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Christmas Dinner

Smithfield Ham

(Bake according to directions on package on Christmas eve)


Potato Salad (Make Christmas eve)

6 large potatoes
4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 cup sweet salad cubes
1 t salt
½ t black pepper

Peel, chop and cook potatoes until just done. Drain potatoes, stir chopped onions into potatoes. Allow to cool. Add eggs, salad cubes, salt and pepper.

Dressing:

2 cups mayo (Hellman's is good)
1 T cider vinegar
1 T sugar
¼ cup evaporated milk

Mix mayo with vinegar, sugar and milk. Add to cooled potato mixture.


Green Beans

3 pounds fresh green beans
Salt pork (fist size)
2 T butter
1 T sugar

Remove strings from beans. Wash. Place in a saucepan with the salt pork covered with water and a lid. Allow to come to a boil. Reduce to medium heat and cook for an hour. Add water only if needed. DO NOT LET BOIL DRY. After an hour, add 1 T sugar and 2 T butter. Cook 15 minutes longer.

This is when I remove the lid and watch the beans "boil dry." Do not add salt.

Salt pork adds salt.


Easy Cranberry Salad (Make Christmas eve)

2 boxes strawberry Jello
2 cups boiling water
1 cup cold water
1 can whole Cranberry Sauce
1 (20 0z.) can crushed pineapple
1 cup chopped pecans.

Allow to 'set' in the refrigerator. Serve.


Red Velvet Cake

Preheat oven to 350

Sift together:

2½ cups self-rising flour.
1½ cups sugar
1 t cocoa
1 t soda

Add:

1 cup buttermilk
1½ cups vegetable oil
1 t vanilla
1 t vinegar
2 ounce bottle red food coloring
2 large eggs

Beat with mixer until well blended. Pour batter equally into three well greased, floured and sprayed cake pans. Cook 20 minutes.

Frosting:

1/3 pound soft butter
1 (8 oz. and 1 3 oz.) package Cream Cheese softened
1 pound box confectioners sugar
1 t vanilla
Chopped pecans or coconut (if desired)

Combine butter, cream cheese, vanilla and confectioners sugar. Beat until fluffy. Frost between layers, top and sides of cake.