Weight Loss Goddess

What You Need:

1 lb. butter

3 lemons, sliced

3 T of pepper

1/2 t of salt

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 T of Worcestershire sauce

1/2 t of hot pepper sauce

2 1/2 lbs. shrimp, uncooked in shells

How to Make It:

Set the oven temperature to 375 and preheat.

Place the butter into a large saucepan and place of medium heat.

Let the butter completely melted add the lemon slices.

Stir in the pepper, salt and garlic.

Pour in the Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce and blend in well.

Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.

Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan and simmer 30 minutes, stirring often.

Lay the shrimp into the bottom of a large roasting pan.

Pour the simmered sauce over the shrimp.

Bake 20 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink. 

Makes 12 servings

Preparation Time:  approximately 15 minutes

Cooking Time:  approximately 50 minutes

Total Time:  approximately 1 hour 05 minutes

No buffet is completely without the appetizers.  These shrimp will make the perfect opening to your Christmas dinner.  Serve in the sauce with a slotted spoon and lemon slices on the side.

For any recipe, begin by gathering your ingredients and utensils. It will feel like a kitchen show; your kids will love that. Show them how to do each step and then let them take over from there.

We mentioned biscuits before. Anything that goes into the oven is a good start for kids:

·         Christmas cookies

·         Breakfast casserole

·         Cakes

·         Rolls

·         Dinner meats

With the dinner meat, you will have to help them carry it to the stove, but they can pour the brown sugar glaze (if you like that) onto the ham, season the outside of the turkey, sprinkle pecans on the sweet potato casserole and many other small tasks.

Your kids will get the hang of baking and stovetop cooking with a little assistance. The holidays are a relaxing and jovial time to let your kids begin cooking with you. Teach them the basics of hygiene, preparation and creating so they will want to cook all of the time.

It is a common myth that kids don’t want anything to do with the kitchen. In fact, kids love to cook. How do you think we got so many wonderful chefs in the world? When you invite them in and give them something to do, kids will jump at the chance to cook in the kitchen.

 No matter what you are cooking (or baking) in the kitchen, the key here is cleanliness. In preparation, buy your child their own apron. Aprons will protect their clothing, giving them a place to wipe their hands. Also, keep plenty of paper towels and hand soap available as they will be washing their hands quite a lot.

Baking is the easiest thing to start with. Let your kids cut their culinary teeth on breakfast. Biscuits are a favorite place where they can learn and not get in trouble for making a mess. As you go from step to step, explain to your kids what you are about to do.

Baking involves most of the work to be done away from the stove. You can set up a work area on the kitchen table or the counter if your kids are tall enough. Let them create there while you prep the stove for the food.

Soups On, or is it Cookies?

Decorative mixes are still a big hit at holiday time. From soups to cookies, the gift receiver can decide when they will use their gift. Already prepared food gifts usually have a time limit.

If the person loves soup, give them a gift basket filled with delicious dry soup mixes that you prepared yourself. Since it is winter, no soup gift basket would be complete without chicken noodle. Include some of their favorites like potato soup, vegetable soup or bean soup.

Mix all of the dry ingredients together in layers in the jar. You can use freeze-dried vegetables. Remember to make a label that includes:

·         Name of the soup

·         Recipe ingredients in jar

·         Ingredients still needing to be added

·         Serving size

Cookie recipes work well in the jar too. Properly measure out all of the dry ingredients in layers. Be sure that the jar is dry before adding anything so it doesn’t spoil. Use the same guidelines as the bulleted list above for soups when creating your cookie label.

Condiments

These types of gifts can be used all year round. They include items like flavored vinegars, homemade seasoning mixes and dry rubs. If you like to grow herbs, then a holiday gift of dried herbs is perfect for the cook on your list. Also popular are canned preserves, vegetables and fruits. After the canning process they can keep for as long as you need in the vacuum-sealed jar.

What are you planning to give to others this Christmas? If it is a food gift, use the tips above for gift ideas and also ways to keep it safe to enjoy.

When it comes right down to it, some of the best gifts given at Christmas are given from the heart. What says that you took time and care more than a homemade food gift?

Now, if you want to make food gifts, there are a few tips you need to remember. For safety reasons and liability issues, food gifts not accepted at schools. You can give a gift to your child’s teacher but not to the students.

Safety First

Most food gifts are either dry mixes or desserts that you’ve made. It is rare that people give things like meats but if you do, be sure that the meat was thawed or defrosted at proper temperatures. When you cook it, use a thermometer to tell if it is within temperature limits to be considered done.  Let the meat cool enough before covering it so that there is no condensation on the plastic wrap, aluminum foil or container top.

With all Christmas food gifts, be sure that everything is cooled and as dry as possible before wrapping it up in decorative packaging. You want the recipient to enjoy the food and not end up in the emergency room. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s take a look at some popular Christmas food gifts.

Let’s start with holiday movies. Take your favorite movie and use that as a starting point. Use the time period and any mention of food in the movie to set up your menu and what the attire will be for the evening.

Holiday recipes come from all sorts of cookbooks. You may decide on a down home Christmas meal or eat dinner as the Pilgrims may have enjoyed it with pheasant instead of turkey as the main dish. Try a recipe book based on holiday songs or poems. You’ll find a lot of references to meal ideas with those.

Think back in your own family history. Maybe your family is of European, Asian or African descent. Fill the table this year with foods that reflect what would have been eaten by your family members hundreds of years ago. Research the traditional dress of the time so that everyone can look the part.

Regional themes can reflect the variety of traditions in different corners of your own country. How about a traditional New England feast or a Southwest meal? Go down south to Texas and you will find some other favorites you may not have thought to add to your Christmas meal before.

Christmas is not just about spending time together but the spiritual significance. Everyone could dress as the people did in biblical times and enjoy foods prepared as they would have been enjoyed in the New Testament around the time that Jesus was born.

Who says that Christmas dinner has to be the same each year? Sure the family gets together and great time but it can always be better. This year, think about ideas for a holiday them dinner.

What is a theme dinner? You’ve heard of murder mystery cruises before. This is a variation on that theme. Instead of everyone just coming and sitting at the table, they have to think a bit about how they will appear at your door.

Theme dinners can begin an entirely new tradition in your home. The dinners can revolve around a theme based on:

·         Holiday movies

·         Holiday recipes

·         Family history of holiday meals

·         Regional foods

·         Spiritual themes

What You Need:

4 large ripe bananas, peeled

2 T of brown sugar

1/8 t of nutmeg

1 C of water

How to Make It:

Place the bananas into a casserole dish.

Sprinkle the brown sugar and nutmeg evenly over all the bananas.

Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.

Pour the water into the cooker and place the trivet into the cooker.

Place the casserole dish onto the trivet.

Bring the pressure to high and cook for 6 minutes.

Slow release the pressure and serve warm.

This warm dish is a perfect comfort dish to serve as a side or a dessert with any meal.  Kids really love this dish making an easy way to incorporate fruit into their diet.  Fresh fruit will cook very quickly in a pressure cooker making a timer a must. 

Makes 4 servings

What You Need:

2 C of water

5 large sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced

1 C of milk

2 t of balsamic vinegar

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t of nutmeg

How to Make It:

Pour the water into the pressure cooker.

Add the trivet and layer the sweet potatoes onto the trivet.

Bring to high pressure quickly and cook 8 minutes.

Quickly reduce the pressure under cold water and remove the potatoes.

Place the potatoes into a serving bowl and mash well.

Pour the milk and vinegar into the potatoes and stir to combine.

Season the potatoes with the cinnamon and nutmeg before serving.

If your family loves mashed potatoes but would like to try something a little different this recipe may be just what you need.  When adding the water, be sure to check the manufactures direction for your brand and size of pressure cooker.  It may require a little less water than what the recipe calls for.

Makes 4 servings

What You Need:

1 C long grain brown rice

1 C of chicken broth

2 C of water, divided

1/4 C green onions, chopped

1/4 C red bell pepper, diced

1/4 C French style green beans

1/2 C frozen corn

How to Make It:

Place the rice into an ovenproof casserole dish.

Pour the chicken broth and 1/2 C of water over the rice.

Pour the remaining water into the cooker and place the trivet into the water.

Place the casserole dish onto the trivet.

Bring the pressure to high and cook 30 minutes.

Allow the pressure to fall on its own.

After the pressure has fallen add the bell pepper, green beans and corn to the casserole.

Replace the lid on the cooker but do not lock.

Allow the rice and vegetables to steam for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender. 

Short grain rice can be used but it will take a little longer to cook.  Add an additional 7 minutes to the cooking time if using short grain rice.  When cooking rice always allow the pressure to fall on its own.  This will ensure the rice has plenty of time to soften without overcooking.

Makes 4 servings