Southern Christmas Dinner

South America is a mighty place and people over there are more traditional than North Americans. So it's understood that Christmas over there would be celebrated in a traditional way. So if you really want to treat yourself, here are some dinner ideas which can be included in the menu.

Preparation

Start by removing the neck and gizzards of the turkey, to make your broth. Wash the turkey in cold water and then dry the bird up with paper towels or by placing under the sun. Now apply butter all over the turkey generously and sprinkle a little salt and pepper.

If you have made turkey stuffing, place it on the neck and in the body cavity. Preheat the oven to 325°F. By the time your oven gets heated, you can make the turkey broth. Take a sauce pan and place the gizzards and neck in it. Add water and 1 tsp. of butter. Bring it to a boil and lower the flame.

Now place the turkey in a roasting dish and cook for 30 minutes. Check your turkey often along with the broth. Let the turkey get cooled to an internal temperature of 185°F. Before eating let it cool for about 10 minutes.

Preparation

Clean potatoes under running water and dry them. Take a saucepan, add 4 cups of water and bring it to boil. Now add the potatoes and let them boil for 20 minutes. Take another small saucepan, add milk and heat it over medium heat. Make sure that the milk doesn't boil.

Now that your potatoes are soft, drain the water. Heat the saucepan with potatoes in it on low flame or till the potatoes become dry. Now add milk, pepper, salt and then mash the potatoes. Serve hot.

Preparation

Take a large pot and place all the snapped beans in it. Cover beans with water. Add all the ingredients in the pot. Heat the pot on a medium flame. Now cook the beans till they turn dark green color. This would probably take about ½ hour. Make sure that the beans have become tender and a little salty. Don't heat in excess and serve warm.

Preparation

To make this delicious macaroni and cheese, heat your oven to 350°F and make sure you soften your butter by using the microwave. Boil your macaroni according to the packet instructions and place the cooked macaroni in a dish.

Now add the soft butter, milk, salt, and cheddar cheese. Mix all the ingredients gently. Bake this dish at 350°F for an hour and it will be ready when the top layer turns golden brown. Serve it hot.

• Baking Soda, ¾ tbsp.
• Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Take a skillet and grease it with bacon drippings. Now place the skillet in the oven and start making the batter. Take a bowl and add all the dry ingredients and mix well. Now add buttermilk and mix well.

Remove the skillet from the oven and add about 1 tsp. of the hot oil prepared on the skillet, in the bowl. Make sure the batter is consistent. If you think that the batter is thin, add more cornmeal.

Pour the batter in the skillet and heat it in the oven for about half an hour. Make sure the top of the cornbread gets a little brown and keep checking the cornbread recipe after every 20 minutes. Take it out of the oven. Let it cool and then slice it into cubes.

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Add sugar and butter in a bowl and mix well. Add syrup, salt and vanilla, and mix again. Add eggs, one by one. Add pecans and leave few for garnishing. Add the mixture in the unbaked pie crust. Bake it in the oven for 45 minutes. You can eat this pecan pie recipe warm or cold.

So these were the recipes which can be included in the Christmas dinner menu. So get on and start planning.