Whether you are entertaining the in laws or the outlaws this Christmas, Laura has the penny pinching scoop on how to serve up the meat and potatoes without digging deep in your pocket book or stress levels. Laura also tells you how to entertain stress free and with all the trimmings just by following her savvy secrets.

Christmas dinner with all the trimmings for 8 adults and up to 4 children  for under $50.

SHOPPING LIST

Riverside Turkey 12.50 lbs..................9.73 @ .88 a lb. Riverside Turkey
(Butterball was $1.18 LB)

Betty Crocker Sour Cream potatoes (real potatoes) 2 boxes. @ 1.24..........2.48

Mc Cormick's Turkey gravy 2 packs @ $1.08.......................2.16

Uncle Ben's Wild Rice pilaf........ 1.92

Giorgio's Mushrooms 2 small can..................1.76

Del Monte large can Green bean ..........2.80

1-2 Cans Campbell's cream of mushroom soup.......2.00

French's french fried onions...................................1.68
 
Ocean Spray Cranberries 2 cans @.88 ..........................1.76

Peach cobbler................................................................2.68
2 cans peaches 29 oz $1.34

2 Boxes jiffy pie crust mix..@.58 each............................1.16

Pillsbury Southern style rolls (20)....................................3.96

2 cans Del Monte 15 1/2 oz.Corn.....................................2.00

Cool whip.......................................................................1.75

2 cans Libby's Pumpkin pie ...........................................2.00

Ritz Frozen pie Crust.......................................................1.13

2 cans carnation milk......................................................2.00

Mrs. Smith Apple pie (frozen)..........................................3.50
Incidentals.......................................................................8.00
eggs,celery,onion, small milk/cream ,butter garnishments
tea bags, lemon, spices.99 cent  sage ..99 cent cinnamon, flavorings
Drinks:  Water w/Lemon
Tea, coffee Optional

RECIPES

Peach Cobbler Recipe 

2 Cans 29 oz. sliced peaches in heavy syrup
1-2 boxes jiffy pie crust mix (depending on how much crust you like)
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond flavoring (optional)
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup brown sugar

Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray.  Pour peaches with juices into pan.  Add spices,sugar and  flavorings, mix.
Prepare Jiffy pie crust according to directions.  Roll out pie crust and cut into ribbon strips 1" x9" and 1"x 13".  Layer on top of peaches with gaps in between.  Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown crust 35-45 minutes. Stir before serving.  Optional:  Add  cool whip, cinnamon ice cream or Carmel topping if desired.

French's Green Bean Casserole (adapted from French's can)

2 (10 3/4 oz. can Campbell's cream of mushroom soup)
1 1/2 cup of milk
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 (2.8 oz) French's french fried onions
1 (50 oz. can of green beans or 3 (14 1/2 oz.) cans

Mix soup and milk, then add pepper, beans and 1/2 can onions in pan.
Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes until hot-stir
Top with remaining mushrooms

TURKEY RECIPE

2 T sage
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3 stalks celery
1 onion
1 can Swanson's chicken broth

Wash bird, remove all packages (neck and gizzards) from inside bird.  Baste melted butter over the top.  Sprinkle bird with sage, salt and pepper.  Place celery and one onion sliced in half in bird. Pour chicken broth inside bird over celery and onion.   Cook according to directions on turkey packaging.  To speed up cooking place turkey in Reynold's Turkey Oven bag (follow turkey weight/cooking directions).  Most turkeys cook in a bag in under 2 hours.

Stuffing Recipe

2 boxes Turkey Stove Top dressing
8 T butter or margarine
3 Cups hot water

(optional:  add 1/2 cup sauteed onions and 1/2 cup sauteed celery and 1/2 tsp sage)

Prepare according to package directions.   Boil 3 cups hot water in large saucepan.  Stir in contents of both pouches and cover (add optional onions, celery and sage for more flavor)

Wild Rice Pilaf ---prepare according to directions on Uncle Bens' Rice Pilaf box and add drained portabello mushrooms.

Sour Cream potatoes--prepare according to directions on Betty Crocker box.  Substitute whipping cream instead of milk for more flavorful potatoes.  Garnish with fresh parsley or paprika if desired.


Corn---prepare according to directions --add 2 tsp of sugar to sweeten and 1/4 to 1/2 stick of butter if desired.

Rolls- prepare according to package directions

 Pumpkin Pies (You can cut back on ingredients in shopping list or make two pies)

• 1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pie crust
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 eggs
• 1 (15 ounce) can LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can NESTLE® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425 F.
2. Combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs lightly in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour into pie shell.
3. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 F.; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. (Do not freeze as this will cause the crust to separate from the filling.)
4. Serve with cool whip if desired.

TURKEY GRAVY

2 packs McCormick's Turkey Gravy
2 cups cold water

Mix in small saucepan.  Stir frequently on medium heat until mixture comes to boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 1 minute.  Gravy will thicken.
Optional:  add 1/2 tsp sage and 1/2 cup turkey drippings.


APPLE PIE---Bake according to box directions.  Optional:  Serve covered in caramel with cinnamon ice cream.