Add the brown sugar and mix until sugar has dissolved.
Pour in the vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and 1 t of the oil.
Sprinkle in the pepper and whisk all the ingredients together until well combined.
Brush each ham slice with the ketchup mixture being sure to cover both sides.
Place the remaining canola oil into a large skillet.
Place the ham slices one at a time into the skillet over medium heat.
Cook each slice 7 minutes, turn and continue cooking an additional 4 minutes.
Transfer each cooked slice to a warm platter while cooking the remaining ham.
Once all the ham slices have been cooked lower the temperature to low.
Add the peaches to the skillet and drizzle the remaining ketchup mixture over the top of the peach.
Cover and cook 5 minutes.
Turn the peaches and cook an additional 2 minutes.
Remove the peaches and place over each ham slice before serving.
Serving Size:4
This makes an excellent meat for a small holiday dinner.If you would rather use a canned ham just place the ham in a baking pan.Place the peaches around the ham and pour the ketchup mixture over the top.Cover tightly with aluminum foil.Place in a 350 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours or until the ham is cooked through.
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.
Christmas is a holiday where the entire family tries to get together. Sweet smells waft from the kitchen as those with the talent prepare meal after meal to everyone’s delight. If you have kids, get them in on the Christmas cooking craze.
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.
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:
Spray a 2 1/2 qt. bowl with a non stick cooking spray and dust with flour.
Place the flour into a large mixing bowl.
Add the baking powder, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon and stir to combine.
Place the butter in a separate bowl.
Use an electric mixer and beat the butter on medium speed for 30 seconds.
Pour the sugar into the bowl and continue beating until completely combined.
Add the eggs and the egg whites one at a time beating on low speed after each addition.
Use a rubber spatula and fold the melted chocolate into the mixture.
Alternating back and forth add a little of the flour mixture beat on low to incorporate then add a little milk and beat on low to incorporate.
Keep alternating and beating the mixture until all the milk and flour have been added and the mixture is mixed together well.
Spread the mixture evenly into the bowl.
Grease a piece of aluminum foil and cover the bowl with the aluminum foil pressed against the inside edge of the bowl.
Place a rack into a Dutch oven.
Set the bowl on the rack and fill the Dutch oven and fill with water to 1 inch up the side of the bowl.
Cover and bring the water to a brisk boil.
Reduce the heat so the water is just simmering and steam the pudding for 1 1/2 hours.
Check the water level every 30 minutes and add boiling water as necessary.
When a toothpick inserted in the center of the pudding comes out clean the pudding is done.
Remove the bowl from the pan and take off the aluminum foil.
Allow the pudding to cool for 10 minutes.
Invert on serving platter and cool 30 minutes before serving.
Place the kumquats in a medium sauce pan.
Add the brown sugar, cranberry juice, cinnamon stick and bay leaf.
Place the pan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a brisk boil.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 3 minutes or until the kumquats just begin to soften.
Adjust the heat to medium and add the cranberries and dried cherries.
When the mixture begins to boil reduce the heat to low and simmer 8 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaf and discard.
Fold the pecans into the sauce and remove from the stove.
Pour the sauce over the top of the pudding while still warm.
Serve the pudding immediately.
Serving Size:12
By placing the bowl of pudding into the Dutch oven you prevent the bottom of the pudding from burning while it steams.The water in the Dutch oven should always remain at 1 inch up the side of the bowl to insure the pudding cook evenly. Using a 2 1/2 qt bowl allows 2 inches between the bowl and pan and makes removing the bowl when the pudding is done much easier and much safer.
Seafood works well as an alternate Christmas dinner dish. A pot of clam or seafood chowder (New England style) will warm the cockles during the holiday meal. After a hearty bowl of that, no one will want a big heaping helping of turkey and potatoes. Serve the soup with those cute little oyster crackers.
If you have children, ask them to participate in the menu planning. Kids have their favorite foods as well. Christmas dinner revolves around good people and good food. So, have something that you like to eat on the dinner table. You may find a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs in the midst of everything else.
Try out the other white meat. A pork loin is lean and juicy. It still goes well with mashed potatoes and a gravy or wild rice and green beans. Pork loin roasts for twenty minutes per pound so the oven won’t be tied up all day. If mashed potatoes are too heavy, try a medley of fresh roasted vegetables like onions, baby carrots, and red skinned potatoes.
Choose a theme for your Christmas dinner. If it’s seafood, or Italian food, or Mexican food, everyone can bring something to contribute to the meal. The food will be different than usual but the sentiment is still the same.
Alternative Christmas dinner ideas are fun to try out. If it doesn’t take with the folks, you can go back to a more traditional Christmas meal next year.
We all have a picture of Christmas dinner in our minds. It involves turkey, stuffing, gravy, and a host of other dishes. If you want to break with tradition, here are some alternative Christmas dinner ideas to try out on your family this year.
Just because it is Christmas dinner, doesn’t mean that we have to eat the same things each year. Branch out and try a few other dishes or some of your favorite comfort foods that aren’t necessarily a part of a traditional Christmas dinner menu. Dinner guests will like the variety.
If your guests are on board with this Christmas dinner idea, ask them to participate. They can bring a favorite dish of theirs to the gathering for everyone else to try. Instead of turkey as the centerpiece use the other poultry that is popular the rest of the year. Have a plate of fried chicken on the dinner table.
How about fish? We often think of poultry or ham for holiday occasions but fish is just as good and healthier for you. Serve up a platter of salmon or tilapia. For a down home feel, batter and fry some whiting fillets.
