The following is an attempt to provide easy cooking ideas catered to individuals experiencing alternative living situations. All recipes can be prepared using basic kitchen appliances, without a stove, oven or hot plate. In addition, all ingredients are SNAP food stamp-eligible.

Fun drinks

Wassail punch

• half-gallon bottle apple cider

• 1 c orange Juice

• 2 T cinnamon

• 1 c pineapple juice

• orange slices studded w/ cloves

• ¼ c lemon juice

• ¼ c sugar

• pinch of nutmeg

• pinch of allspice

Combine all in Crockpot. Cook on high, 2 hours & ladle into cups. Note: Before slicing oranges, grate 1 tsp. of peel to use in pineapple-cherry preserves(below).

Andes peppermint crunch cocoa

• Andes Creme de Menthe chocolates

• Peppermint sticks

• Andes Creme de Menthe Crunch candies

• Hot cocoa mix

• 1 bag mini marshmallows

• Sprinkles

Fill large microwave-safe mug 2/3 of the way w/ milk or water. Heat to desired temp. Spoon in 3 T hot cocoa & stir. Place a piece of candy into mug & top w/ marshmallows. Garnish w/ peppermint stick.

Appetizers

Sweet & spicy meatballs

• 18 oz package frozen meatballs

• 1 c fresh cranberries

• 18 oz bottle Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ Sauce

• 1 T dijon mustard

• 1 T sugar

Place cranberries in blender & puree w/ 2 cups of bbq sauce. Add all ingredients to Crockpot & cook 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Add more BBQ sauce if desired.

Warm blue crab bruschetta

• 4 c diced tomatoes

• 1 c (about 4-6) minced shallots

• 1/4 c olive oil

• 2 T balsamic vinaigrette

• 2 t minced garlic

• 1-1½ T Old Bay seasoning

• 1/4 t cracked peppercorn

• 1 T dried basil

• 1 T sugar

• lemon wedges

• 1 lb lump blue crab meat, picked over for shells

• ¼ t paprika

• ¼ t lemon juice

• Cracker assortment or mini baguettes

In blender, add olive oil, garlic, shallots & mince. Pour mixture with remaining ingredients into Crockpot & Cook on low, 3 hours. Serve on sliced baguette or cracker.

Charcuterie board

• Meat variety- Regular & Sweet Lebanon Bologna rings

• Cheese variety- Port Wine, Gouda, Sharp cheddar, muenster cut into blocks

• Sweet Gherkins, bread + butter, dill pickles & olive assortment

• Red grapes

• Pretzel assortment

• Dates

• Dried apricot

• Nut assortment

• Dijionaise, Stones Ground, yellow mustards

Side Dishes

Broccoli & cauliflower salad

• 1 head broccoli

• 1 head cauliflower

• 1 c shredded cheddar cheese

• 3 T vinegar

• 1 lb ready-to-eat bacon

• 1- 1½ c Miracle Whip salad dressing

• ½ c sugar

• 1 onion

Cut broccoli, cauliflower into bite-sized pieces & place in large bowl. Heat bacon in microwave & mince onion in blender. Add to broccoli & cauliflower with remaining ingredients. Mix well & refrigerate overnight.

Candied sweet potato casserole

• 40oz can cooked yams

• 2 T brown sugar

• 2 T flour

• 1 t nutmeg

• 1 t cinnamon

• 2 t melted butter

• 1/8 t almond extract

• 1/3 c chopped pecans

• ½ c milk

Mix milk & flour together. Drain and mash yams until desired consistency. Spray Crockpot w/ anti-stick spray, and place all ingredients inside. Stir & cook for 2 ½-3 hours.

Spreads

Pear butter

• 2 cans pears

• ½ t cinnamon

• 1/2 c brown sugar

• ¼ t allspice

• ¼ t lemon juice

• 1 T cornstarch

• ¼ t cold water

Mix cornstarch, cold water & lemon juice in small dish. Pour drained pears into blender w/ remaining ingredients & puree. Pour mixture into microwave-safe dish & cover. Cook 2 minutes, stir. Cook additional 2 minutes. Serve warm or let cool.

Pineapple-cherry preserves

• 1 can(8 0z) crushed pineapple, drained. Save juice.

• 2 T honey

• 8 maraschino cherries, quartered

• 1 T cornstarch

• 1 t grated orange peel

Mix corn starch & pineapple juice separately, then combine all ingredients in microwave-safe dish. Microwave until thickened- 2 ½ min. Stir. Cook additional 2 ½ min. Serve warm or let cool.

Main Dishes

Ham & potatoes

• 4 cans potatoes, sliced or diced

• 1 T dried parsley

• 16 oz can smoked cooked ham

• 12 0z bag frozen pearl onions

• 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup

• 1 t celery powder

• 3 T butter

• 1 c shredded cheese

• ½ cup milk

• salt + pepper, to taste

Drain potatoes & rinse. Carefully remove ham from can & dice. Combine all ingredients in Crockpot. Cook on High- 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Ground turkey & potatoes

• 2 lb turkey, sliced

• 1 pkg. Baby Red instant mashed potatoes

• (2) 12 oz jars turkey gravy

• 2 t onion powder

• 1 t ground sage

• 1 t thyme

• 1 t parsley

• 1 t rosemary

• 1 t garlic powder

• 2 T butter

Chop turkey & place in microwave-safe bowl. Add both jars gravy. Add sage, rosemary, & thyme. Heat in microwave to desired temp. Cover & set aside. Empty potato pkg into microwave-safe bowl. Add water (or milk for extra fluffiness), along with garlic, onion, butter, & parsley. Cover & set aside until ready to serve.

Desserts

Nan’s mandarin orange dessert

• 1 pkg orange jell-o mix

• 11 0z can mandarin oranges

• 1 pkg instant french vanilla pudding

• 8 oz container Cool Whip

• 1 ½ cup boiling water

• 1 c milk

• Keebler Ready Crust Shortbread pie pan

Boil water in microwave, pour into large bowl. Add jell-o mix, pudding mix, & milk. Whisk & let thicken. Add Cool Whip to thickened mixture & fold in mandarin oranges. Pour into pie pan & chill.

Ma’s chocolate dirt

• ½ stick butter, softened

• 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

• 1 c confectioner’s sugar

• 16 oz container Cool Whip

• 3 c milk

• 1 pkg vanilla pudding

• 1 pkg chocolate pudding

• 1 pkg Oreo cookies

Mix butter, cream cheese, & sugar. Add milk, pudding pkgs & Cool Whip. Place cookies in Ziploc bag & crush. Cover the bottom of a 9×13 glass baking dish with a layer of the mixture. Top w/ crushed cookies. Continue layering ingredients. End with cookies on top.