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My cousins and I have been exchanging e-mails, figuring out when and where to hold the family holidays this year. I got an e-vite a few days ago from my cousin on the other side of the family: Thanksgiving is officially on the calendar now. My mom told me tonight that she and my dad have been planning menus for all the upcoming holidays.
And so it begins.
Of course, the reason for Thanksgiving and Christmas is not food. But come on, it is a big part of our celebrations. Am I right?
In the past decade, I have hosted a few Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, even doing the whole turkey thing. And then there was the year we went to Mark’s extended family, where they deep fried a turkey. In the front yard.
But I digress.
Aside from the turkey years, I’ve mostly stuck with side dishes. Mmmm . . . I love side dishes. Mostly the ones that focus on carbs and/or cheese. My “usuals” are green bean casserole, cheesy potatoes, broccoli and rice casserole and baked beans. Well, you know, the baked beans are Mark’s usual.
Kelly is asking for holiday recipes today, so here’s mine for the broccoli casserole.
Broccoli & Rice Casserole
½ stick butter
1 small chopped onion
10 oz. package frozen broccoli
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 small jar Cheez Whiz
2 cups cooked rice
Saute onion in butter. Add broccoli, soup and cheese. (And yes, it’s got to be Cheez Whiz. Don’t hate me. Just do it.) Stir in (cooked) rice and pour into 9×13 pan. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
What are your holiday “usuals”? Will you try anything new this year?
This post will also be linked to Mouthwatering Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday. It will also be linked to Ingredient Spotlight at Eat at Home.
I don't often get to make what I want, because we're always at someone else's house. My usual for my mom's side is this Cherry Cheesecake Pie, and my mom and mother-in-law LOVE the cranberry chutney (same link). (I love it too, of course. It's SO delicious and makes a mean Cranberry Chicken as leftovers.)
I'm with you, Mary. I could skip the turkey entirely and have a wonderful meal of sides. I think the one I look forward to the most every year is sweet potato casserole. Mmmmm.
i love broccli casserole! so yummy!!
I love that recipe — I make it for potlucks A LOT!
Also, love green bean casserole and of course, cheesy potatoes. I also like to do twice baked potatoes (which take a lot of time) but they're so yummy!
I can't believe thanksgiving will be here before we know it!
Hugs!
I love that recipe — I make it for potlucks A LOT!
Also, love green bean casserole and of course, cheesy potatoes. I also like to do twice baked potatoes (which take a lot of time) but they're so yummy!
I can't believe thanksgiving will be here before we know it!
Hugs!
My mom used to make this :)
You're bringing back good memories with this delicious dish.
I hate this dish. There isn't enough cheese to cover all that broccoli. But, you probably already knew that since I wouldn't touch it with a 40 foot pole. That green stuff is like the Grinch to me. Sucking all the life out of holidays…and it smells.
Sides-wise, I do like the potatoes that we brought to Dad's birthday. I think it was his birthday. They are twice baked and have all the terrible things in life in their ingredient list. Like cream cheese AND sour cream. Who needs that much milk or cream-based product? Well…I do.
I'm looking forward to the holiday eating. I hope that someone makes cream corn on Mom's side. Lauren doesn't like it, so I don't make it. Which, of course, makes it all the more special when we have it at Thanksgiving or Christmas.
But when it comes to my favorite thing to make for the holidays, that has to be desserts. My chocolate chip cookies (also with sour cream) or a pie…or 3. Or even a layer cake or chocolate covered Oreo lumps. They used to be Oreo balls, but that doesn't sound nice and I've never gotten them to be nice and semetrical. Oh well. I just need more practice.
Great, now i have to add another dish to my menu. Oh well, we will suffer through it. :) Thanks for posting.
THis looks so good! And simple to make…even better!
Lena
Thanks for sharing! This sounds so good and is one of my favorites!
-Brooke
I don't usually comment, and I've been feeling convicted about it. So, I felt that tonight was as good a time as any to get that started. And how appropriate as I sit here sipping my "holiday" treat – Pumpkin Nog. Sold in glass bottles by Shatto, and absolutely delicious. Seriously, I am not even going to guess how many WW points this is. I just can't eat for the rest of the weekend. Can't wait to try the recipe. I'm pretty sure Josh will eat anything covered in Cheez Whiz.
we do cheezy ranch [mashed] potatoes. or twice baked potatoes. but really we don't get too fancy schmancy with our holiday food because ben really doesn't like turkey all that much. or ham. (although he likes it more now that he's been married to me) but usually for any holiday meal i make him his own shells and cheese because he is a macaroni boy! and that will do him for a meal if there's nothing else he wants/likes!
I always volunteer to make the stuffing because mine is the best.
And I always enjoy broccoli casserole when others make it but I've never made it. I just can't bring myself to make something (other than nachos) with CheezWhiz. I should get over it. LOL
I like the combination in this recipe and with the Cheez Whiz YUMMY!!!
Geri
Ooh, that looks delicious! My MIL makes a similar casserole and my husband requests it from her every time we visit. Thanks so much for sharing.
XO*Tricia
Ooh, that looks delicious! My MIL makes a similar casserole and my husband requests it from her every time we visit. Thanks so much for sharing.
XO*Tricia
Ooh, that looks delicious! My MIL makes a similar casserole and my husband requests it from her every time we visit. Thanks so much for sharing.
XO*Tricia
Ooh, that looks delicious! My MIL makes a similar casserole and my husband requests it from her every time we visit. Thanks so much for sharing.
XO*Tricia
I like the idea of a broccoli casserole for Thanksgiving. My husband's extended family (huge) usually has about 6 different kinds of turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner, and they do deep fry one. Not in the front yard though….they have a grill and a deep fryer on their back patio. Stopping by from Jen's party. :)
I could totally scarf down all sides all the time. My mom makes 1 (count em- 1) recipe and it is Broccoli and cheese casserole. I will have to make it for Thanksgiving since I won't be with her, but it makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
And the cheese? Cheez Whiz, of course.
Wow, that looks really good!
The usuals in my family? Sausage and chestnut stuffing; creamed corn casserole and orange cranberry sauce (which later gets recycled into orange cranberry sorbet).
Thanks for sharing!
Yum! That looks delicious. Thanks for linking up!
I used to make a version of this a lot, but I’ve gotten out of the habit. I should make it again though because the kids loved it. Thanks for linking up!
My husband hates broccoli, so it’s something I only make for family get-togethers. Now that I’m thinking about it, I’m going to make it for Easter!