Christmas Cooking

Almost time to call it quits for the day. I've washed dishes and wiped down the counter tops what feels like a dozen times today. But everything is ready, for tomorrow, at least! We'll be having Christmas dinner at my parent's house. My contribution is cranberry relish, poppy seed cake, sweet potato casserole, and spinach dip. (It's adapted from the recipe from the Knorr vegetable soup/dip seasoning packet)

Ingredients:

• 16 oz sour cream
• 1 c mayonnaise
• 1 packet of vegetable soup/dip mix (Knorr or Lipton works for me)
• 1 box (about 10 oz) of frozen, chopped spinach, thawed

Mix the sour cream, mayo, and dry soup/dip mix. When the spinach is thawed, squeeze the excess water out of it, then stir into the sour cream mixture. The recipe on the box calls for chopped green onions and water chestnuts; sometimes I add the water the chestnuts for crunch, but most of the time I forget to buy them, so I usually make it just as listed here. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Serve with crackers

Besides the things I made today to take to my mom's for dinner tomorrow, within the last few days I've made snowdrop/sand tarts and chocolate chip cookies, pasta bake, and queso dip. I've also bought the makings for crab spread, seasoned crackers, and eggless egg nog, or Just Nog as I like to say. Oh, and Hanukkah donuts. (The only reason I haven't made these yet is because I don't want to have to clean the stove!)

We'll be enjoying all of these and maybe more at some point during the holiday season. I mention all of these to say this--the recipes that I post here are things that I really make and eat. One of the things that helps me get into the holiday spirit is when I finally reach the place that I start cooking. Even if I do have to clean the kitchen up a dozen times in a day. Okay, maybe a half-a-dozen. I love to cook, both for my family and for others, those simple things that we all like to enjoy while we're enjoying the season and each other.

So, from my kitchen to yours this holiday season, good cooking, and good eating!

___________________________________