Holiday Entertaining

Grocery Shopping

The best part about the holidays? Food ... and more food. My father-in-law grew up on a turkey farm, so needless to say our festivities include chicken ... 

My next house will have double ovens, "it's a practical thing" I keep telling my spouse. He'll be happy if more cake and cookies make an appearance from these "necessities". I won't even get started on my addiction to small appliances... 

So in the meantime, I get creative and use most of the appliances in the house. Preparing some of the meals in advance is also a great time saver.  

Whatever is left over makes great lunches! A very useful item is the Storage Container for Leftovers.


Happy Thanksgiving! 




Apple Crisp & Vanilla Ice Cream

8 Granny Smith Apples
1 cup vanilla yoghurt
2 tbs lemon juice

Crumble Topping

1 cup soft butter (not melted)
500g diced almonds (you can purchase slivered almonds and dice them with the Quick Chef Pro)
500g unseasoned breadcrumbs
250ml flour

Use a standmixer and combine all the ingredients for the crust. Set aside.

Peel and dice the apples (Quick Chef Pro). Mix with the lemon juice and yoghurt.

In a 9x11" deep dish cooking pan, place the apples in the bottom. Take the butter mixture and crumble on top. Bake in the oven at 350F for 45 minutes.

This can be made the day before and heated up for 30 minutes at the 170F and served with ice cream and/or cream.

Chicken in the microwave.

Yes... Chicken in the microwave.

Complete Set for Microwave Cooking

Sweet and Salty Potato Mix

10lbs bag of yellow potatoes
5 big sweet potatoes
2 yellow onions
salt & pepper
oregano
olive oil

Peel and dice the potatoes, sweet potatoes and onions (Quick Chef Pro). Lay in a deep dish baking tray and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and oregano. Ensure that the oil and seasonings are all mixed in. You may use your hands to do this...

Place in the oven at 425F for 45 minutes.

Roast Beef in a Slow Cooker

1 Beef Roast (buy the good quality with minimal inlay fat)
olive oil
5 ml dry parsley
5 ml dry thyme
3 cloves of garlic
2 onions (diced Quick Chef Pro)
1/2 cup low sodium beef broth
salt and pepper to taste

OPTIONAL: 1/2 cup of Mrs. Ball's Chutney (for the adventurous, try the HOT)

Brown the meat with the olive oil in the pan (Chef Series). Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer/slow cook on a very low heat, turning the beef once, for 4-6 hours.

Just before the beef is served, make a gravy from the drippings by using a saucepan (Saucepan with strainer works well to remove the solid particles). Mix 10ml water with 5ml cornstarch and add to the drippings. Stir until thick. Remember to always premix the cornstarch with water, if added directly to the fluid or it will create lumps.

Stuffing - From the box! 

My friend Steph recommended adding cranberries and pecan nuts to the boxed stuffing to make it gourmet. Thanks Steph, what a great idea.

Blanched Green Beans & Almond Slivers

1lbs green beans
50g butter
250g slivered almonds
salt and pepper to taste

Blanche the green beans. Add to butter, slivered almonds and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

ENJOY! 

TIPS: 

• These recipes were created for 8-10 portion sizes. 
• Stovetops and oven temperatures vary. Adjust times and temperatures accordingly.
• Visit Tupperware to obtain any of the products mentioned in this post.