18 NOVEMBER 21, 2019 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Preparing side dishes can be time
consuming. Save those precious
minutes to enjoy the holidays by
using refrigerated, never-frozen options
like mashed potatoes, mashed
sweet potatoes, baked apples and
even macaroni and cheese that can be
heated in the microwave and ready to
serve in minutes.
Like many hosts, you are likely
searching for perfection in your
holiday get-togethers. With an everexpanding
guest list, each year may
seem more and more diffi cult to pull
off the perfect gathering. Make things
easier and still delicious by serving
ready-to-eat options like refrigerated
macaroni and cheese made with real
milk and cheese.
Find more ideas to make your holiday
sides simply delicious at bobevansgrocery.
com.
FANCY MAC
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 package Bob Evans Macaroni and
Cheese
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped
spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 1/4 cups shredded Gouda cheese,
divided
• 1 package Bob Evans Thick Sliced
Hardwood Smoked Bacon, cooked and
broken into pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black
pepper
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
Heat oven to 400 F. Spray four ramekins
with cooking spray.
Heat macaroni and cheese according
to package directions. Once cooked,
stir in spinach, 1 cup cheese, bacon, salt
and pepper.
Let mixture stand 10-15 minutes
to cool. Add eggs. Spoon evenly into
ramekins. Sprinkle with remaining
cheese.
Bake 20 minutes, or until centers
are set.
SWEET POTATO COOKIES
Prep time: 28-33 minutes
Cook time: 10-12 minutes
Serves: 36
• 3/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
•1 cup Bob Evans Mashed Sweet
Potatoes
• 2 cups all-purpose fl our
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup butter, unsalted
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon maple extract
• Chopped honey roasted pecans
(optional)
• Mini marshmallows (optional)
Heat oven to 350 F.
In large bowl, using hand mixer or
paddle attachment, cream shortening
and brown sugar. Add egg and sweet
potatoes; mix until combined.
In small bowl, combine fl our, baking
soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice. With
mixer on low speed, slowly add fl our
mixture to egg mixture until well
mixed. Using small cookie scoop, drop
rounds onto greased baking sheets.
Bake 10-12 minutes, or until golden
brown. Cool completely before
frosting.
In separate bowl, beat together butter,
powdered sugar and maple extract
until frosting is light and fl uff y. Frost
each cooled cookie with maple butter
cream frosting.
Sprinkle with pecans and mini
marshmallows, if desired. Carefully
toast marshmallows with culinary
torch, if desired, while avoiding melting
frosting.
MINI HASH BROWN
CASSEROLES
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves: 24
• 1 pound Bob Evans Original Roll
Sausage
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 package (20 ounces) Simply Potatoes
Shredded Hash Browns
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 cup ham, cubed
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
In skillet, cook sausage according to
package directions.
Heat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease
two 12-cup muffi n tins.
In bowl, whisk eggs and milk. Add
hash browns, butter, ham, black pepper
and cheese; mix thoroughly. Fill
muffi n tins two-thirds full. Bake 27-30
minutes, or until toothpick or knife
inserted in center comes out clean.
Substitution: For healthier alternative,
substitute 1 cup AllWhites liquid
egg whites instead of eggs.
BACON-WRAPPED
JALAPENO POPPERS
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves: 40
• 2 packages Bob Evans Thick Sliced
Hardwood Smoked Bacon, slices cut in
half
• 1 package Bob Evans White Cheddar
Mashed Potatoes
• 1 package garlic herb cheese spread
• 20 jalapeno peppers, halved, seeded
with membranes removed
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
Heat oven to 400 F. Set bacon out
to thaw to room temperature so it is
pliable.
In mixing bowl, use rubber spatula
to combine mashed potatoes and garlic
herb cheese. Stir until incorporated.
Spread 1 teaspoon mashed potato mixture
in each jalapeno half; level each
with butter knife or spatula.
Wrap each jalapeno with bacon; use
three half slices for large jalapenos or
two halves for smaller sizes. Be sure
bacon is wrapped sealing in mashed
potato mixture tightly.
In small mixing bowl, combine
brown sugar and cayenne pepper.
Generously sprinkle over bacon and
pat gently to make it stick.
Line cookie sheet with piece of
parchment paper so sugar does not
burn to pan. Bake until bacon reaches
desired crispiness, around 25-35
minutes.
Let peppers cool slightly before
serving, about 5 minutes.
PERFECT HOLIDAY
POTATOES
Mashed potatoes are a staple on
many holiday menus, but all that peeling
and mashing can take hours.
This year, save time by using
refrigerated, ready-to-eat mashed
potatoes, such as Bob Evans Original
Mashed Potatoes, which taste just like
homemade.
• Add your family’s special ingredient,
like sage butter, and no one will
know they aren’t homemade.
• Microwave the mashed potatoes
just before dinner or throw them in a
crockpot on low and pitch the packaging
so no one knows you didn’t make
them ahead of time.
• Buy a couple extra and store them
in the fridge in case you have unexpected
holiday guests.
— Courtesy Family Features
HOLIDAYS
Simple sides for holiday entertaining
/WWW.QNS.COM
