Easy Holiday Recipes

Your house may be bustling with guests around the holidays. It’s hard to focus on nutrition when constantly entertaining and visiting your loved ones. Here are some holiday recipes that are deliciously healthful, and easy to prepare. Your guests are guaranteed to love them.

Doris’s Carrot Bread

Makes 1 loaf

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

• 9-by 5-inch loaf pan, lightly greased

This loaf is delightfully light and festive. Your guests will love it as a before-dinner treat.

½ cup                    granulated sugar

1 tsp                      baking powder

1 ½ cups               all-purpose flour

3                           eggs, beaten

2 cups                   grated peeled carrots

½ cup                    chopped walnuts

½ cup                    golden raisins

¼ cup                    canola oil

1 tsp                      vanilla

½ tsp                     ground cinnamon

¼ tsp                     salt

1. Sift sugar and baking soda into a large bowl. Gradually fold in flour, mixing until blended. Stir in eggs, carrots, walnuts, raisins, oil, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Pour into prepared loaf pan and smooth top.
2. Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the centre comes out clean. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for about 30 minutes. Serve at room temperature.

Mixed Scalloped Potatoes

Serves 6 to 8

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

• 10 –cup casserole dish, lightly greased

1 tsp                      light margarine

1 cup                     1% milk or lactose-free milk

2 tbsp                   all-purpose flour

2 cups                   shredded light cheddar cheese

5                          potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced

1                          sweet potato, peeled and finely sliced

Salt

Dried parsley to taste

1. In a medium saucepan, melt margarine over medium-low heat. Add milk and flour; cook, whisking for 2 to 3 minutes, or until smooth. Gradually add cheese and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until thickened. Set aside.
2. In prepared casserole dish, arrange potatoes and sweet potato in 2 layers, spooning cheese sauce evenly between each layer and topping with cheese sauce.
3. Cover and bake in preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.

Bread Stuffing

Serves 6 to 8

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

• 9-inch square baking dish, lightly greased

3 tbsp                   light margarine, divided

3 cups                  chopped celery, with leaves

1                          onion, finely diced

1 tbsp                   minced fresh sage

1 tbsp                   minced fresh thyme

1 tsp                     fennel seeds

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

10 cups                 cubed stale white bread

1 cup                    chicken stock

1. In a large skillet, melt 2 tbsp of the margarine over medium-high heat. Cook celery, onion, sage, thyme, fennel seeds, salt and pepper to taste, stirring, for 7 to 8 minutes, or until celery is tender.
2. In a large bowl, combine celery mixture and bread cubes. Spoon into prepared baking dish, and mix in stock. Dot with the remaining 1 tbsp of margarine.
3. Cover and bake in preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Grocery List:

Take this handy list with you when you head out to the grocery store to prepare for these recipes.

Veggies and fruit:

• Celery
• Onions
• Fresh thyme
• Fresh sage
• Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Carrots

Grains:

• All-purpose flour
• White bread

Dairy products:

• Light cheddar cheese

Meat and meat products:

• Eggs
• Chicken stock

Other:

• Fennel seeds
• Light margarine
• Chopped walnuts
• Golden raisins
• Granulated sugar
• Baking powder

Check out our other easy, peasy recipes and some easy dessert recipes, too.