The holidays are underway with Christmas Trees and lights up and gift buying in full swing. Now it’s time to start planning for holiday meals.

This is been a humbling year for most of us. It provides us the opportunity to live consciously and surely with more grace. Budgeting is something many of us are doing since we all have been affected by COVID-19. I have definitely learned how to make great meals on a budget with all of my time at home, along with the reality of our world. Still, the holidays are upon us, and making them special is so important no matter what your circumstance.

I thought it would be a good time to share some of my easy, budget-friendly, but fabulous tasting meals with all of you. If you’re like me, you don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen on Christmas, so I’m going to share with you a beautiful holiday meal, that will impress, make your home smell wonderful, cost you very little, and make you feel incredibly accomplished.

Christmas Menu

Roasted Chicken

Garlic mashed potatoes

Goat cheese and Cranberry tarts

Roasted Chicken

4lb Whole Chicken (you can purchase one for under $10)

2 lemons

1 head of garlic

1 stick of butter

1 sweet onion

Kosher salt and pepper

Arrange rack in the center of your oven and preheat oven to 425F

Cut lemons in half and remove seeds

Cut garlic in half crosswise

Roughly peel and chunk onion

Pat chicken dry with a paper towel

Season every part of the chicken with salt and pepper generously, placing the chicken in a metal, cast iron, or disposable aluminum baking dish.

Arrange lemon and garlic inside cavity and around chicken

Soften butter and rub over chicken and under the skin, loosening the skin, allowing you to get butter underneath the skin.

Roast until golden brown, with juices running clear. Usually a good hour and fifteen minutes.

Garlic mashed potatoes

Peel and boil large russet potatoes until soft. Approximately 5 potatoes.

Roast 2 large garlic bulbs in the oven halved, in tin foil, until soft garlic.

Mash potatoes by hand, add heavy cream, lots of softened butter, and roasted garlic. Add kosher salt to taste.

The trick is lots of butter and cream, why not? It’s the holidays. This dish is less than $6 to feed the family.

Cranberry and goat cheese tarts

1 package of puffed pastry

1 cup cranberry sauce

Zest of 1 orange

½ cup goat cheese

2 tbsp. fresh thyme

Preheat oven to 400F

Gently roll out puffed pastry sheet.

Spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray

Cut pastry into squares using a pizza cutter

Place each in muffin tins; add cranberry, goat cheese, and orange zest

Bake for 15 min, remove and top with fresh thyme leaves.

A pretty and savory appetizer for less than $8

Add your favorite green veggie and you will fill your family’s belly with love and comfort.

Happy Holidays from my family to yours.

Yam’s, broccoli , Brussels sprouts and carrots for a tasty veggie medley.