Recipe Lineup #6- Holiday Edition Dec 19-23 (30+ recipes)

I wonder how many of the population are increasing stress levels and coffee during this last week before Christmas? It seems every year the holiday commercials/ decor, in retail stores, come even sooner than last year. With all the added to-do lists items, cleaning of the house and for some, the winter travel, there is little time to really sit down to prepare a meal plan.

With this Recipe Lineup- Holiday edition you should find some time to spare. I have included over 30+ recipes this go round.  Main course meals which should be time saving as leftovers. Look for salads which will make your heart and stomach happy. Snacks for the family gathering/or party. Want some breakfast ideas for the holidays coming up? There should be few which you bookmark. There is even a few holiday cocktails to put into on your menu to make your time with family even more chipper.

Happy Holidays from my family to yours. May you find peace in the simple things and wonder in the eyes of little children.


Meal #1

Linguine with Clams

with

Quinoa Salad with Pomegranate 

Oh I have been craving seafood. I truly think these two are going to go so well together. Yes, yet another quinoa recipe, but it is just so good and can be used in so many ways.



Meal #2

Smokey Corn Chowder

with

Homemade Cheddar Crackers

Soup is just so darn good. It warms me up and it is so easy as a leftover. The crackers I have been making all week. They are so yummy. No, I can not get mine to puff like the photo but the kids don't care. I am loving that I know what is going into them and I do not have to buy a box of them when I run out. Use whatever cheese you like. I found a great Gruyere/White Cheddar cheese at Trader Joe's that is just perfect for these crackers. 

Meal #3

Tortilla Casserole

with

Parsley Quinoa Salad

Mexican food is so delicious. I found this casserole so I could have lunch the next day. It serves (4) so change accordingly if you have a larger group to feed. I find that I just love having a light salad to pair with any dish. Quinoa shows us its face again, this paired with cucumber and parsley. Light and perfect.



Meal #4

Pear Salad with Walnuts & Feta

with

Kale & Potato Gratin

I do things a little strange sometimes and that is put two sides together. Whoooo hold up. We do not eat a lot of red meat so I have to somehow get creative. Veggies are a great friend to us. So in this meal we are getting some living foods and then some cooked. Not a bad friendship.


Meal #5

Pomegranate Orange Salad

with

Grilled Fish Tacos

Fish tacos.....oooh one of my favorites. These seem to be excellent since can use our indoor grill. Don't know about those trying to do this on a outdoor grill. Might have to scratch these till next spring. :) The salad is a simple, quick addition to any meal.

Worth Trying

Holiday Cocktails

Jingle Juice

&

Cranberry Mojito

Smoothie Peanut Butter Banana

 (if you have extra put this in a popsicle mold for the kids, add some green algae or vitamin C powder too)

Snacks 

Homemade Cheez-Its (Gluten, Soy, Dairy Free)

60+ Holiday snacks prepared in 20 minutes or less

Breakfasts

9 make ahead recipes 

 Spinach and Bacon Quiche (homemade pie crust)

Overnight Blueberry French Toast

Sweet Treats

Sparkly Red Velvet Brownie Bites

One dough-6 cookies

Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pie 

(ps. I am using coconut oil for the oil)

Cinnamon Rolls 

Well what did you like the most? What are you bookmarking for a later time? These recipes are found all across the world wide web, so it is so exciting to see what pops up every week. See you next week. If you think your neighbor, best friend, family, boss might like to use some of these recipes, do share. Fill free to join/comment on the private group on Facebook called Helpful Recipes.

Remember these are all ideas I put together for my family. You can pair other things I have with one you like of your own or from a previous post. I sometimes put a pasta dish, after a pasta dish. You can easily save these and come back next week. Just make the options what you want out of them. 


Cheers and many blessings.

Linda Jacobson
The Helpful Sister

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Recipe Lineup (#5) for Dec 12-19

This week I seem to have found some more hearty meals. I did put together some great mixes. So much fun finding recipes and pairing them together. You could possibly turn you heat off in you home, because these recipes will keep toasty, warm and cozy. Meat has made more of an appearance this week, feel free to take the meat out if you so desire. I most likely will be doing the same.

Meal #1 

Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
(cream of broccoli soup recipe -using gruyere cheese) 

SALAD: Brussel spouts, kale, & Turkey Bacon

I have been really enjoying eating Quinoa in the past few recipes. So much better for the body compared enriched flour noodles. What do you think of Quinoa?

Meal #2

Honey Marinated Pork Chops

Lemon Orzo Salad with Asparagus and Tomatoes

Time to have pork back in the menu. Have not had it around much these days. Pair the Pork Chops with a great organic Orzo and fresh veggies.

Meal #3

Beef and Barley Stew with Mushrooms

Buttery Homemade Cornmeal Crescent Rolls

I am still not sure if I am going to use the Beef. I might go with turkey or add other veggies to the mix. I think a great roll will make this a perfect match.

Meal #4

Tuscan Garlic Chicken

Cranberry Avocado Salad with Spiced Nuts, 

White Balsamic Dressing

The salad could almost be a stand alone dish, but thought I would go well with a heavier main dish. Do you use whole wheat noodles, organic or the standard noodles? What is your favorite style of noodle?

Meal #5

Stuffed Zucchini

Roasted Potatoes with Polenta

Enjoy! I am so excited to try the stuffed zucchini. The Roasted potatoes could be used for a breakfast even.

WORTH TRYING

SOUP:

Fakes Soupa (Greek for Lentil soup)

BREAD:

Artisan Bread

SMOOTHIE:

Mudslide Smoothie (Raw/Living)

SNACKS (Holiday)

No Bake Vanilla Cake Batter Truffles 

(homemade cake mix link)

Sea Salted Honey Maple Shortbread

Festive Cheddar Tree

Holiday Baking Recipes

DRINKS:

Hot Spiced Apple Cider

Hot, warm, full-fulling, whatever you might describe these recipes, they are sure to make your home even hotter. Enjoy and let me know what you think on the private Helpful Recipe Group on Facebook.

Happy Holidays and many many best days ever!

Linda Jacobson

The Helpful Sister

Kindle Giveaway! Be Kindle to Harper.

Tis the season for being grateful and appreciate all you have.

In the spirit of this holiday season, Harper from Hope4Harper is giving away a Kindle. Harper is a beautiful 18 month old little girl, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder called CDLK5. This giveaway is to gain more awareness for her and the research project.


Even if you do not want one, enter to win it for a friend. The more you share the more entries. 

Get the details here (takes 5 minutes) 

Be Kindle to Harper Giveaway

Creating Holiday Memories. Craft Ideas Galore.

I am getting my craftiness back, which is a great thing. For many years I have been doing the standard "holiday shopping." I have been doing a lot of thinking about what this holiday season is all about. Came to a conclusion, I or our family, needed to get back to the what the basics. It might have to do with being a one income family and also digging deep and finding myself again. To me this holiday season is about being genuine. Giving a gift because I want or desire too. Giving a gift which then creates long lasting memories.

What is important? Memories or money?

This year, I am going to start a tradition of heart warming, long lasting, treasured,  gift giving. This means it is time to find the crafty part of my brain again. Find the bin of paints, ribbon, stamps and card stalk, then scan my collection of cool website, blogs and DIY sites and get going.

Who is with me?

Make your own holiday treats. Click on photo

I found some great starting places which I am sure will get you motivated. Look through, find a favorite, tell me about it, post your finished product on my Helpful Sister page. We are going to make this holiday filled with gratitude and life long lasting memories, all tied up in a hand-printed ornament or a popsicle Christmas Tree. 

First off, crafts for those little people to create from Happy Hooligans . Give them the tools then allow them to do whatever they want with it. 

What about this site, Everything Etsy which lays out 101 ornament ideas? Nothing like finding everything in one place. This is one example. An old puzzle piece used as a gift tag or ornament. So cute. 

or get more ideas here at Red Thread DIY. I think you might have enough to get started after looking at these. 

I love this idea. A footprint Christmas Tree from Craft Rookie Blog. Scroll a little bit to see it. There are not any instructions but I think I will figure it out. 

Martha always has to be included in any holiday crafting. Learn how to use any cookie cutters you no longer put to work and make an ornament. 

Another favorite is making hand-print Ornaments from Home Made Grits Blog. A few basic ingredients, a hand or foot pressed into your mold and poof your own little special gift. 

Those canvas prints get pretty pricey so Better Homes and Gardens made a DIY just for you. Why not make them yourself?

Was this year filled with big moment, like a new job, new house, graduation? Make it last with these great ideas from In My Own Style

Lastly but not the least. This super adorable hand print ball ornament from A Sort a Fairy Tale Blog.

Finally, what do you do with your stuff for the next craft hour, day or weekend? Store it with these ideas from Crafty Storage.

Well, did you find anything you liked? I hope so. Come find me on Facebook or Twitter. Share with me what you did. I am so excited to get going on my own crafty gifts. 

Happy Holidays to you and your family. Enjoy all the memories you have made this year. Cherish them. 

The Helpful Sister