December is the time to share with loved ones and/or those who possess a similar genetic makeup. The easiest thing to share: food. What better gift than a little extra padding for their bellies, so they can hibernate in peace for most of winter vacation? Old St. NicholasâÄô helpers/figures of lore from other winter holiday-having religions at the DailyâÄôs A&E department have managed to round up some staggeringly delicious recipes that wonâÄôt break the bank or require several laborious hours over a broiling stovetop. Ridiculously Simple Cheesy Potatoes This is perfect for those bring-a-dish get-togethers. It takes almost no time to prepare and will be gone before you can ask Grandma Rosalynn how her hip is doing. 2 lbs frozen square-cut hash browns 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 can cream of celery soup 8 oz of light sour cream 3 cups of smashed up corn flakes 1 bag shredded sharp cheddar Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together hash browns, soup, sour cream and 2/3 cup shredded cheese in an enormous bowl. Press the mixture firmly into a medium sized casserole dish, and top it with crushed cornflakes. Bake for one hour, remove dish from oven and spread remaining cheese on top. Cook for another 15-25 minutes and drop it like itâÄôs hot! Pumpkinlicious Bread Pumpkin pie is great and all, but it gets to be a bit tiring after a slice or two. Try this quick pumpkin bread recipe for a twist on an old flavor. Remember, baking is about making it your own, so experiment with chocolate chips, smashed pecans and fresh fruit of your choice (about 1 cup of whatever you like). 1 can pumpkin puree 4 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 2/3 cup water 3 cups white sugar 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1/4 tsp ground ginger Preheat that scary gas oven to 350. Blend wet ingredients and sift together dry elements in separate mixing bowls. Add dry ingredients to wet slowly, stirring intermittently, and bake for 45-55 minutes. Tart Lemon Cookies Baking is a holiday tradition, but a delectable plate of cookies can turn into a lot of work. If the thought of rolling out and cutting sugar cookies from scratch is lamentable, look no further than this simple cookie recipe made from a boxed cake mix. 1 package of lemon cake mix 2 eggs 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 tsp lemon extract Powdered sugar Stir cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil and lemon extract in a mixing bowl until smooth (feel free to lick the spoon when necessary). Roll quarter-sized balls of dough onto a plate of powdered sugar to coat. Press onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 9-13 minutes. Absolutely Amazing Artichoke Appetizer Aside from being a perfect side to a night of movies or board games, this dip is high in fiber, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorous and more. Enjoy this treat while treating your body right. 14 oz can chopped artichoke hearts 1 cup light mayo 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 tbsp lemon juice 1/4 tsp garlic salt Mix together in a medium-sized casserole pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Serve with French bread or party crackers. Crowd-pleasing Crab Soup It may not sound simple, but this delectable soup takes less than a half an hour and fits perfectly as a side to a traditional holiday ham (whether it be pork or tofu). 1 tbsp butter 1 tsp all-purpose flour 1 quart milk 1/2 tbsp grated onion 1/8 tsp ground mace 1/8 tsp ground black pepper 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp salt 3 tsp crab roe 2 cups fresh crabmeat 6 tbsp dry sherry 1 cup whipped cream 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley Melt butter in a large saucepan over a low-lit burner, add flour and stir until smooth. Gradually add milk, whisking constantly until smooth. Add onion, mace, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, salt and crab meat with roe. Cover and let simmer for twenty minutes. To serve, place 1 tablespoon of warmed sherry in each soup bowl, pour the crab soup into the sherry and top with a dollop of whipped cream and fresh snipped parsley.