Are you stressing about what to make for Christmas dinner? If so, don’t. More than likely, you’re concerned about making a delicious meal that everyone will enjoy. Instead of stressing over this, here’s all you need to make a complete holiday meal. As you’ll see, these Christmas recipes are so good. Prepare to make them again next year!
Turkey Wrapped in Bacon
Everyone knows that turkey is a popular choice for Christmas dinner. However, you don’t need to serve it the same way year after year. Instead, consider this incredible recipe.
Ingredients
- 12 to 14-pound turkey (thawed, cleaned, and the giblets and neck removed)
- 14 strips of bacon (regular or thick cut)
- 2 cloves of garlic (grated)
- 4 tablespoons salted butter (at room temperature)
Prep Time
To make this delicious main course, preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, while it’s heating, put a 16-inch-long piece of parchment paper on a flat surface. On that, arrange eight strips of bacon going lengthwise. Be sure to place them so the sides touch. Then, place one bacon strip across them and perpendicularly.
Next, fold the strips over the one you just placed on the parchment paper. The goal is to fold the strips of bacon to create a lattice design. Overall, you’ll use 14 strips. Once finished, carefully put the lattice in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Put the turkey with the breast side up on a rack inside a roasting pan. Be sure to tuck the wing tips back. Then, pat the turkey dry.
Now, mix the garlic and butter in a small bowl. Brush that mixture over the breast and sides of the turkey. Working from the turkey’s cavity, place the bacon lattice on top. Because you’ll want to cover the turkey, you may need to manipulate the bacon a little. To keep it in place, press it down into the butter and garlic mixture. Then, use a piece of kitchen twine to tie the legs together.
Roasting the Turkey
Add three cups of water to the bottom of the roasting pan, followed by loosely covering the turkey with foal. For a turkey this size, you’ll roast it for roughly three hours. At that point, take the foil off the turkey and roast an additional 10 minutes so it becomes crisp. After the turkey rests for 30 minutes, you can carve and serve it at your Christmas dinner.
Baked Gnocchi Alfredo
This makes an amazing side dish for your holiday meal.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons butter (plus 1 tablespoon for the baking dish)
- 2 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 8 ounces Fontina or Monterey Jack cheese (grated)
- 1 cup parmesan cheese (grated and divided)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- Two 16-ounce packages of shelf-stable gnocchi
- Fresh chives and basil (finely chopped)
Directions
First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the milk and heavy cream in a glass measuring cup. Microwave the liquids for two to three minutes or until warm. Then, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Next, sprinkle in the flour a little at a time while whisking it to blend thoroughly. Cook this for one to two minutes. Be sure to whisk constantly so that the mixture doesn’t burn.
Now, pour in the milk and heavy cream combination, again whisking continuously until it reaches a slow boil and thickens. You’ll then reduce the heat to low. To that, add all but one-quarter of a cup of the cheese. Once again, whisk continuously until the cheese melts and the ingredients become smooth. Add the salt and pepper.
At this point, you’ll slowly and carefully add the gnocchi to the saucepan and remove it from the heat. Then, butter the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Put the ingredients from the saucepan into the dish. Top it with the one-quarter cup of cheese you set aside.
Bake the gnocchi alfredo for 30 to 35 minutes or until it bubbles around the edges. To make the cheese golden brown, set the dish under the broiler for one to two minutes. The only thing left to do is sprinkle the fresh chives and basil on top.
Gingerbread Trifle
You have the main course and side dish, but what about dessert? Your family will love this gingerbread trifle recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups gingerbread cookies (crumbled)
- 3 ¾ cups heavy cream
- 1 cup caramel sauce
- 1 store-bought gingerbread cake
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar (sifted)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
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Directions
This recipe calls for a store-bought gingerbread cake. However, you can make a cake from scratch if you want. Either way, start by putting one-half of the heavy cream in one bowl and the other half in a second bowl. Now, add the caramel sauce to just one bowl. Whisk the two ingredients until they thicken. Set that bowl aside. To the second bowl, add the powdered sugar and sour cream. Whisk until well blended.
Next, cut the gingerbread cake into three-quarter-inch slices. Place a third of the slices in a trifle dish. Sprinkle those slices with a third of the cinnamon and one-quarter of the crumbled gingerbread cookies. Next, add one-third of the caramel sauce on top, along with the whipped cream from the first bowl.
You’ll continue this layering process until you’ve used all the ingredients. Remember, you want to end up with a third of the crumbled cookies on top. Finally, place the trifle in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it.