Whether you’re hosting a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another holiday feast, there are some things you can prepare ahead of time. These things include green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and sweet potato toasts.
Ham and Cheese Potato Casserole
Whether you are hosting a family meal or want a quick and easy casserole recipe, this Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole is a great choice. It can be prepared ahead of time, making it perfect for a holiday feast. The recipe uses ham and a creamy cheese sauce. It is also a great way to use leftover ham.
The cheesy sauce is made using a roux. To make a roux, cook onions in butter until they are translucent. Once translucent, add flour to the onions, and cook for one minute. This recipe is also great for vegetarians because you can add more vegetables.
The recipe also calls for sour cream, which adds a tangy flavor. You can also use cream of chicken soup in place of sour cream.
Sweet Potato Toasts
Whether you’re looking for a fun and creative breakfast or a healthy lunch snack, sweet potato toasts are a great option. They can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator or freezer. They can be topped with various toppings, and they’re easy to customize to your dietary needs.
Sweet potato toasts can be made in the oven, toaster, or air fryer. You can prep the sweet potatoes ahead of time and refrigerate them, or you can air fry the sweet potatoes and then add your toppings.
The sweet potato toasts are ready when golden brown and can be topped with anything. You can choose from various toppings, such as fresh fruit, nut butter, salsa, and fried eggs.
Stuffing
Having stuffing on hand during a holiday feast is not only convenient, but it also reduces your stress level. You can make it in advance and even freeze it for later use. This means you won’t have to stress out when preparing to cook the turkey on Thanksgiving.
When preparing the stuffing, you should keep it simple. Make sure you have the right ingredients. Good bread is a must, and you should use at least one type of nut.
It would help if you made the stuffing at least one day in advance and up to two days in advance. You can even freeze it for several days. It can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
Mashed Potatoes
Having a mashed potato recipe ready for a big holiday dinner. Not only are they tasty and easy to make, but they also make life easier on the day of the feast.
You can make various mashed potato recipes, from ultra creamy, cheesy to crispy oven-roasted potatoes. The secret to a good mash is to let the potatoes come to room temperature and then cook them as directed in the recipe.
For a smooth mash, use a food mill or ricer. The ricer helps prevent water from logging into the potatoes while the food mill grinds them into a luscious mash.
Green Bean Casserole
Adding green bean casserole to your Thanksgiving menu is an easy and delicious way to serve a classic side dish. Green beans are combined with a creamy sauce and crispy French fried onions. This recipe takes just minutes to prep and is kid friendly.
Suppose you’re preparing for a large family, double the ingredients. Two 3-quart casseroles should serve up to 12 people. You can also make one casserole in advance and reheat it for 10 minutes.
To make this recipe:
- Start by melting the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat.
- Add the onions and garlic and saute until they’re soft and fragrant.
- Once these ingredients are soft, add the mushrooms and cook for a few minutes.
Vanilla Ice Cream
Whether you’re hosting a big holiday party or want to treat yourself, homemade vanilla ice cream can be the perfect dessert. Just a few simple ingredients are needed to create this sweet treat. It’s perfect for desserts such as ice cream, sundaes, sandwiches, and cookies.
To create the base, you’ll need half-and-half, sugar, vanilla extract, eggs, and salt. The mixture will take about 20 minutes to prepare. Once the mixture has cooled, add the ingredients to an ice cream maker. It’s essential to follow the directions from the manufacturer to ensure your ice cream maker will work properly.
To make more decadent ice cream, you’ll need to add more egg yolks. The yolks help create a denser texture.
