CHRISTMAS 2019: EASY FAMILY COOKING AHEAD OF THE BIG FEAST

Help is at hand for partners and kids in the run-up to Christmas as the Chief Cook & Bottle washer (usually Mum - sorry to be sexist!) focuses on the frantic Holiday Season... 

'I guess if I want any dinner, I'll have to do it myself!'
Courtesy of Pixabyt and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence 

The first post in the 2019 Christmas series offers easy tasty dishes that partners and kids will love to make - and eat! - leaving family Chef to concentrate on the big seasonal Feast.

Many of the recipes are budget-friendly or skinny or low/no sugar or make-ahead.  Or all of the above.

Have a go.  The dishes are surprisingly easy considering how tasty and satisfying they are.  They were road-tested on guinea pigs of all ages and got an  enthusiastic response.   

STARTERS

Tomato Soup, Almost Instant never reach for tinned again

Silky Noodles in Broth, Triple Duty 


White Bean Soup, Creamy: Triple Duty, Dairy-free, frugal 

Caponata: Mediterranean Dip for kids' palates with a hint of Sweet & Sour; Easy 





'Runny' Hard-boiled eggs in White Sauce: childhood favourite; lower-fat; frugal; easily digested 


SIDES/SALADS

Mediterranean Tomatoes: so simple, so sensational

so wallet-friendly

Apple & Cashew Nut Slaw: crunchy & sweet with a touch of maple syrup

Broccoli, Beetroot & Cashew: Vegan, absolutely not rabbit food 

Beautiful Baked Beans: low sugar; made from scratch & much much better than tinned; Slow Cooker

Low-fat un-fried Rice: soft plump rice with lashings of egg & peas but steamed, not fried


MAINS

Sausage Hash: kid/dults will love this delicious frugal,  healthy dish; great use of leftovers






One-pot Rice & Chicken: Low-fat, very easy, comforting

7-minute Protein Fried Noodles: triple duty; vegetarian & carnivore options

Tuna Casserole with Crispy Potato Chip Topping: kids will hoover up this without realising how good it is for them

Honey & Garlic Salmon Rice: sensationally tasty carb-rich meal boosts energy in freezing weather

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

Chilli Hot Dogs: 

American fun-food, drive-in classic but vegan








Thai Larb (hot spicy mince) a la 67: Vegan,
quick cook, low fat, wallet-friendly, meat option

Tortilla Espagnol: Glamour Mode 
A popular dinner dish is made even healthier with colourful veg.  If you don't want to cook potatoes from scratch, a big packet of fries from the local chippy makes a good substitute. 



SAUCES/DIPS

Lower-sugar Sweet Chilli Dipping Sauce: ambrosial, whatever your age

Instant Jam/Compote: easy-peasy, minimum sugar

Orange & Sesame Marinade for meat & fish 
( all the above recipes in Sauces/Dips)

QUICK BREADS

Buttermilk Pancakes (from across the pond): fabulous; batter sits overnight 





Skinnier Breakfast Biscuits & Baps: 1-bowl scoop & drop light biscuits; lower-fat, no egg/yeast, higher-fibre, budget-friendly




Crispy Oat Cakes: vegan, delicious & more-ish; easy-peasy, thrifty



Cinnamon Rolls, No-Knead terrific no-sweat treat made the night before baking



TREATS/DESSERT

Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting: butter-free, high fibre, low-added sugar; wonderfully appealing 

Healthier Caramel Apple Sauce: kids can help prepare but not cook; fresh fruit & spices temper sweetness; guinea pigs called it a 'taste explosion' 




Orange Surprise Mini Cakes: Vegetarian with Vegan option; butter & egg free but airy & fluffy with surprise filling





Lighter Chocolate Cupcakes: lower-sugar, budget-friendly, butter-free mouthfuls, easy  

Christmas recipes from 2015 onwards on NavBar: How to...

These recipes have been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.