Holiday Recipe Round-Up from John Knox Village

Happy Holidays from John Knox Village!  We’re delighted to share our annual holiday recipe round-up from our residents and team members!  We hope this holiday season fills you with joy and good cheer.  

Please post pictures of your dishes on Facebook and tag us @johnknoxvillage. Let’s create a virtual feast and spread the joy of the holidays with our extended online community.

 

Stuffed Date Christmas Appetizer

Stuffed dates can be made with only cream cheese, or you can add chocolate chips and/or pecans.

Ingredients:

• Pitted dates
• Cream cheese, softened
• Pecans, quartered
• Mini semisweet chocolate chips
• Bacon (can be precooked)
• Powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Cut open the dates.
2. Place about 1/2 teaspoon cream cheese inside.
3. Place a couple of mini chocolate chips and a quarter of a pecan on the cream cheese, if desired.
4. Close the dates.
5. Wrap a piece of bacon around the date and secure it with a toothpick.
6. Air fry until bacon is slightly crispy.
7. If serving for a holiday gathering, dusting lightly with powdered sugar adds a festive look!

 

 

Hanukkah Latkes

This recipe makes 8 potato pancakes.

Ingredients:

• 6 medium sized potatoes (or 3 potatoes + 2 1/2 cups grated carrots)
• 1 onion
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Shortening or oil for frying
• Apple sauce and/or sour cream

Directions:

1. Pare and grate potatoes and onion.
2. Squeeze mixture in paper towels or cheesecloth to drain into a bowl.  Reserve the starch.
3. Beat the eggs.
4. Add potatoes, onion, flour, salt, and baking powder.
5. Stir mixture until everything is well mixed and incorporated.
6. Heat shortening or oil in a skillet.
7. Drop batter from spoon into heated skillet.  Brown on both sides and drain on paper towels.
8. Serve with apple sauce and/or sour cream.

 

 

Traditional Kwanzaa Sweet Potato Pie

 

Ingredients:

• Dough for single-crust pie
• 2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled and cubed
• 1/3 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
• 3/4 cup evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Dash of salt
• Whipped cream for serving

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-inch-thick circle; transfer to a 9″ pie plate.  Trim crust to 1/2 inch beyond rim; refrigerate while preparing filling.
3. Place sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and cook uncovered until tender, about 13-15 minutes.  Drain potatoes and return to the pan.  Mash until very smooth.  Cool to room temperature.
4. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and mix well.  Add evaporated milk, 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  Mix well.  Pour into crust.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350°, bake until set or a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.  Serve with whipped cream.

 

Want to learn more about what John Knox Village has to offer?  Contact us today to take a tour, or for a no-pressure conversation with one of our Life Plan Consultants.