Christmas Dinners

Christmas was awesome. I love spending time with my husband’s (my) family, and I could have easily extended our 5-day stay with them. There are many things I admire about my mother-in-law, and her ability to plan and execute 15 meals for a houseful of people without getting stressed is definitely one of them. Since I can barely plan one meal for 4 (ish) mouths without feeling stretched creatively, emotionally and nutritionally, I spent a good deal of time at my mother-in-law’s side last week, hoping to eat the rumballs before they were devoured by the rest of the household some of her experience would wear off on me. 

One of the things that my m-i-l is a pro at, is marrying convenience with convention (read: meals almost from scratch). Sure, cream of chicken/celery/mushroom soup often makes it onto the ingredient list of her dishes, and she does actually use the microwave for something other than making popcorn (you can!?!) but the result is always a crowd pleaser and pretty nutritious to boot. She really does make it seem effortless, and even if it sometimes is (helloooo – stuffed manicotti from M&Ms – where have you been all my life?!), she always manages to serve her meals with a very special ingredient – love – and it adds more than any herb or spice ever could.

Oh please. Did you think that’s where I could end it? Jeezus, puke. Pass the rumballs, would ya?

Lynne's Crowd-Pleaser Chicken Broccoli Braid

Prep Time: 25 min

Cook Time: 25 min

Feeds: 8-10

• 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
• 1 cup broccoli, chopped
• 1/2 cup red pepper, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, smushed
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1 tsp dried dill
• 2 pkgs refrigerated crescent rolls (like pillsbury)
• 1 egg white, beaten
• 2 tbsp slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large bowl, mix together chicken, broccoli, red pepper, garlic, cheese, mayo and dill.

Unroll 1 pkg crescent rolls - do not separate! place unrolled dough on LARGE pizza stone or cookie sheet. Unroll 2nd pkg of crescent rolls and place next to it - long sides together. Roll, or press seam together.

Spread filling evenly along center of dough. Using a pizza roller or knife, cut edges of dough into 3" strips on either side of the filling.

To braid, lift the strips one row at a time, to meet in the centre of the filling; twist to secure. Continue down the entire length of your dough, 'braiding' as you go. 

Brush egg white over dough; sprinkle with almonds.

Bake 25-30 minutes, or until deep, golden brown.

Impress your guests and dig in!

Comments

[No Mother Earth]

Now that I'm going to be home more, I'm looking for some recipes that the kids will actually eat. I'm going to try this one - it sounds really yummy. (And has all my favourite ingredients - even crescent rolls!)

[kgirl]

I should have mentioned that it is perfect for all that leftover turkey we're all sick of.