I'm such a Fruitcake *PLEASE* help

[buffettbride]

Ok...so I'm not so talented in the kitchen but I have a family "thingy" on Christmas that I've been assigned to bring the side-dish. 'Bout the only thing I know how to do is bake cheesecake but that won't work because some other knob in the family signed up for dessert and I get stuck with side dish.

It's not a super-formal Christmas dinner but we'll have the basics of ham and 'taters and stuff.


Anyone have any good ideas and recipes? Something I can bake in a casserole dish???? THANK YOU!!!!!

[RinglingRingling]

Ok...so I'm not so talented in the kitchen but I have a family "thingy" on Christmas that I've been assigned to bring the side-dish. 'Bout the only thing I know how to do is bake cheesecake but that won't work because some other knob in the family signed up for dessert and I get stuck with side dish.

It's not a super-formal Christmas dinner but we'll have the basics of ham and 'taters and stuff.


Anyone have any good ideas and recipes? Something I can bake in a casserole dish???? THANK YOU!!!!!

Black beans and rice?

[buffettbride]

Ok...so I'm not so talented in the kitchen but I have a family "thingy" on Christmas that I've been assigned to bring the side-dish. 'Bout the only thing I know how to do is bake cheesecake but that won't work because some other knob in the family signed up for dessert and I get stuck with side dish.

It's not a super-formal Christmas dinner but we'll have the basics of ham and 'taters and stuff.


Anyone have any good ideas and recipes? Something I can bake in a casserole dish???? THANK YOU!!!!!

Black beans and rice?

That sounds good in theory but I'm serious about needing a recipe. If I don't have something I can read off a sheet of paper, honest to God I'll screw it up.

[AlbatrossFlyer]

have you considered reviewing the recipes in parrothead cookbook?

[buffettbride]

have you considered reviewing the recipes in parrothead cookbook?

It was a thought but I don't have one. Or else I would. I have several cookbooks but they don't have pictures and I don't have time to experiment and work it out.

I trust that BNrs would give me something tried and true (and fruitcake proof).

Just to explain a little further some examples of my cooking adventures...

I was baking a cake (from a box of Betty Crocker cake mix). I only added 1/3 cup milk instead of 1 and 1/3 milk and let's just say it was more like brownies than cake (and not the fun kind of brownies either).

And then there was this one time I was making instant mashed potatoes and I forgot to add the water (just had milk and butter in there) so it was more like cement mix.

[citcat]

• How about Potato Casserole? It's easy:
  2 lb. bag of hashbrown (the little chunk, frozen kind), thawed
  *Spread in 13 X 9 dish. Add 1/2 stick butter, chipped over top.
  *Mix: 2 Cup sour cream
  2 Cup shredded cheddar cheese, mild
  1 can cream of chicken soup
  1 teasp. salt, pepper to taste
  *Pour this mix over potatoes, spread it evenly
  *Crush: 2 Cups potatoe chips
  1-2 cups cornflakes
  Mix with other half of above mentioned stick butter, melted
  *Sprinkle this over potatoes
  *Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.
  
  YUM!!!
  And heheh you said "knob"!

[buffettbride]

Thanks citcat!! That seems simple enough. I LOVE potatoes anything.

I'll pass it on to hubby and see what he things.

[semitruths]

Meat (not meet) dish??
Dessert dish???
Snack dish??

[buffettbride]

Meat (not meet) dish??
Dessert dish???
Snack dish??

It could be a meat (not meet) dish. Definitely not dessert or overly snacky.

More like a veggie type of thing. Not a dessert though. Cousin "knob" already signed up for dessert.

[semitruths]

Meat (not meet) dish??
Dessert dish???
Snack dish??

It could be a meat (not meet) dish. Definitely not dessert or overly snacky.

More like a veggie type of thing. Not a dessert though. Cousin "knob" already signed up for dessert.

What is cousin 'knob' bringing??? You could blow her away with this dessert that my wife makes ....... 'Chocolate Eclair Dessert'.

[buffettbride]

Meat (not meet) dish??
Dessert dish???
Snack dish??

It could be a meat (not meet) dish. Definitely not dessert or overly snacky.

More like a veggie type of thing. Not a dessert though. Cousin "knob" already signed up for dessert.

What is cousin 'knob' bringing??? You could blow her away with this dessert that my wife makes ....... 'Chocolate Eclair Dessert'.

Well, I'm bringing cheesecake too because I have that down to a science. But I still need the side dish.

[buffettbride]

**Update**

The potato thing is out. Someone is already bringing "the potatoes".



This is why I started the In-Laws thread.

But I also wanted to add, for citcat...hubby's response:

Me: Is this a possibility? (referring to the recipe)

Him: Someone is already bring potatoes. Keep it for us, it sounds good.

[Kerry]

This is pretty easy and tastes great. Also, it's served cold so you won't have to worry about trying to transport a hot vegetable dish.

Marinated Vegetable Salad with Dijon Dressing

2 cups cauliflower florets
2 cups broccoli florets
1 lb. fresh green beans, cut in pieces
1 red pepper, diced

Dressing:

2/3 cup olive oil
6 T. red wine vinegar (T. means tablespoon)
2 T. dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. oregano
small clove of garlic, minced fine (or you can just used the bottled garlic that is already minced for you)

Add cauliflower, broccoli and green beans to boiling water and boil 2-3 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and rinse under cold water.

Combine all veggies with red pepper in a large bowl. Whisk dressing ingredients together in a small bowl and pour over veggies. Toss to mix. Cover and refridgerate 2-3 hours before serving. Don't make this too far in advance because you want the veggies to maintain their colour. I sometimes add different veggies, depending on what have. Carrots look nice in this, if you want to add them, just boil along with the other veggies. Hope you have a nice dinner.

[PHAW Webmistress]

Mal - sorry I didn't see this earlier I would have brought you the Phruitcakes cookbook last night to borrow

So - how about green bean casserole - the recipie is right on a can of fried onions but its

Green beans (french style out of a can)
a can of cream of mushroom soup

Drain the beans - put beans in a casserole dish
Mix it with the soup
Stick it in the oven for the prescribed time (think its like 45 minutes at 400 but don't quote me )
about 10 minutes before it's done - spread the fried onions over the top and let the bake with the casserole for the last 10 minutes

You can also add some shredded cheese to the mix for a twist.


Another idea - if you don't mind telling a little white lie Go to the deli section of the grocery store - buy a side dish they have prepared. Take it home and dump it in one of your cooking/serving dishes and tell them you made it

[Prthd119]

Mal - sorry I didn't see this earlier I would have brought you the Phruitcakes cookbook last night to borrow

So - how about green bean casserole - the recipie is right on a can of fried onions but its

Green beans (french style out of a can)
a can of cream of mushroom soup

Drain the beans - put beans in a casserole dish
Mix it with the soup
Stick it in the oven for the prescribed time (think its like 45 minutes at 400 but don't quote me )
about 10 minutes before it's done - spread the fried onions over the top and let the bake with the casserole for the last 10 minutes

You can also add some shredded cheese to the mix for a twist.


Another idea - if you don't mind telling a little white lie Go to the deli section of the grocery store - buy a side dish they have prepared. Take it home and dump it in one of your cooking/serving dishes and tell them you made it

I'm sure I don't know anyone that would do this!

[Prthd119]

Btw, Mallory..this is really easy and delicious..

350 degrees approx. 30 minutes

Vidalia Onion Casserole

4 large onions peeled, sliced and pulled into rings
1 stick Oleo halved -- with 1/2 melted
1/2 to 3/4 stack of Club Crackers or Saltines crumbled
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
1 cup grated Cheddar Cheese
2 eggs well beaten
3/4 milk
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup whipped to soften

Saute' onions in 1/2 stick Oleo, sprinkling on pepper after they have become transparent.
Place melted 1/2 stick in casserole dish.
Layer the onions, crackers, cheese and mushrom soup. Layer once again and pour milk and egg mixture over all of this.
Sprinkle a little extra cheese on top, or a whole lot. It's up to you.

[buffettbride]

Mal - sorry I didn't see this earlier I would have brought you the Phruitcakes cookbook last night to borrow

That's OK Renee! I think that green bean casserole is going to be my back-up plan because I can make it very easily. I think I'm gonna try Connie's onion thingy though.

[CUparrot]

Check out http://www.allrecipes.com/. They have tons of recipes, and if you have something in mind, you can search for it using a key word.

[buffettbride]

Btw, Mallory..this is really easy and delicious..

We might have ourselves a winner. What kind of onions do I use? And by Oleo I'm assuming you mean margerine???

[Prthd119]

Btw, Mallory..this is really easy and delicious..

We might have ourselves a winner. What kind of onions do I use? And by Oleo I'm assuming you mean margerine???

Yes...a friends mother sent me the recipe 3 yrs ago...It is sooo easy, and delicious...She still says "Oleo"....

I have a salad recipe she sent that will have everyone raving..but it is a pain to make......The onion casserole is really , really good!!

They suggest Vidalia onions as they have more sugar and therefore sweeter, but I have used White Onions....They work too...