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Archive for the ‘Quick and Easy’ Category

Keep Holiday Entertaining Simple

Posted in entertain, Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, Quick and Easy, tagged , , on December 1, 2009| Leave a Comment »

In case you missed it, we are officially into the holiday season which means ample opportunities to entertain and be entertained. If you have never hosted a gathering in your home before, don’t know the difference between and frying pan and a fondue pot, and have no idea where to begin, I have three little words for you: Keep It Simple!

Entertaining, particularly during the holiday season, should be as stress-free as possible and that is why keeping things simple is a must.

If you can’t cook or don’t have time, a great and easy rule of thumb is to serve something salty, something sweet and something to sip. Now, that doesn’t sound so hard, does it? You could serve something as simple as a  meat and cheese tray with crackers, some holiday cookies and hot chocolate.

If decorating isn’t your cup of tea, keep your focus on a few simple things that can bring a festive atmosphere to your home. Put a red or green cloth on your table. You can pick these up fairly inexpensively this time of year. If you are on a really tight budget, buy a flat red or green sheet at a discount store. No one will ever know the difference. Fill a basket or bowl with gold, silver, red or green Christmas balls or pinecones and use as a centerpiece. Purchase a few inexpensive poinsettias and place around your home. Hang a wreath on the door with a red bow, and you are set!

If you avoid entertaining because you hate to clean, get over it! Focus on cleaning just three rooms: the living room, the kitchen and the guest bathroom. Guests really aren’t going to be wandering through your home, so clean those three areas and call it good enough. Make sure the guest bathroom is shiny and spotless. This is one room that people will notice if it is less than pristine!

Light a few holiday scented candles or put a pan on low on the stove with a couple cups of water, some cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. The house will have a warm, welcoming aroma as guests come in the door.

Pinecones and greenery are inexpensive (or free, depending on what is growing in your yard) and can quickly and easily be whipped into festive decorations. Just add some red ribbon and you are set!

Remember, the most important part of entertaining is to connect with your guests, be gracious and make them feel welcome in your home.

Happy Entertaining!

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Fast and Easy Noodle Dinner

Posted in Easy Recipes, Fast Recipes, Quick and Easy, tagged , on November 20, 2009| Leave a Comment »

On cold blustery days when I’m running short on time to fix dinner, Hubby and I enjoy this comfort meal made from noodles and beef. If you have leftover cooked chicken, you can substitute it for the ground beef. It is also an easy meal to put together for last-minute very casual entertaining. Hubby gave the dish this interesting name:

Noodle Goo

One Large Package of wide egg noodles
2-3 lbs lean ground beef
2 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 cup shredded Colby-Jack Cheese
Salt and Pepper
All-purpose Seasoning
Heaping tsp. Onion Flakes
Directions:
Put water on to boil (according to noodle package directions) and while it is coming up to temp, break the ground beef up in a medium skillet and start browning. Add a sprinkling of salt and pepper and some all-purpose seasoning (I like Mrs. Dash) and a spoon of onion flakes to the beef. While it is cooking, add the noodles to the boiling water and cook until fork-tender. Drain the water from the noodles and return to stove top. Reduce heat to medium-low and add the beef. Mix in the two cans of soup, give it a good stir and cook just until it all blends and the soup is hot. You can either mix in the cheese before serving, or plate the noodles and sprinkle cheese on top. You can also serve with spaghetti sauce that has been warmed.  Serve with a  nice tossed green salad and warm bread to complete the meal.

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Simple Apple Crisp

Posted in Easy Recipes, Fast Recipes, Quick and Easy, tagged , , on November 13, 2009| Leave a Comment »

apple-crispIf you want to fill your home with the delicious scent of baked cinnamon and apples, this apple crisp will do the trick. It is fast and easy to put together and so good! It is one of the few desserts  Hubby will actually eat!

Apple Crisp

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup oatmeal

1 1/2 tsps cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/3 cup butter, melted

6 apples, peeled, cored and sliced

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar, loosely packed

Caramel topping or sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×9 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Mix together 3/4 cup brown sugar, flour, oatmeal, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg and melted butter. Work together with a fork until it is crumbly and well- mixed. Set aside. Mix 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon with the sliced apples. Stir well to coat apples then pour into the casserole dish. Top with crumbly mixture and bake for about 35-40 minutes or until juice is bubbly.

Serve while warm. Warm caramel sauce and drizzle in a fun design on the plate. Place a piece of crisp on top of design and drizzle with caramel sauce. Place a spoonful of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream next to the cobbler and sprinkle with cinnamon. Enjoy!

 

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Two-Week Turkey Day Countdown

Posted in entertain, Entertaining at Home, Quick and Easy, tagged , , on November 10, 2009| Leave a Comment »

fruit-basketIf you are the lucky one who is hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, you’ll find things run much more smoothly with a little pre-planning.

Here is a two-week countdown list of things to do to be prepared for Turkey-Day. By following these steps, hosting Thanksgiving will be easier and hopefully a lot more enjoyable for you. Start your planning 11 days out and by the time Nov. 26 rolls around, things will be a breeze!

Day 1: Make your guest list. Who exactly will be attending? Get confirmations from each guest as soon as possible and find out if any of them are bringing extras. If people can’t commit right away, give them a deadline of one week out. You need an accurate head-count.

Day 2: Determine what is going to be on your menu this year. As you think about recipes, keep in mind how much stove top, oven and microwave space you have available, what can be made ahead, what will be made that day, what will be cooked where. Do not try a recipe for the first time on Thanksgiving Day. If you want to try something new, give it a test run before the big day.  Agree on dishes your guests can bring. Make sure you know if someone has food allergies or dietary restrictions. Plan at least one special dish for them. Gather all your recipes that you’ll be using into one handy place.

Day 3: Talking Turkey! Today decide what type of turkey you will be serving (fresh, frozen, etc.) and how big of a bird you need to purchase. If you are ordering the bird from the butcher, do that today. Also place orders for any pies or deli trays today.

Day 4: Make a checklist. Go through your cupboards and pantry and see what is missing, outdated or in need of replacement. Make a list of things you need from your menu. Also, if you will be hosting overnight guests, check out the guest room and guest bathroom. Do you need extra towels? Are you well stocked on toilet paper, paper towels and soap? Is the guest room clean and comfortable? Take stock of your table linens. Spread out the linens you are planning to use. If they are stained beyond hope, think about purchasing a stain-resistant tablecloth  or turn to my favorite – sheets! Inexpensive and easy care, sheets come in a variety of colors or sizes and are worry-free coverings for your table. Grab a few in fall colors! Make sure you are also well stocked in trash bags, foil, plastic wrap, and zip-top storage bags or plastic containers. What will you use for a centerpiece? Are you making one or ordering one? If you need to order it, do that today.

Day 5: Complete your non-perishable shopping list. Do you need batteries for the camera? Cleaning products? Paper goods? Candies? Take inventory of your cutlery, cookware, and serving pieces. Do the knives need sharpened? Is your turkey platter chipped? Do you need to get a new vegetable peeler? Replace those stained and frayed potholders and dish towels. If you don’t have one, get an apron to wear on Turkey Day. Decide what you and the family  will be wearing. Do clothes need to go to the cleaners? Repaired? Pressed? Take care of that today. If you don’t have a thing to wear, do your shopping today.

Day 6: Something to sip… Today, decide what beverages you will be serving and in what you’ll be serving the beverages. Have a few selections and plan to have a pitcher of ice-water available. Today is the one-week deadline for those who wouldn’t commit to coming earlier. Follow up with them and get a definite head count.

Day 7: Make the do-ahead dishes. Any dishes that you can freeze, go ahead and make them today. Some things that freeze well are cranberry sauce, casseroles, cheese sauces, and piecrusts.  If there is ironing that needs done, take care of it today.

Day 8: Setting the scene. Decide today how to set your table? What will the place settings look like? Figure out what item will go in what dish and mark with a sticky note. Wash all platters and polish the silver. Store silver wrapped in tissue paper in an air-tight bag to keep from tarnishing. Enlist your spouse and kids to make placecards and fold napkins.  Decide what background music to play. Get your emergency clean-up tools ready and in a handy location (stain remover, whisk and dust pan, hand-vac).

Day 9: Move your frozen turkey from the freezer to the fridge as well as the make-ahead dishes. Shop for all perishables and make sure you have extra ice on hand. If beverages need chilled, stick them in the fridge now.

Day 10: Set the table. You already know what goes where, so go ahead and set the table. Label trivets with sticky notes so you know what hot dish will set where.  Roast or steam vegetables and make pies. Make sure your outfit is set out and ready to go. Have a list of the help-lines by the phone, in case of cooking emergencies! Make sure the person in charge of carving the turkey is up to the challenge.

Day 11: Happy Thanksgiving! Today you will make the stuffing, cook the potatoes and any other side dishes that need made.  Whip the whipping cream for dessert and chill. Cook the turkey, bring the cranberry sauce to room temperature before serving, warm the pies before eating and make hot beverages. Enjoy the warmth of the day, a delicious meal and be thankful!

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