I need ideas for Christmas dinner side dishes

[Disney-Kim]

I would like to make something different this year.

any suggestions would be nice. thanks !!

 

[Kermit]

Different things don't go over well at Thanksgiving or Christmas with my family. I'm still enduring jokes from the corn soufle (sp?) I made 2 years ago. They'd have liked it the other 363 other days of the year, but not on a holiday where you eat traditional food.

 

[DonnaS]

So you want something different? I guess Green Bean Casserole wouldn't qualify.

We're having a German meal for Christmas Eve and going to a friends for an Italian meal for Christmas Day.

What are you serving as your main entrees? Turkey? Ham?

 

[JC2]

These probably aren't different, but here are some suggestions:

mashed potatoes
macaroni & cheese
hot potato salad (has potatoes, cheese, onions, bacon... and it's baked like a casserole)
sweet potato casserole
broccoli casserole
scalloped potatoes
caeser salad

 

[Disney-Kim]

I guess I was pretty vague.

I am going to bake a ham.

I was thinking of making the green bean casserole. ) Ihave never made it or eaten it before)
maybe some kind of different stuffing or potato or some veggie dish.

does anyone have a fav/special side dish they always serve?

right now my menu has ham, mash pots, and veggie. boring

 

[Jeafl]

Awhile back I posted my pineapple stuffing recipe. It goes really well with ham and is always a hit. It's got bread cubes, pineapple, eggs, sugar and butter.

 

[Wagamama]

I'm making green bean and carrot bundles...does that qualify?

 

[DonnaS]

I have a recipe somewhere for broccoli salad that is really tasty.

 

[AZKathy]

Do you have a Trader Joes up there in Phoenix? Their frozen french cut green beans are the best. They make a great side dish if you can't do fresh green beans.

Here is a recipe for a nice appetizer. Sounds weird, but tastes great (little spicey, though)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cranberry Salsa

3 cups cranberries-chopped
zest and juice of 2 limes
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 1/2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 green onion-chopped
2/3 cup sugar
2 chopped jalepeno peppers, chopped NO SEEDS

chop and mix everything-set aside

mix together

16 oz cream cheese
4 oz goat cheese

spread cheese in shallow dish or pie plane-top with salsa mix-serve with crackers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you like a sweet cranberry relish:

1 bag cranberries
1-2 oranges
1-2 apples
mix all in food processer, add sugar to taste appx 1/2-1 cups (I like it sweeter, myself)

 

[LuvTigger]

We make a yam side-dish for Thanksgiving, but I think it would go well with your ham.

Basically, it's canned yams mashed up with chopped pecans or walnuts and brown sugar on top, and baked. You can also top with coconut, but we leave that out since some people don't like coconut. I know there are other ingredients in it too, but I can't remember exactly what they are off the top of my head. If this is something you're interested in, let me know and I can post the recipe.

 

[Disney-Kim]

thanks for the ideas so far guys.

 

[Laurabearz]

Originally posted by Jeafl
Awhile back I posted my pineapple stuffing recipe. It goes really well with ham and is always a hit. It's got bread cubes, pineapple, eggs, sugar and butter.

I would like more details about this...... could ya share???? Thanks bunches!

I like my version of green bean cassarole....... basicly I dump cut GB in a big dish, add mushroom soup, peper, finely slices waterchestnuts (adds a great crunch) and about 15 minutes before I take it out of the oven I add the french onion ring thingys...... The only real difference is the water chestnuts..... I really really love that crunch! LOL

 

[inky dinky doo]

This pineapple casserole is especially good with ham. It's one we have every Christmas.

Pineapple Casserole

40 oz. pineapple chunks
1/2 c. sugar
2 T. flour
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c. melted butter
1/2 c. cracker crumbs

Drain pineapple and reserve 3 T. of juice. Combine sugar and flour. Add reserved pineapple juice, cheese, and pineapple, mixing well. Spoon into casserole and top with melted butter and cracker crumbs. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, until crumbs are brown. serves 6.

 

[inky dinky doo]

Here are a couple more that are really good with ham, too.


Cauliflower Salad

1 head lettuce
1 head cauliflower
1 small onion, chopped
1 lb. bacon, fried and crumbled
1/2 c. sugar
Miracle Whip (enough to moisten well)

Stir all together in a large bowl. Chill at least 45 minutes before serving.


Best Baked Beans

1 (15-oz.) can dark red kidney beans*
1 (16-oz.) can butter beans*
1 (27-oz.) can pork & beans*
1/2 lb. bacon, cut in strips
2 small onions
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. catsup
1 t. prepared mustard

*I use 4 (15-oz.) cans of pork & beans instead.

Start cooking bacon, but don’t brown. Add onions, sugar, catsup, and mustard. Heat through and pour over beans. Mix well. Bake in slow oven till bubbles appear. 250-300° for 3 hours. Note: Doubling this recipe -- 8 (15-oz.) cans of pork & beans -- fits just right in my 6-qt. Nesco.


Scalloped Potato Casserole
Makes 4 to 6 servings

12 oz. (3 c.) grated cheddar cheese
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 t. pepper
1 t. salt
1 c. milk
6 med. potatoes, peeled and sliced
4 med. onions, sliced (I use less—maybe one—and dice it)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish. Mix soup, pepper, salt and milk together. In the prepared casserole dish, place half of the potatoes in a layer, then half of the onions. Pour half of soup mixture over potatoes and onions. Repeat layers with the remaining potatoes, onions and soup. Sprinkle grated cheese on top. Bake uncovered for about 1-1/2 hours. NOTE: I double this for large family gatherings and bake it in an oversized casserole (larger than 9 x 13).

 

[Jeafl]

My pineapple casserole is different than inkydinkydoo's (although hers sounds really good too!). I will look up the recipe and post it for you in a little while.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I was going to recommend the pineapple stuffing too. I expect my recipe is more like Jill's as it has bread cubes and no cheese. Goes well with ham.

 

[piratesmate]

I don't always make the same things with ham, but have made most of the things already mentioned. My scalloped potatoes are made with cheddar cheese soup, though, instead of cream of mushroom. Everyone really likes the ham when I make a pineapple sauce for it - but that's not really a side, more like a gravy.

Recently, I've been making Fufu (from Boma at AKL) instead of the usual candied sweet potatoes or casserole with the marshmallows or pineapple.

The chopped cranberry/orange relish people serve with turkey is also very good with ham - as are spiced apple rings.

Deb

 

[Disney-Kim]

piratesmate.....I would like to hear more about the pineapple gravy for the ham.

and any other ham gravies out there too....

thanks !!

 

[Ranatra]

Ok, this is an easy one.

When I make a ham I alway make the shredded creamy potatoes, they are baked in Half & Half and butter. Always a hit!

I also make Corn pudding. It's baked in a 13x9 and then cut into squares. It's conists of cream style corn, milk, eggs, butter, sugar and flour.

These are not difficult dishes to make. If you want either recipe, feel free to PM me.

 

[Mom2Em]

I love Fruit Fluff!
It is easy ... You mix 1 can of Eagle brand milk, 1 can of crushed pineapple (notice the pineapple theme this thread has?), 1 can cherry pie filling, 1 lg tub of cool whip and about 3/4 bag of small marshmallows (more or less to suit your taste). It is done and it is good!! I use it in place of jello or cranberry sauce...