Holiday Side Dishes

The human race, particularly Americans have a bad habit of overindulgence, then remorse, then changes of behavior, back to overindulgence. Around and around we go on the merry-go-round of life. The holidays bring out the best and also the worst in us. We can't seem to be happy unless we're under some extreme kind of self imposed pressure to make our lives perfect. When do we figure out that life isn't perfect?

I'm sorry, I try to start out with just what the article is supposed to be about and then I drift off somewhere else. Just bear with me. It will either get better or it won't. Either way, you have been warned.

Holiday Side Dishes:

Sweet Potato Casserole: 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes; 1 cup sugar; 2 eggs, beaten; 1 tsp. vanilla; 1/2 cup melted butter; 1/3 cup milk. Topping: 1 cup light brown sugar; 1 cup chopped nuts; 1/3 cup flour; 1/3 cup butter. Directions: Mix first six ingredients. Pour into greased casserole. Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over potato mixture. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Corn Casserole: 1 pkg. yellow rice; 1/2 stick butter; 2 cans mexicorn; 1 can celery soup; 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese. Directions: Prepare rice according to package directions, adding 1/2 stick butter. When rice is cooked, mix with mexicorn, soup and cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Sour Cream Potatoes: 8 medium red potatoes; 1 bay leaf; 1/2 stick butter; 1 can cream of chicken soup; 1 quart sour cream; 2 cups grated cheddar cheese; 3 scallions, including tops, chopped. Directions: Cook potatoes in skins with the bay leaf until tender. Melt butter; remove from stove. Add soup, sour cream and cheese reserving 1/2 cup cheese for topping. Add scallions and mix gently. Slice potatoes; alternate layers of potatoes and sauce in a 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Add remaining cheese the last 15 minutes of baking time.

Baked Vegetables: 2 carrots, cut up; 2 cups celery, cut up; 1/2 cup onion, cut up; 1/2 cup green pepper, cut up; 1 can cut green beans, drained; 1 can diced tomatoes & juice; 1 T. sugar; 3 T. tapioca, mix with sugar; 1 tsp. salt; 4 T. butter. Directions: Put all ingredients in a large casserole. Dot with 4 tablespoons butter. Bake at 350 for 2 hours, stirring 1 or 2 times.

Creamed Potatoes: 2 lb. package frozen hash browns; 1 can cream of potato soup; 1 can cream of celery soup; 1 green pepper, chopped; 1 small onion, chopped; 1 1/2 cups sour cream; 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese. Directions: Mix all ingredients, except cheese and let stand 1/2 hour. Put in 9x13 inch pan and bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Stir and top with cheese. Reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake another hour.

When I read magazines it's usually how to make our homes color coordinated or feng shued. How to work all day, be exhausted, but still have a glistening white smile for everyone we live with and of course, the perfect dinner on the perfectly set table. I'm here to tell you that it's okay to serve holiday dinners on paper plates then just putting the whole mess in a trash bag and carry it out to the garbage. See? Dishes are done! Use a paper tablecloth to cover the table or don't use one at all. The point is to have fun, be with your loved ones and not stress yourself out over anything. If you don't feel like cooking, ask for help. Have everyone bring a dish or, dare I say it, go out for your holiday dinner and let someone else clean up the mess. Just be sure to leave them a big tip.