Karl’s Greek Lemon Pilaf II

Adapted from anonymous 

Usually when I make Greek lamb I make potatoes. Last Easter, I decided to try a Greek lemon rice pilaf recipe. It was good, but for my sister Karen I thought I could make it better for this Christmas Eve’s dinner.

Karl’s Greek Lemon Pilaf II

Karl’s Greek Lemon Pilaf II

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Karl’s Green Bean Salad

I am making Greek lamb for Christmas Eve dinner with my sister, Karen. A lettuce salad does not seem like the right side dish. I thought I would do a cold green bean salad.

Karl’s Green Bean Salad

Karl’s Green Bean Salad

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Filed under Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian MD

Karl’s Ham and Six Beans

My sister, Karen, and her husband are coming for Christmas and staying a few days. With my sister visiting I will be bringing back some of my best dishes of the year to see if I can make them even better.

Karl’s Ham and Six Beans

Karl’s Ham and Six Beans

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Karl’s Buttermilk Cornbread

Adapted from a Foodie with Family recipe

My sister, Karen, is visiting for Christmas so on the first dinner I am making ham and beans. Ham and beans calls out for corn bread.

Karl’s Buttermilk Cornbread

Karl’s Buttermilk Cornbread

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Jan’s Christmas Rum Balls II

Adapted from Joy of Cooking

Every Christmas Jan, Myr and Eilene make Rum Balls as give-aways to our friends. Originally they followed the recipe in Joy of Cooking, but a few years ago they started to make changes (adding a little instant coffee, rolling them in cocoa powder rather than sugar, using other liquors rather than rum).

Jan’s Christmas Rum Balls

Jan’s Christmas Rum Balls
 
Chai Rum Balls
Chocolate Chip Grand Marnier Balls                             
                                                             Coffee Rum Balls

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Karl’s Dijon Ham

This weekend we are going to see the second installment of the Hobbit. This leaves me with a dilemma, what am I going to make if I am going to a three hour movie just before dinner? This is that sweet spot between Thanksgiving and Christmas when the left over hams are half price.

Karl’s Dijon Ham

Karl’s Dijon Ham

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Karl’s Mashed Yams

Yams go very well with ham.  They also cook much more quickly than regular potatoes. This makes them perfect for my time-delayed dinner. We are going out to a movie and I need to do the prep before we go, but have everything pulled together quickly after we get back.

Karl’s Mashed Yams

Karl’s Mashed Yams

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Karl’s Oyster Mushrooms and Leeks

I needed a hot vegetable dish that I could prep ahead and then quickly cook at the last minute. I had bought a leek that I did not use this week and I thought that would go nicely with oyster mushrooms (a favorite of Miriam and Chris). I would be cutting the leeks hours before I was intending to cook them. To keep them from drying out, I would keep them in cool water. To dry them out before sautéing, I would use the Salad Spinner that Miriam gave me for my birthday last year.

Karl’s Oyster Mushrooms and Leeks

Karl’s Oyster Mushrooms and Leeks

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Karl’s Mesclun Salad with Red Raspberry Balsamic Dressing

I have a hot vegetable for this meal, but Chris will not eat the yams, because of his ketogenic diet. Leafy greens and turnips are within his diet, so I am making a quick salad. I will serve the dressing on the side and he can take as much or little of it as he wishes (it will have a bit of sugar, which is also not on his diet).

Karl’s Mesclun Salad with Red Raspberry Balsamic Dressing

Karl’s Mesclun Salad with
Red Raspberry Balsamic Dressing

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Karl’s Colorful Coleslaw

I have been doing a lot of Christmas cooking lately, so I have had very little time to blog about cooking. Earlier this week we had sausages and latkes for dinner. Coleslaw goes well with this meal, but I did not have enough of any one cabbage to make it.

Karl’s Colorful Coleslaw

Karl’s Colorful Coleslaw

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