A Merry Christmas from Beth Said Sew!
This week, I’m shaking things up a bit at Beth Said Sew. Instead of chatting about stitches and fabric, I’m stepping into the kitchen to share some of my family’s favorite holiday recipes. After all, the holiday season is all about creating warm memories—and nothing says love like a home-cooked meal shared with the people who matter most.
The smell of something delicious wafting through the house as holiday music plays in the background has always been one of my favorite parts of this time of year. Whether it’s a savory feast or a cozy breakfast around the tree, these dishes have become treasured traditions in my home. I hope they bring a little bit of joy to your holiday table, too.
Beth’s 1, 2, 3 Chicken n’ Noodles
This hearty dish is a hug in a bowl, perfect for cold winter evenings. It’s simple, satisfying, and always a crowd-pleaser. In fact, this Chicken n’ Noodles recipe is almost always mistaken for made-from-scratch traditional noodles like Grandma used to make. Well, guess what folks? I don’t have that kind of time! I found this shortcut recipe years ago and have since shared the recipe with lots of others, because someone always asks me for the recipe. My daughters love it and this recipe makes a regular appearance on our kitchen table throughout the year. I’m telling you, you could serve this at Christmas dinner and no one would guess that it wasn’t made from scratch.
- 3 cans of chicken broth (or 1 big 32 oz. box)
- 2 cans of Cream of Chicken Soup
- 1 stick of butter
- 2 Chicken Breasts (Or sometimes I use 2 cans of canned chicken. No one can tell the difference.)
- 1 bag of Amish noodles. These are the dried noodles you find at the grocery store. I like the narrow, but sometimes use wide. It’s a matter of preference. I’ve been asked if you can use frozen, and the answer is yes, but I don’t think it turns out quite as good.
Using a crockpot, add in your broth, Cream of Chicken soup, butter, and chicken. Cook on low for 6 hours. (If you use the canned chicken, this won’t need to cook as long.) When meat is cooked through, shred the chicken and add back into your mixture. About 45 minutes before you’re ready to eat, add in your bag of noodles. Let cook. Add salt and pepper to taste and voila! They are so yummy! Serves 4-6 people, depending on how much they eat. This recipe can easily be doubled for a bigger crowd.
Breakfast Braid
My Breakfast Braid is equal parts delicious and beautiful, perfect for Christmas breakfast, or any other day! This one is definitely a people-pleaser! I recently served it at a church breakfast and it was a hit!
- 1 package of Puff Pastry
- 4-5 slices of cheese (I use cheddar)
- 1 cup or so of shredded cheese (I use whatever I have on hand, it’s your preference)
- Thinly sliced ham (I use 7-8 slices)
- 4-5 lightly scrambled eggs (Just barely cook these and scramble them on the stove)
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
Okay, so you’re going to unroll your Puff Pastry onto a cutting board. Down the center of the pastry, lay your sliced cheese out, slightly overlapping each other. Make sure cheese starts and ends about 1/2″ away from each end. On top of that, layer your ham, and then your slightly-scrambled eggs, and then your shredded cheese. Keep all of this lined up down the center of the pastry. Now, take a knife and cut the pastry all around the edges, from the layers to the edge. I cut off some off the pastry at each corner. Then I take the pastry pieces I have cut and bring them over the top of the layers. One piece from the left, then the right, then the left, and so on. The pastry pieces will lay on top like a braid. This may sound difficult but it is super easy. Then I sprinkle Everything Bagel Seasoning on top. Add parchment paper to a baking sheet and move your Breakfast Braid to the sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
Baked Ham
No holiday feast is complete without a stunning main course. My baked ham is glazed with love (and a few secret ingredients), making it the centerpiece of our Christmas dinner. It’s so good, there are never leftovers! My baked ham is also well-loved at my church and makes a regular appearance there. People think I’m such a good cook, that it’s almost embarrassing to tell them how easy it is! There’s nothing to it! And all credit, goes to my Mom for teaching me the secret to a good ham.
- Ham (I like to buy 10 pound hams for my family and then have leftovers that I freeze)
- Yellow Mustard, any brand
- Brown Sugar
- Coca-Cola
First off, my favorite kind of hams to buy are the Sam’s Choice hams from Walmart in the purple foil. I have tried expensive brands. I have tried inexpensive brands. I have had freshly butchered hams. Sam’s Choice is still #1 in my book. I do not use the glaze that comes with the ham. I throw that away. Instead, I take a bowl and squirt in a bunch of yellow mustard. Probably at least 1/4 cup. Then I add brown sugar a little at a time, and stir. None of this is measured. Just keep stirring and adding more brown sugar until it is the consistency of a glaze. I add the ham to a big roasting pan and smear that mustardy-sugar goodness all over the ham. I poke it into any crevices and just really cover it good. Then I take one can of Coca-Cola and pour it over the ham. I then bake it according to the directions on the ham. (About 10 minutes/per pound of ham at about 325). It’s so good!
Wishing You Joy and Peace This Season
As we wrap up another year, I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for being part of the Nancy’s Notions community. Whether you’ve followed along for sewing tips, quilting inspiration, or just a little creative encouragement, you’ve helped make this year truly special.
This holiday season, I hope your days are filled with laughter, love, and the kind of moments that become cherished memories. May your sewing projects be merry, your stitches even, and your bobbins always full. And, of course, may your holiday table be surrounded by those you hold dear.
Happy Holidays from my family to yours!
With love and festive cheer,
Beth
P.S. Don’t forget to check out the Nancy’s Notions homepage! That’s where you can find all of the categories leading you to hundreds, yes, hundreds of articles all about quilting and sewing! I think of our website as a super fun sewing magazine – it’s just online and it’s free! Click here!
