Entertaining is at the heart of the holiday season with so many tasty opportunities to look forward to – from hosting Christmas Eve dinner to a cozy holiday brunch in matching PJs. Or maybe you’re just looking for new recipes to try this year. Whatever the case, we, at JCPenney, have gathered our favorite cozy Christmas recipes along with the necessary cookware and bakeware you may need when preparing them.
Let the comfort food cooking begin!
Classic Chicken Pot Pie
A classic Christmas recipe that will warm you up.
INGREDIENTS
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 large shallot (finely chopped)
1 tbsp. chopped thyme
½ cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream or whole milk
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
6 oz. carrots (about 4 small or 2 medium), peeled, chopped
4 cups coarsely chopped or shredded chicken meat (from 1 small rotisserie chicken)
1½ cups frozen pearl onions, thawed
1½ cups frozen peas, thawed
2 tsp. hot sauce
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. white wine vinegar
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (thawed in refrigerator)
1 large egg (beaten to blend)
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
Step 2: Add shallot and thyme and cook, stirring often, until shallot is translucent and golden, about 4 minutes.
Step 3: Add ½ cup flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture is pale golden and smells like popcorn, about 5 minutes.
Step 4: Whisk in broth ½-cupful at a time, incorporating completely before adding more. Whisk in cream; season with salt and pepper.
Step 5: Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, whisking occasionally, until thick enough to coat a spoon, about 3 minutes.
Step 6: Reduce heat as needed to maintain a simmer and add carrots; cook until nearly tender, about 5 minutes.
Step 7: Mix in chicken, pearl onions, and peas, then add hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and vinegar and season with salt and pepper.
Step 8: Transfer mixture to a shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Unfold the pastry and gently roll it out on a lightly floured work surface just to smooth any creases and make it large enough to fit over the dish, if needed.
Step 9: Drape over the baking dish and trim the pastry so it is slightly larger than the dish if using puff pastry (you want a little overhang), or crimp dough around the edge of the dish if using pie dough.
Step 10: Brush with egg and make 2 or 3 slits in the pastry with a sharp knife.
Step 11: Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet (to catch any filling that may drip over) and bake until puff pastry is golden brown, and filling is bubbling through slits in pastry, 20–30 minutes.
Step 12: Reduce oven temperature to 350° and continue to bake until crust is deep golden brown and cooked through, 30–35 minutes longer. Use mitts and pot holders to remove the dish from the oven. Let it sit 10 minutes before serving.
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Smoky 3 Cheese Fondue with Toasted Garlic Buttered Croissants
You’ll feel inspired to throw a fondue Christmas party!
INGREDIENTS
12 oz. smoked gouda cheese cubed
8 oz. gruyere cheese cubed
4 ounces Swiss cheese cubed
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 cups dry white wine
1 tbsp brandy
1 tbsp truffle oil optional
freshly grated nutmeg
cooked steak cubes + assorted veggies for serving
CRISPY GARLIC BUTTER CROISSANTS
6 large croissants sliced into sticks
6 tbsp butter softened
2 cloves garlic grated
1/4 cup basil chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: To make the fondue, add the cubed cheese to a bowl and toss it with the cornstarch and cayenne.
Step 2: Rub inside of a fondue pot with garlic (then discard garlic).
Step 3: Pour the wine, brandy, and truffle oil (if using) into the fondue pot, and place over medium-low heat.
Step 4: When the liquid starts to bubble, start adding the cheese by the handful, stirring until melted and combined. Season with nutmeg and pepper. Keep over low heat until ready to serve.
Step 5: To make the buttered croissants, combine the butter, garlic, and basil in a small bowl, and spread both sides of the croissants with the butter.
Step 6: Heat a skillet over medium heat, once hot, add the toast and cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until lightly toasted and garlic fragrant. Flip and cook another 2-4 minutes.
Step 7: Serve immediately with the fondue + assorted veggies. Keep a couple of napkins and kitchen towels handy to keep the serving area clean.
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Whiskey Bacon Mac Cheese
An easy dinner option with whiskey and bacon!
INGREDIENTS
Whiskey Candied Bacon:
10 slices bacon
½ cup Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey or whiskey of your choice
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Macaroni & Cheese:
1 pound macaroni pasta
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Jack Daniel’s Tenessee Whiskey
2 cups milk
3 cups medium or sharp cheddar cheese
4 slices provolone cheese
½ teaspoon paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Candied Bacon
Step 1: Put on your Christmas apron and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and coat with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup whiskey to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer until reduced to 2 tablespoons. Remove from heat.
Step 3: On a plate, combine brown sugar and cayenne. Dip bacon into Jack Daniels and then press each side into the brown sugar mixture to coat. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 4: Bake for 7 minutes, then flip and bake for about 5 minutes. Watch the bacon so it doesn’t burn!! (The sugar will run all over the pan, and the bacon with have a shiny lacquered look.)
Step 5: Remove the bacon to a plate coated with non-stick cooking spray to cool completely. Chop bacon; set aside.
Macaroni
Step 1: Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add macaroni and cook until al dente. Drain pasta; set aside.
Step 2: While pasta is cooking, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour, and whisk to combine. (You will have a tight roux.) Add 1 tablespoon of whiskey and whisk into the roux.
Step 3: Whisk in 1 cup of milk until combined. Add remaining milk. Whisk frequently until the sauce thickens and begins to bubble.
Step 4: Add cheeses; whisk until the cheeses melt and the sauce is smooth. Add paprika and salt and pepper to taste.
Step 5: Pour sauce over pasta and add bacon. Stir until pasta is completely coated in sauce. Add more salt and pepper if desired.
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Whether your loved ones have gathered around a dining room table or are huddled by the fire, they’ll enjoy the comforting flavors in these recipes. Prepare these comfort foods and click loads of pictures of your culinary creations to share with us by tagging at #AllAtJCP. Then, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see if you are featured.
