It is my hope that if you have never made a Christmas dinner I want to inspire you to try it this year. It doesn't matter if you are the best cook in the world the company is the most important ingredient. I hope that I can inspire you with these simple straight foreword recipes so you can try to create your own Christmas recipe traditions this year.

My favorite holiday is Christmas. The most important Christmas tradition in my family is Christmas dinner. Christmas day to me means great company with friends, family and a wonderful Christmas dinner. The most exciting part of Christmas day of course for the kids would be the gifts. Aside from being thankful for the birth of Christ there is much excitement from young and old alike about the feast that makes Christmas day so special every year.

For my family Christmas day is just not Christmas with out the turkey, occasionally ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, dressing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, hot rolls and pies for desert. I am gathering simple traditional recipes, feel free to leave a comment of your favorite traditional recipe. My husbands family always have to have WIENER SCHNITZEL -Breaded Veal because his mother was born in Germany so every holiday has to include that tradition for them.

The turkey is the main center piece for my family at every Christmas dinner. Baking or roasting a turkey is easy and now days with the thermometer inserted-in the turkey that pops up when it's done it's even easier then years ago. I hope you will try to cook that special dinner this year it is so magical to be with friends and family for a great Christmas dinner. With out further adieu I will start with some really great recipes.

This is my Grandma's secret recipe for the most delicious, super moist turkey you will ever taste! If you do not believe me go buy a small turkey and try it before Christmas dinner you will be amazed! I promise you will never go back to soaking your turkey in salt water, rubbing it down with butter or vegetable oil, or throwing it your on the counter, messaging it uncontrollably, or holding your breath as it bakes -all in hopes your turkey will be the most moist and tender turkey ever.

Fear not the secret recipe is here to help you and you can have fun with your guests who try to guess why and how your turkey is so wonderful this year. You can simply claim, "it's Grandma's secret recipe". I hope you try to bake a turkey weather it is for Thanksgiving or Christmas this is so simple and yet so delicious your guests will boast about this turkey.

First and foremost your turkey should be thawed out and ready to cook.

Turkey

Mayonnaise

Roaster pan/ deep pan for baking

Tin Foil

Seasoning salt

1. Remove the giblets from under the fold of skin near the top of the bird.

You can rinse these and save them for the gravy or just cook them for the person in the family who likes them.

2. rinse the turkey thoroughly with warm water remove any left behind feather remnants and also rinse the inside of the turkey.

3. Place the turkey in roaster pan, deep cake pan or any dish that can hold the turkey plus liquid in the bottom that will accumulate during cooking. Fold the wing tips behind the back of the turkey like he is sun bathing lol.

4. place turkey on a roasting rack if you have one if not place two pieces of rolled up tin foil at each end of your turkey on the bottom side to hold the bottom of the turkey off the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking or burning this area of your turkey.

5. This is grandma's secret weapon for the most moist turkey ever! Spoon mayonnaise onto the top of your turkey. Gradually rub the mayonnaise all over the turkey even inside the turkey. You want a layer all over the turkey the key is to seal the skin all over so to speak to keep in the moisture.

6. Sprinkle seasoning salt all over the turkey.

7. Place the turkey in a 350 degree oven for the recommended time on the chart below. Cover the turkey slightly with a tin foil piece that covers it completely but do not seal the edges just drape it over the turkey.

8. In the last 30-45 minutes of your baking time remove your tin foil, now you will see the magic of your mayonnaise when it browns beautifully. Once your turkey is done take it out of the oven and let it set for at least 10-15 minutes to rest and cool slightly.

9. Place your turkey on a serving dish to be sliced at the table, served fresh out of the over this is the best turkey you will ever eat.

10. Enjoy your delicious turkey and have a very Merry Christmas!

You can go to the USDA websitefor more food safety tips and cooking suggestions as well as thawing guides and tips.

 Easy recipe.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 cups firm bread or toast, cut into small cubes
• 4 tablespoons dried minced onion
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder or base
• 2 tablespoon dry parsley flakes
• 1 1/4 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine

Preparation:

Combine onion flakes, salt, poultry seasoning, bouillon powder and parsley flakes in a large saucepan. Add broth and butter then bring to a boil. Cover and boil for 5 minutes. Add bread cubes and let reduce heat to low. Let stand until thoroughly blended and heated. Fluff with a fork and serve. Serves 4 to 6.

INGREDIENTS

• DRESSING:
• 4 celery ribs, chopped
• 2 small onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 6 cups crumbled cornbread
• 1 cup chopped med onion
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• chicken broth 2 cups

DIRECTIONS

1. In a skillet, saute celery and onions in butter until tender; stir in salt, sage, and pepper. Stir in the corn bread, onions, parsley and eggs. Add 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 cups of chicken broth, stirring gently to mix.
2. Transfer to greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Cover and bake at 325 degrees F for 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 160 degrees F.

 GLAZED SWEET POTATOES  

Yield: 4 Servings   

1/2 c Butter or margarine  

32 oz can Sweet potatoes-drained  or fresh sweet potatoes, pared and cooked

1. Add sweet potatoes to your casserole dish.

2. Add butter and marshmellows or brown sugar which ever you prefer. In my house we have to make both. 

3. Bake at 350' for 25-30 minutes or until heated through

 4. Serve hot and delicious

 Servings - 4

You can prepare the dish ahead and bake it just before  

SERVES 6

Ingredients

• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans cut green beans, drained
• 1 1/3 cups French-fried onions (French's)

Directions

1. Combine soup, milk and pepper in a 1 1/2 qt baking dish; stir until blended.
2. Stir in beans and 2/3 cup fried onions.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until hot.
4. Stir.
5. Sprinkle with remaining 2/3 cup fried onions.
6. Bake 5 more minutes or until onions are golden.

Christmas is just not complete with out sugar cookies to snack on while waiting to eat that delicious turkey dinner.

Soft Delicious Sugar Cookies

Original recipe yield 4 dozen cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 (16 ounce) tub Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy frosting (any white variety)
• Food colors in desired colors
• Assorted candy decorations

DIRECTIONS

1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg; set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, vanilla and sour cream until well blended. Stir in the sifted ingredients. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch in thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart onto un-greased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to cool completely.
4. Separate your frosting into glass mugs and add any color of food coloring you want. Decorate your cookies with frosting and candies in great Christmas style.

* For softer cookies bake them for a little less time and you can make them a bit thicker as well.

*For decorating you can either add food coloring to half or part of the cookie dough or you can add color to frosting and frost them after they cool. You can use different cookie cutters for fun shapes. You can use colored sugar before you bake them for a different effect. Sugar cookies are fun to make with children or friends to share with every one.

1 1/4 c. sugar

1 c. butter

1 egg

1/2 c. milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp peppermint extract

3 ½ c. all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

½ tsp red food color

Directions: - Cream together sugar and butter - Add egg, then milk, vanilla, and peppermint extract. - Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. - Divide dough in half. - Stir food color into one half. - Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. - Preheat oven to 375 degrees. - For each candy cane, shape one rounded tsp dough from each half into 4-inch rope by rolling back and forth on clean surface. (don’t use flour or it won’t stick to the other half) - Place one red and white rope side by side; press together lightly and twist. - Place on prepared cookie sheet; curve top of cookie down to form handle of cane. - Bake 9 to 12 minutes or until set and very light brown. - Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack and cool completely.