Developing a budget for your holiday food spending will surely keep a tab on your spending, and will keep you from losing big bucks at the end of the season. After determining how much you want to spend on other holiday season expenditures, you can come up with a number that will cover your dinner expenses without breaking the bank.
Here is a list of some great affordable side dishes that will help you throw an affordable spread with ease-
Broccoli with Toasted Hazelnuts
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts
- 2 bunches broccoli (about 3 pounds), cut into long florets
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- kosher salt and pepper
Directions:
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees F and spread the hazelnuts on the baking sheet and toast for 6 minutes.
- Add water to a saucepan and fit a steamer basket. Bring the water to boil and place the broccoli in the basket. Cover the basket and let it stay under the steam for 5 minutes.
- In another small saucepan, cook oil and garlic on a low heat, till golden for up to 6 minutes. Add this mixture in a small bowl and add lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Honey-Glazed Carrots with Raisins
Ingredients:
- 16ounces baby carrots
- 1/4cup pineapple chunks, with juice
- 1/4cup brown sugar
- 1/4cup honey
- 1dash ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup California raisins
- 1/4cup dried cranberries
- 1leaf crushed mint
Directions:
- Preheat the oven at 400F.
- Take a saucepan and add carrot and water, and bring it to a boil. Cook for 15 minutes and drain the water.
- Place the carrots in the baking dish. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins, pineapple, cranberries, mint, and honey.
- Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients:
- One can condense cream of mushroom soup
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/8 tsp. black pepper
- 4 cups cooked cut green beans
- 1 1/3 cups Crispy Fried Onions
Directions:
- Mix the soup, pepper, and milk in a baking dish. Add beans and fried onions and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
- Add 2/3 cup onions and again bake for 5 minutes until golden brown.
Lasagna Rolls
Ingredients:
- 6 lasagna noodles
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 jar (14 ounces) spaghetti sauce
- 1 teaspoon fennel seed, optional
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
Directions:
- Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package instructions. Take a large skillet and cook beef over medium heat until it is no longer pink.
- Stir the spaghetti sauce and fennel seed as per requirements.
- Drain the noodles and spread ΒΌ meat sauce over each noodle. Add 3 tablespoon cheese and delicately roll noodles and place on seam side down.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees or until the cheese is melted.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients:
- 4 cups sweet potato cubed
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons butter softened
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons butter softened
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Add water and sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan with cover.
- Drain and mash once cooked.
- Mix sweet potatoes, eggs, salt, butter, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and transfer to a baking dish.
- Take a medium bowl, mix brown sugar and flour. Mix in the butter until the mixture is coarse. Add this mixture to sweet potato mixture.
- Bake this dish in the oven for 30 minutes.
Pick your favorite dish and enjoy your holiday season with savory delicacies.
