paper towel and drain.
2. In the same skillet saute onion with butter and oil until tender. Add garlic and cook one minute longer. Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
3. Add green beans and cook for 8-10 minutes until half the liquid is reduced and beans and cooked through. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder and bacon mix well.

Fruit Salad

6 servings

• 2 large apples chopped
• 2 pears chopped
• 2 oranges cut up
• 1 cup grapes cup in half
• 1 12oz container of whipped topping.

1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Cut up all fruits

Classic Pumpkin Pie
8 servings

Crust:

• 2 cup all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 tablespoon butter melted
• 4-6 tablespoons cold water

1. In a small bowl combine the flour, sugar and salt. using a fork stir in oil and butter until dough is crumbly. Gradually add enough water until dough holds together.
2. Roll out dough into a 11 inch circle and place in pie pan. Trim up the edgers.

Pie:

• 1 egg
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 can (15oz) solid-pack pumpkin
• 1 cup fat free evaporated milk

1. In a large bowl beat the egg, egg white, sugars, salt, and spices until smooth.
2. Beat in pumpkin and gradually beat in milk. Pour into pie shell.
3. Bake at 375° for 45-50 minutes until center is done.

Strawberry Cheesecake

• 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup butter melted
• 1 10oz frozen strawberries thawed
• 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 3 8oz packages cream cheese softened
• 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon water

1. Combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9 inch spring form pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. Ina blender combine strawberries and cornstarch; cover and process until smooth.
3. Pour into a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Boil and stir for 2 minutes and cool.
4. In a mixing bowl beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, gradually beat in milk and lemon juice mix well. Add eggs beat on low until combined.
5. Pour half of the cream cheese mixture over the crust. Drop half the strawberry sauce by teaspoon fulls on top of cream cheese mixture.
6. Add rest of cream cheese mixture and rest of strawberry sauce the same way as before. With a knife cut through top layer only to swirl strawberry sauce.
7. Bake at 300° for 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool for an hour before using a knife to cut around edges of spring form pan and then remove.

* I found if you line the bottom of the spring form pan with parchment paper it is very easy to remove cheese cake.

All in all dinner was amazing!!! I have never had better luck with a yeast bread rising, I will never make rolls any other way again! However the crust for my pumpkin pie was kinda disappointing, could be my fault but I did not care for it, I just need a really good pie crust recipe.