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
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- In prepared casserole dish, arrange potatoes and sweet potato in 2 layers, spooning cheese sauce evenly between each layer and topping with cheese sauce.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
