Around the world and in our Macon senior living community, the holidays are a time for strengthening cherished ties, sharing laughs and reconnecting with loved ones … and, of course, there’s the food! Holidays just wouldn’t be the same without festive seasonal dishes passed around the table.
Dining together also promotes social and physical wellness. According to the Administration for Community Living, gathering for a meal creates meaningful bonds and cultivates social interactions among seniors. What’s more, lively dinner conversation can minimize overeating by slowing down food consumption (yes, even holiday calories count!).
Holiday Recipe Favorites Shared with Good Company
It’s no secret that Carlyle Place has the best retirement community food in Macon. After all, we’ve got Chef Lane Richardson at the helm of our gourmet dining venues. Lane combines his rich cultural heritage with his grandmothers’ love for clean, simple cooking to create a truly exceptional dining experience that features creations like Guinness pancakes and fried chicken livers.
But Lane’s not the only one in our Macon senior living community with a flair for food. Many of our residents love to cook special dishes for their family and friends—especially when December rolls around. Here are a few of their favorite holiday recipes that are guaranteed to impress. Try them in your own kitchen!
Magda’s Sweet-n-Savory Cranberry-Orange Relish
As a young bride in 1971, Magda served this tangy side dish to her husband Alan and his parents on Thanksgiving Day. It’s been a family favorite ever since, and Magda says it’s better than anything you’ll find in a grocery store.
Ingredients:
2 unpeeled oranges, finely chopped
4 cups water
6 cups sugar
2 quarts stemmed cranberries
1 cup seedless raisins
1 cup chopped pecans
Directions:
Combine oranges and water, and cook rapidly until peel is tender (about 20 minutes). While oranges are cooking, wash and chop cranberries. Add chopped cranberries, sugar and raisins to orange mixture. Bring slowly to a boil, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves. Cook rapidly to almost jellying point (about 8 minutes). As mixture thickens, stir more frequently to prevent sticking. Add nuts and mix until well blended.
Jeffie’s Fluffy, Cheesy Broccoli Puff
Who says eating your vegetables has to be a chore? This cheesy side bathed in a mushroom and egg batter will have your guests clamoring for more. Even folks who don’t like broccoli will be tempted to give this puff a try.
Ingredients:
1 bag broccoli florets (16 oz)
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup grated cheese
½ teaspoon salt
1 can of mushroom soup
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons minced onions
Dash of pepper
1 cup cheese crackers
Directions:
Cook broccoli according to package directions. Drain. Mix together all ingredients except cheese crackers and pour into a 1½ quart casserole. Sprinkle cheese crackers on top and bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 350°.
Fran’s Old-Time Southern Cornbread Dressing
Whether you call it “stuffing” or “dressing,” this deliciously moist side dish is the perfect complement to your main course. It’s sure to become a favorite holiday recipe you’ll pass down through the generations. Want to add a little extra flair? Toss in some pecans, sausage or even crawfish.
Ingredients:
2 pans cornbread
4 cups torn biscuits
8 cups turkey or chicken broth
4 eggs (beaten)
1 large onion (finely chopped in food processor)
4 stalks of celery (finely chopped in food processor)
Directions:
Crumble up cornbread and biscuits into a large mixing bowl. Add chopped onion and celery, along with the broth and beaten eggs. Mix well. Transfer to a 13” x 9” baking dish. Bake at 350° for up to 1 hour or until golden brown. (Check at 45 minutes.)
Cathy’s “To-Die-For” Tar Heel Pie
In the American South, this luscious pie rises above all others as a year-round favorite. Cathy’s recipe features the region’s most tasty native nut, and it is easy to whip up after a hectic day of holiday shopping. Add a dollop of whipped cream for the ultimate dessert treat.
Ingredients:
1 cup chocolate chips
1 stick of butter
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup plain flour
½ cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
Directions:
Pour warm butter over chocolate chips and stir. Blend all remaining ingredients and stir into the chocolate chip mixture. Pour into an unbaked pie shell and bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes.
Virgil’s Pecan Praline Cake: The Finest in Macon
This Southern-style favorite is so moist and scrumptious on its own; you almost don’t need the buttery glaze flavored with praline pecan liqueur. When dessert is over, everyone will be begging you for the recipe!
Ingredients:
For cake:
1 package yellow cake mix
1 package (5.25 oz.) instant vanilla pudding
1 package of chopped pecans (enough to mix in batter and sprinkle over batter)
4 eggs
½ cup cold water
½ cup canola or vegetable oil
½ cup praline pecan liqueur (add a bit more if you’re feeling festive)
For glaze:
¼ pound butter
¼ cup water
1 cup granulated sugar (I use light brown)
½ cup praline pecan liqueur
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a Bundt pan and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except pecans and beat until smooth (about 2 minutes). Pour batter into prepared pan. Stir about half the pecans into the top half of batter. Sprinkle remaining pecans over the surface of batter. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
Prepare the glaze just before removing cake from oven. Combine butter, water and sugar in saucepan. Bring to a boil for 4 minutes. Mix in the liqueur and boil 1 minute longer.
Poke holes in the still-warm cake and pour glaze slowly over the surface. Make sure to cover the cake sides and center hole. Invert cake to a serving plate. Poke holes in the top and add more glaze to taste. Allow to sit at least 12 hours before serving for maximum moistness.
Dining—and Living—Well at Holiday Time and All Year Through
Chef Lane says mealtime at Carlyle Place is always a special occasion, but it’s just one of the many reasons active seniors are drawn to our Macon senior living community. There’s also a palpable sense of physical, social and spiritual wellness that flows through every inch of our 58-acre campus.
Come experience our unique combination of gracious amenities, high-quality healthcare and old-fashioned hospitality. To schedule your visit, call us today at 478-405-4500.
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