Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole

Jazz up your traditional sweet potato casserole with some nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar, walnuts and crunchy cornflakes. The holidays never tasted sweeter!

For more holiday recipes, go to culinary.net.

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole

• 5-6 sweet potatoes, mashed
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 TSP ground cinnamon
• 1/2 TSP ground nutmeg

TOPPING:

• 1 cup crushed cornflakes
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed

1. Preheat oven to 375° F
2. In a large bowl, combine mashed sweet potatoes, melted butter, sugar, brown sugar, beaten eggs, milk, cinnamon and nutmeg.
3. Spoon into a greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, 20 minutes.
4. In a small bowl, combine crushed cornflakes, walnuts, brown sugar and cubed butter.
5. Sprinkle over potato mixture.
6. Bake again 5-10 minutes or until topping is lightly browned.

Watch this video to see how to make this delicious recipe!

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

Perfectly Pumpkin

(Culinary.net) Fill your house with the aroma of fall with warm slices of this Pumpkin Loaf dolloped with butter.

Find more seasonal dessert recipes at Culinary.net.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Pumpkin Loaf

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 4          eggs
• 3 1/2    cups flour
• 2          teaspoons baking soda
• 2          teaspoons cinnamon
• 1          teaspoon nutmeg
• 1          teaspoon salt
• 2          sticks butter
• 2          cups sugar
• 1          can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
• 1          cup chocolate chips
• 1          cup walnuts, chopped

1. Heat oven to 350° F.
2. Prepare loaf and muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray.
3. In bowl, whisk eggs. Set aside.
4. In separate bowl, sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt together. Set aside.
5. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add whisked eggs and mix until blended.
6. Alternately add flour mixture and pumpkin puree to egg mixture, beating until blended. Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts.
7. Pour batter into loaf and muffin pans. Bake 40-45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
8. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

Gather the Family with a Traditional Dish: Green Bean Casserole

 As you prepare your menu for upcoming family gatherings, don’t forget to add this classic favorite to the table.  

Find more recipes at culinary.net.

Watch video to see how to make this delicious recipe!

Green Bean Casserole

• 2              cans (10 3/4 ounces each) Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular, 98% Fat Free or Healthy Request)
• 1              cup milk
• 2              teaspoons soy sauce
• 1/4         teaspoon ground black pepper
• 8              cups cooked cut green beans
• 2 2/3      cups French’s Fried Onions, divided

1. Heat oven 350°F.
2. In 3-quart casserole dish, stir soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, green beans and 1 1/3 cups fried onions.
3. Bake 25 minutes. Stir green bean mixture. Sprinkle remaining fried onions over casserole.
4. Bake 5 minutes, or until fried onions are golden brown.

Recipe courtesy of Campbell’s

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

All-Day Holiday Delights

Celebrate the season with dishes from morning to night

 The holiday season and all its celebrating often means full days of visiting family and friends, opening gifts and enjoying moments with loved ones, even if much of that interaction may take place virtually this year. With all the laughter and happiness, you’re bound to get hungry, and feeding the family throughout the day means you’ll need recipe ideas ready for the occasion.

Starting the big day with a bountiful breakfast helps begin the festivities on a high note, while appetizers help hold everyone over for the main course, sides and, of course, dessert. Consider these tasty dishes to take your holiday gatherings to new heights from morning to night.

Visit Culinary.net to find more holiday meal ideas.

One Terrific Turkey

Centering your holiday meal around a turkey cooked to golden perfection is the ideal way to serve a feast. Without the right preparation and execution, however, your bird could fall short. To ensure your holiday dinner centerpiece lives up to expectations, follow these simple tips, from purchase to plate:

1. Buy the right bird. Finding a turkey that’s just the right size for your expected party is the start to a successful gathering. One common rule of thumb is the buy 1 pound of turkey per person – so, for a 10-person meal, purchase a 10-pound turkey. Don’t forget that nearly everyone loves leftovers, so you may consider buying a few pounds more than necessary.

2. Be patient. If you opt for a frozen turkey, don’t rush the thawing process. For larger turkeys, it can take days to defrost properly.

3. Timing is everything. Finding the right amount of time for your turkey to spend in the oven is crucial but not always the easiest thing to do. For an 8-12-pound bird, aim for 2.5-3.5 hours; 12-16 pounds for 3.5-4 hours; 16-20 pounds for 4-4.5 hours, and so on. The key is bringing the turkey to a temperature reading of 170 F.

4. Let it rest. Instead of pulling the turkey out of the oven and immediately carving it, give it a chance to rest for 20-30 minutes, which allows the juices to soak into the meat and moisten it up.

An Easy and Cheesy Holiday Appetizer

If you need a last-minute appetizer or want to impress your friends, but don’t have the time to spend hours making something, consider this easy-to-make, easy-to-eat cheesy treat.

This Cheeseball recipe calls for a handful of common household ingredients like cream cheese, cheddar cheese, vegetables and Worcestershire sauce rolled together and chilled for a tasty dip served with crackers. For added flavor, it’s made using Buddig Beef, which has been feeding traditions for more than 75 years with its time-tested appetizer.

Find more holiday recipe ideas at buddig.com/recipes.

Cheeseball

Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 10

• 1          package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 2          cups (8 ounces) finely shredded cheddar cheese
• 1          can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced black olives, drained
• 2          tablespoons minced green onion
• 2          tablespoons minced red bell pepper
• 1          teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/8       teaspoon pepper
• 2          packages (4 ounces) Buddig Beef or Ham, chopped, divided
• 1          package assorted crackers

1. In large bowl of mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese and cheddar cheese until creamy.
2. Mix in black olives, green onion, red bell pepper, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and 2 ounces chopped beef until well combined.
3. Form into ball. Wrap in plastic wrap.
4. Chill at least 2-3 hours to allow flavors to blend.
5. Just before serving, roll in remaining chopped beef until completely coated.
6. Serve with assorted crackers.

Call Together Loved Ones with Cookies

A true holiday celebration calls for sharing moments with loved ones and creating memories that can last a lifetime. Crafting a sweet dessert to cap off the festivities is a perfect way to come together in the kitchen and enjoy the moment with those who matter most.

These Gingerbread Cookies made with C&H sugar can be a hallmark holiday treat that allow kids to help in the process. Once they’re out of the oven, ask little ones to help decorate the festive and delightful cookies.

Visit chsugar.com to find recipes perfect for entertaining and celebrating with family throughout the year.

Gingerbread Cookies

Recipe courtesy of
Bernice Baran
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 10-12 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies

• 1/2       cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2       cup C&H® Dark Brown Sugar
• 1          large egg
• 1/4       cup molasses
• 1 3/4    cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2       teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8       teaspoon salt
• 1          teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2       teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4       teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8       teaspoon ground cloves
• royal icing

1. In large bowl of electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar about 2 minutes on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg and molasses; mix until well incorporated.
2. In separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Use mixer on low speed to add to butter mixture until combined and dough is formed.
3. Divide dough in half, wrap with plastic film and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
4. Preheat oven to 350 F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
5. Flour clean work surface. Roll dough 1/8-1/4 inches thick. Cut out shapes with desired cookie cutters.
6. Transfer cookies to lined baking sheets and bake 10-12 minutes, or until firm. Let cookies cool on baking sheets 2-3 minutes then transfer to cooling rack. Cool completely.
7. Decorate cookies with royal icing.

A Memorable Morning Breakfast

Holiday mornings are iconic for those moments spent together opening gifts, sharing stories and enjoying a meal. Skip the cereal and frozen foods for a spread like these Orange Eggs Benedict with a homemade hollandaise sauce.

With six servings, it’s perfect for a family breakfast to fill empty stomachs after a morning of gift-giving. Plus, kids can join in on the fun by helping make the hollandaise, which simply requires mixing a few ingredients before pouring over the completed dish.

Find more breakfast recipes at Culinary.net.

Orange Eggs Benedict

Serves: 6
Orange Hollandaise:

• 2          egg yolks
• 1          orange, juice only
• 1/2       teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2       cup unsalted butter, melted

• water
• 1          tablespoon white vinegar
• 8          eggs
• 1/2       cup butter, softened
• 6          French baguette slices, 3/4-inch thick each
• 6          thick slices ham
• 1/2       cup orange marmalade
• orange zest, for garnish

1. To make Orange Hollandaise: In small bowl, blend egg yolks, orange juice and salt until combined. Gradually add melted butter into egg mixture while blending. Set aside.
2. In skillet, add water halfway up sides. Add vinegar. Bring to simmer. Break eggs into water to poach. Cook 3-4 minutes until whites are cooked through and yolks are still runny. Using slotted spoon, remove eggs and drain on paper towels.
3. Spread butter on one side of bread slices. Place bread in skillet and cook until golden brown. Add ham to same skillet and cook until browned on both sides.
4. To assemble, spread bread slices with orange marmalade. Top each with one slice cooked ham and one poached egg. Pour hollandaise over eggs and garnish with orange zest.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (Holiday table)

SOURCE:
Buddig 
C&H

Holiday Spirits to Sip On

Toast the season with festive twists on favorite drinks

 Despite a holiday season that’s practically guaranteed to feel different than any other, one constant will remain for many: enjoying the tastes of favorite foods and beverages while cozied up at home. Enhance the holiday spirit and complement the meal at your table with adult beverages that call for seasonal flavors to add to the festive vibe.

Whether you prefer your drinks with a fruity twist and plenty of mix-ins or would rather opt for a simpler combination, the options are vast. Many traditional holiday drinks require a small handful of ingredients that blend, mix or shake together to create a wintry flavor that’s worth the wait.

Regardless of personal preferences, one ingredient you can rely on when creating an at-home concoction is a mixer like those from Zevia, which are naturally sweetened with stevia and include no artificial ingredients, colors or preservatives. These non-alcoholic, zero-sugar, zero-calorie mixers for cocktails (or mocktails) are available in three different flavors: Lemon Lime with Bitters, Tonic and Ginger Beer to provide a simple yet delicious complement to the ingredients of your choosing.

For a fruit-flavored solution, this Cranberry Smash Moscow Mule offers a sweet spin on the classic cocktail. Break out your favorite copper mug and let the cranberries and cinnamon sticks add festive flair to your fusion of vodka and ginger beer.

Alternately, if the sour notes of a margarita better fit your style, go for a holiday twist with this Winter White Margarita by blending in coconut milk and garnishing with cranberries and rosemary sprigs. By rimming your glasses with granulated stevia, you can add a sweet touch to each gulp.

To find more holiday cocktail ideas, visit Zevia.com/recipes/cocktails.

Cranberry Smash Moscow Mule

Servings: 1

• 1          cup cranberries, plus additional for garnish (optional), divided
• 3/4-1    cup water, divided
• 2          ounces vodka
• 1-2       ounces fresh squeezed lime juice
• 4          ounces Zevia Ginger Beer Mixer
• ice
• rosemary, for garnish (optional)
• lime slices, for garnish (optional)
• cinnamon sticks, for garnish (optional)

1. In saucepan, boil cranberries in 1/2 cup water until they burst.
2. Use fork to smash cranberries. Boil 3-4 minutes. Keep mixture moist by adding water 1/4 cup at a time.
3. Let mixture cool to room temperature.
4. In copper mug, combine vodka, lime juice, ginger beer and smashed cranberries over ice.
5. Garnish with additional cranberries, rosemary, lime slices and cinnamon sticks, if desired.

Winter White Margarita

Servings: 6

• 12        ounces coconut milk
• 12        ounces silver tequila
• 1          tablespoon orange extract
• 2 1/2    cups ice
• 1 1/2    cans Zevia Lemon Lime with Bitters
• granulated stevia, for garnish (optional)
• cranberries, for garnish (optional)
• rosemary sprigs, for garnish (optional)

1. In blender, blend coconut milk, tequila, orange extract, ice and bitters until smooth.
2. Rim six glasses with granulated stevia.
3. Divide mixture among glasses and garnish each with cranberries and rosemary, if desired.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Zevia