Kitchen Staples That’ll Make Your Season Brighter!
But when it comes to the uninvited guests at your holiday parties, what should be a welcome surprise can all too often become a stressful situation.
Keep these staples on had to whip up something fancy for guests anytime this season!
We’ve even included some other tips to
(Pantry Staples):
-- Olive Tapenade: Serve in a little bowl with a side of crackers or grilled bread, top baked chicken or fish, mix into Light cream cheese and serve with veggie crudite, mix with fresh chopped parsley or basil leaves and serve on crostini.
-- Canned Garbanzo Beans: Rinse and drain a can of these then toss with olive oil and coarse salt and roast at 425 for 15 minutes or until crispy. Add nuts, flaked salt, or chopped fresh herbs after roasting for extra flavor, like this. Or, turn into a veggie dip by mixing with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and veggie broth in a food processor or blender until smooth.
-- Marinated artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, Peppadew peppers, or mini pickles (cornichon / Gerkins).
Plate any or all of these up with some salami and chunks of Parmesan cheese and you have yourself an Antipasto Platter.
(Fridge Staples):
-- Soft goat cheese: Stuff into Peppadew peppers or cherry tomatoes, roll a log in chopped fresh herbs and serve with crackers, drizzle a chunk with honey and serve with crostini, or mix with chopped sundried tomatoes and stuff into chicken breasts or pork chops for an easy entree.
-- Parmesan cheese (or another hard cheese): Break into small chunks and serve with salami and any of the marinated items mentioned above, or grate and melt over slices of baguette for crispy Parmesan toasts.
-- Salami or Prosciutto: Wrap around olives, dates stuffed with goat cheese, or slices of melon then hold together with a toothpick.
Store-bought hummus or bean dip: Serve with warmed pita bread, pita chips, cucumber slices, or carrot sticks. Or, spread a little on crostini and top with crumbled feta cheese and a fresh parsley leaf.
(Freezer Staples)
-- Baguette Slices: Buy a couple baguettes and thinly slice them on a diagonal, then store the slices in freezer-safe plastic bags. Whenever you need crostini, pull out some slices and place on baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt & pepper and toast at 350 for 8 minutes.
-- Peeled, De-veined Shrimp: Thaw these under running water, then bake at 400 for 2-3 min and serve with your favorite dipping sauce. Or, skewer and marinate in olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic, then grill for ~3 min and serve.
-- Pre-made Cookie Dough: Either homemade or store-bought, make sure the dough is separated into cookie-size pieces before you freeze it, so you can just pull out the number of dough chunks you need, plop them on a cookie sheet, and bake for 10-12 minutes.
EASY MEALS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Whether you're looking to have some dinners on hand for the busy holiday season nights, OR looking for some 'ready-to-go' meals that you can whip up for unexpected dinner guests, we've got you covered!
These recipes are not only easy to throw together but you can make them ahead of time to easily heat for a dinner for any occasion!
20-Minute Tuscan Pasta
A creamy pasta that easily camouflages vegetables, Six Sisters’ Stuff recipe for 20-Minute Tuscan Pasta is an easy choice for meal prep. Make the full recipe and save half for the freezer. When you’re ready to enjoy, take out and allow to thaw in the fridge for 24 hours then reheat for 30 minutes in the oven. Dinner is served!
https://www....freezer-meal/
Breakfast Burritos
There’s nothing better than breakfast for dinner! Whip up a batch of these freezer-friendly burritos from Inquiring Chef, then heat them up any time of the day for a super satisfying meal. Best of all, you can heat them up straight from the freezer, making them the perfect choice for busy weeknights.
https://inqu...ast-burritos/
Beef Stew
This freezer meal from Pinch of Yum is the ultimate in comfort food, with hearty chunks of beef, plenty of carrots and celery and luscious tomato-based gravy. If you have an Instant Pot, this is a great time to use it (it’ll be ready in 45 minutes flat!), but there are also instructions to make it in a slow cooker.
https://pinc...eal-beef-stew
Freezer Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches
All hail Damn Delicious and this idea for freezer breakfast sandwiches. They do their name justice (hello, easy breakfast!) but also work as a quick and quirky lunch or dinner. The kids can even help assemble the ingredients!
https://damn...t-sandwiches/
Make Ahead Macaroni and Cheese
You can never have too many mac and cheese recipes! We’re digging this one from Kristine’s Kitchen because it’s a snap to make and you can refrigerate it up to two days before baking. It’s a cheesy win-win!
https://kris...c-and-cheese/
Make Ahead Spaghetti
Cooking for a crowd? Need a quick meal on a chaotic weeknight? This spaghetti, courtesy of Kitchen Sanctuary, is the answer! It’s über flavorful and can even be frozen. Plus, it’s full of veggies and crispy bacon.
https://www....-even-freeze/
Mini Meatloaf Muffins
Let’s face it, kids love kid-size food—and these mini meatloaf muffins from Our Family Eats are no exception. Not only are they packed with protein and vegetables, but they can also be frozen for about two months. We promise, your minis will love them.
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