Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

The GOP is a fucking disgrace.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

T R E 4 5 O N

Let’s finish the job.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

Prediction: the GOP will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

🎶 Those boots were made for mockin’ 🎵

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

The words do not have to be perfect.

You cannot shame the shameless.

No one could have predicted…

You are here: Home / Food & Recipes / Cooking / Recipe Exchange: Christmas Eve Dinner Party

Recipe Exchange: Christmas Eve Dinner Party

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Before I get back to cleaning, I thought I’d post this. Of course, my robot vacuum decided to die today (Carson is his name and he needs new batteries). So horrors of horrors, I have to do my own vacuuming.

This is one of my favorite nights of the year. Friends come over for Christmas Eve dinner and then we watch a movie. Tonight: Strictly Ballroom, a quirky Australian treat by Baz Luhrman.

This year I had a request to make Spinach Lasagna again, I haven’t made it for a few years. I really like it because I can prep it ahead and the night of the party I’m not stuck in the kitchen.

On the board:

  1. Spinach Lasagna
  2. Green Beans Tossed w/Butter & Lemon Pepper
  3. Garlic Cheese Bread
  4. Ice Cream Sundae Bar

This recipe takes about an hour to prepare and another hour to cook. It easily serves 6 – 8. I made it on Sunday and refrigerated. It will need additional cooking time to bring the center up to temperature.

Spinach Lasagna

Sauce:

  • 3-15 oz cans tomato sauce
  • 2-6 oz cans tomato paste
  • 14 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 2 tsp oregano, crushed
  • 2 tsp basil, crushed
  • 2 tsp crushed garlic
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled & finely grated
  • pinch of sugar (reduces acidity of the tomatoes)
  • Optional: ½ lb ground beef and ½ spicy Italian sausage, browned

Saucepan

Add all ingredients to saucepan on medium-high, stirring constantly until it begins to boil lightly. Turn to low and let simmer while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

Lasagna:

  • 1 pkg lasagna noodles (16 oz), cooked and placed in cool water until layering
  • 16 oz ricotta cheese
  • 8 oz package frozen spinach, thawed or 8 oz fresh, washed and dried
  • 1 egg
  • 12 oz sliced mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese

13×9 baking dish (I prefer glass), lightly oiled

To prepare: Mix ricotta, spinach and egg until well blended. Ladle a layer of sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.

Cover in a single layer of noodles. Ladle sauce over noodles. Spoon ½ of the ricotta mixture evenly (if you place large dollops evenly like putting cookie dough on a baking sheet, fairly close together, it will spread as it cooks, no need to smooth it).

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Layer 1/3 of the mozzarella over the ricotta. Repeat: noodles, sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, noodles. On top of the last layer of noodles, add remaining sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, uncovered – I like to place the baking dish on a baking sheet to catch any spills as it bubbles. Place knife through the center, if it comes out heated through, remove and let stand for 10 minutes before cutting and serving. If it needs more cooking time, you can cover with foil to keep the cheese from burning and cook 10 more minutes. Let stand uncovered before serving.

Garlic Bread

I made my Crusty Slow-Rise Bread and then sliced it length-wise, slathered in garlic butter, mozzarella and Parmesan and broiled until golden brown.  Yum!

Green Beans Tossed with Butter and Lemon Pepper

This one is so easy. I used fancy frozen green beans, steamed, drained and then tossed with lots of butter and lemon pepper seasoning. You can substitute EVOL if desired.

Dessert is our annual Ice Cream Sundae Bar – lots of vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, peanuts, almonds, walnuts and pecans. I also put out any remaining Christmas cookies.

I have to get back to cleaning the house! Merry Christmas Eve!

Oh, and it looks like we may have acquired a new duck (click here for the reveal, LOL)

Consider this an all-purpose open thread.

Reader Interactions

47Comments

  18. 18.

    schrodingers_cat

    @germy: She was one of the leaders of the 1857 war of Independence which lead to the end of the British East India company and direct rule by the Crown. Which actually was worse for India  than the East India Company.

  22. 22.

    Mary G

    Happy Birthday to me! I am 64 and have had that Beatles song running through my head for days now.

    Just got a call from a friend who had been going out of town that they are back early so I will have to get dressed and go to Christmas dinner tomorrow after all.

    Also Happy Birthday to Zinsky too.

  23. 23.

    germy

    @Mary G:

     I am 64 and have had that Beatles song running through my head for days now.

    And Paul was about sixteen when he wrote it.

    In an interview, he said he went through a brief emotional crisis the day he actually turned sixty-four.

  25. 25.

    Gin & Tonic

    @germy: If there is an afterlife, and if Huckabee gets the one he deserves, he will have no difficulties with roasting those ducks he kills.

  26. 26.

    schrodingers_cat

    @germy: She is an icon of Indian Independence there is a famous Hindi poem describing her bravery written by Subhadra kumari Chauhan which was banned by the British.

    Khoob ladi mardani woh toh jhaasi wali rani thee

    (She fought bravely, she was the Queen of Jhansi)

     

  27. 27.

    Sure Lurkalot

    Getting ready to pack up the car with gifts, food and bags, then to the airport to pick up the niece before heading up to the mountains outside of Boulder to feast with in laws on Xmas Eve and Boulder friends for Xmas dinner. All friendly like-minded humans…I can walk under ladders.

  28. 28.

    germy

    @Gin & Tonic:

    If there is an afterlife, and if Huckabee gets the one he deserves, he will have no difficulties with roasting those ducks he kills.

    Those must be some really naughty ducks, if he finds them in hell.

  31. 31.

    schrodingers_cat

    @germy: I don’t know what the second picture is supposed to mean. British Empire was not a crazy person. It was a methodical draining of resources from the rest of the world to Britain. No matter how many people suffered or died.

  34. 34.

    germy

    @trollhattan:

    They know what they did.

    Wasn’t there a FarSide cartoon where a duck hunter dies, goes to heaven and is met at the Pearly Gates by a duck in a long robe?

  35. 35.

    WaterGirl

    @zhena gogolia: Everything is fixable. But the day before Christmas and on Christmas isn’t the best time. :-)

    We are trying two things today.  Removing recent comments to see if that helps in the short run, and also asking front pagers not to be logged in to WordPress unless they are creating or editing a post.

    I am normally a “change only one thing at a time” girl, but this is the holidays so I’m willing to change two at once to see if that can get us more stable for the next couple of days. So we’ll see if this stops the bleeding.

  38. 38.

    Brachiator

    @schrodingers_cat:

    She was one of the leaders of the 1857 war of Independence which lead to the end of the British East India company and direct rule by the Crown. Which actually was worse for India than the East India Company.

    There is a new book out about the East India Company by William Dalrymple, Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company, which apparently tries to be honest about the devastation it caused to India.

  39. 39.

    jeffreyw

    We were at the local Kroger for some last minute shopping, along with much of the rest of the county, it seems.  While I was waiting for the butcher to bring out a rib roast he was prepping for us, I told Mrs J to go get a bunch of celery.  I had it on the list but forgot to grab some when going through the produce aisle.  She came back with a big bag full.  I told her that was way more than I could use.  She reminded me that told her I wanted a bunch of celery and that’s what she brought.

  40. 40.

    trollhattan

    @germy:

    uhhh…

    Before taking off on its holy mission, the crop duster was cleaned out of pesticides. Barzare said he is confident the agricultural aircraft did not stir worry or confusion among any Cow Island residents.

    I’m convinced. If they want to do something useful, get that plane to Australia and pitch in with the firefight.
    Any Jews on Cow Island? (I think I know the answer, still….)

  41. 41.

    Mnemosyne

    @schrodingers_cat:

    Did I tell you about the book I bought at the LA Times Festival of Books that was about one of the pre-British queens of India? I have it at home and can send you the title/author later.

  45. 45.

    Sister Golden Bear

    For tomorrow’s side I’m bringing Summit House creamed corn — recipe from the restaurant where my mother and I went to Thanksgiving for years.

    Tasty and ridiculously easy to make.

    If you’re making it using frozen corn, it’s a bit runny (from the moisture that comes off when thawing), so I cut the amount of cream by a a third.

  46. 46.

    J R in WV

    @opiejeanne:

    Because while I may no longer be allowed near a roast, I am still competent enough to produce desserts.

    You are allowed to do roasts of all sorts in the future, your accident was a technical error, not a cooking error, all the problems were because of technical errors with new and untested technology, NOT YOUR FAULT!

    Plus that Almond Tart/tort, which ever speling is correct, is a beauty and should be shared with all the Jackals asap.

  47. 47.

    opiejeanne

    @J R in WV: Thank you for your support. I would make you one and send it to you if I knew where to send it.

    Tamara, here it is.

    Start with a 9 inch tart pan, cut parchment paper in a round to fit the bottom of the pan.

    For the pastry crust:

    In your food processor pulse

    1 Cup of all purpose flour,

    1Tablespoon sugar,

    and 1/2 Cup butter, until the mixture resembles cornmeal.

    Work in 1/2 tsp almond extract +1/ tsp vanilla (or skip the almond extract and just add a tsp of vanilla.

    Add 1 Tbsp of cold water (or more if needed, but I’ve never needed more). Be careful not to overmix.

    When the dough forms a ball press it into the tart pan, being careful to smoosh it up the sides of the pan and evenly across the bottom.

    Chill for one hour, dock the bottom with a fork, then bake at 400 for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

    For the filling, stir together 1 Cup sliced almonds, 3/4 Cup sugar, 1 tsp almond extract (again, you can substitute vanilla), 3/4 Cup heavy cream, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1 tsp Grand Marnier, or Orange Curacao, Hiram Walker Triple Sec, or other orange liqueur.

    Stir all the filling ingredients and let stand unit the sugar dissolves. at least 20 minutes. When the crust comes out of the oven pour the filling into the shell, return to oven and bake 30-40 minutes at 400 F, or until the top is brown and the sugar has caramelized.  Serve at room temperature.

    Don’t panic if the filling leaks through the cookie crust. The parchment baking paper should allow the crust to release in one piece, as long as you are gentle. If you didn’t line the bottom of the pan, the filling that leaks through the crust will glue it fo the pan.

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