When the holiday season leaves little time to spend in the kitchen, you may need some help cooking for festive get-togethers or a houseful of hungry guests. With award-winning cookbook author Pam Anderson’s secrets for a stress-free holiday, you can prepare quick and easy recipes for all your festive celebrations.
The following are a few tips for creating simple meals for those festive gatherings, so you can spend less time stressing and more time celebrating with loved ones:
Start new family traditions: From baking cookies to helping decorate the dining room table, there are many things you can do as a family every year to bring tradition to the season. Plus, having the kids help out will keep them busy and make them feel like a part of the festivities.
Keep your pantry stocked: Stock up on must-have staples such as Carnation® Evaporated Milk, flour, sugar and canned pumpkin; because they are shelf stable you can always have them on hand. For example, when a recipe calls for 1 cup of milk, just use 1 cup of Carnation Evaporated Milk instead. Not only is it at your fingertips, but it provides a richer taste and creamier texture than regular milk.
Don’t let any food go to waste: Leftovers make a great addition to new recipes and are quick and convenient when you are hosting a houseful of guests. You can even save all your leftovers for a special buffet at the end of the week.
Lighten the cooking load: When hosting a holiday celebration, ask friends and family to bring their own signature dish. This helps lighten your cooking load and allows everyone to showcase their favorite holiday recipe. The next time you are asked to share your special dish, try this Ham and Swiss Hash Brown Bake:

Ham and Swiss
Hash Brown Bake

Ingredients:
1 bag (16 oz.) or 41?2 cups frozen, shredded hash brown potatoes
2 cups (about 8 oz.) cooked ham, cut into 1?2-inch pieces
1 can (12 fl. oz.) Carnation Evaporated Milk
1 can (10 oz.) condensed reduced-sodium cream of mushroom soup
1 tablespoon Dijon or yellow mustard
1?2-1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed of moisture
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Swiss cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400° F. Grease 21?2- to 3-quart casserole dish.
Combine potatoes, ham, evaporated milk, soup, mustard and pepper in large bowl. Pour half of potato mixture into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with spinach and top with remaining potato mixture. Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until heated through and lightly browned. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

To learn more about Pam Anderson, visit the Carnation Virtual Kitchen at TheCooking Milk.com. There you will find many more rich recipes-be sure to sign up for a free “Holiday Houseful” Recipe Guide (while supplies last). -(NAPSI)