Easy Christmas Recipes: Simple Dishes Your Family Will Love

The hustle and bustle of Christmas puts a lot of our focus on the kitchen at this time of year. We've come to equate sharing our love for others through the food we gather around during the holiday meal. As you plan your special meal, keep in mind that you don't have to produce an elaborate soul food spread to impress your guests. You just have to make the food you love, and that love will come through with every bite. Resolve this year to keep things simple so you'll spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your loved ones.

Below are two easy Christmas recipes that do the job.

Lemon-Tarragon Cornish Hens
Makes 4 servings
Too often when I roast a large chicken, I wind up with leftovers that bore everyone by day two. So I opt for Cornish hens, which are perfectly proportioned. This recipe makes for a juicy bird every time.

Ingredients

2 Cornish hens, innards removed, rinsed and patted dry
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Juice of one lemon
Zest of ½ lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
4 sprigs fresh tarragon

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 365 degrees
2. Use a small paring knife to lift and separate the skin of the hens away from the breast until there is enough room to place herbs in between skin and breast.
3. Create a lemon-infused basting oil by pouring 2 tablespoons of the olive oil into a small bowl, then slowly squeezing in the juice of 1 lemon, whisking to blend the two as you go. Grate zest of ½ lemon, add to basting oil, then add salt and pepper to taste. Blend well.
4. Using a basting brush, coat the breasts with basting oil underneath the skin, then baste the outer skin all over with the oil. Place 2 or 3 tarragon sprigs underneath the skin of each hen.
5. Bake hens for approximately one hour, occasionally spooning the pan juices over the meat to keep it flavorful and moist. Let rest about 5 minutes before serving so juices can settle. The hens are delicious served with yellow rice; use the pan juices as gravy.

Easy Apple-Cinnamon Bread Pudding
Makes 8 servings
There's nothing quite as comforting as bread pudding. The addition of golden raisins and sweetened condensed milk makes this one a sweet treat.

Ingredients
8 slices thick-cut cinnamon raisin bread (about 8 oz.), cut into ½-inch cubes
½ cup shredded carrots
½ cup golden raisins
1 21-oz. can of apple pie filling
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs, beaten

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine bread, carrots, raisins, apples, cinnamon and salt.
3. Add milk and eggs to dry mixture and blend well to coat thoroughly.
4. Pour mixture into loaf pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until well-browned on top.
5. Remove from oven and serve. Delicious with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.