Holiday Treats for Fun Meets!
Holiday Treats for Fun Meets!
What's a Christmas Social without Snacks?
It’s that time of year again, where we catch up with one another and make merry. What’s a Social (especially in the Holidays) without a few snacks and some chatting? Since this is our social meeting, here are a few recipes that would work for any party gathering including our own!
Crab Pizza
Skill Level: All Levels
Prerequisite: You have to be able to say Worcestershire sauce
Description
This easy to do recipe, will bring a wow factor to any party and it’s easy to make with just a few simple ingredients.
Makes a 10″ pizza
Ingredients List
- 1 pkg of cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 sm. jar of seafood sauce
- 2-3 TBSP of worcestershire sauce
- 1-2 cans crab meat shredded
- 1/2 onion chopped
- Tostito Chips
Instructions
- With a mixer, combine cream cheese, onion, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth and creamy
- Spread the mixture on a pizza pan to resemble a pizza crust, leave room around edges for scooping
- Spread seafood sauce like it’s the pizza sauce on a pizza, make sure to leave a space around edges like a real pizza
- Spread the crab meat on top of seafood sauce, cover all sauce
- Chill for 30 minutes
- Take out of fridge and serve with Tostitos or crackers and enjoy!
*A quick variation if you’re not in to seafood is to use shredded chicken in place of the crab, and salsa in place of the seafood sauce*
Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread
Skill Level: All Levels
Prerequisite: None
Description
This easy yet festive cheese spread is sure to be a colourful and tasty addition to your table. Wow your guests with your festive cooking, and whip this up in no time at all.
Makes 1 1/2 cups of cheese spread
Ingredients
- 1 pkg of reduced fat cream cheese
- 1/2 C chopped cranberries
- 1/2 C chopped, dried apricots
- 1 tsp of grated orange zest
- Assorted Crackers
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, cranberries, apricots, and orange zest until well blended
- Chill before serving
- Serve with crackers
Good for everyone including diabetics
Festive Guacamole Appetizers
Skill Level: Medium
Prerequisite: Basic baking skills
Description
Want to be festive and decorate some food, but tired of sugar cookies? Then this recipe is for you! This festive Guacamole will put the jolly back in your step without the added pounds this christmas, and you get to decorate another tree! What could be better?
This recipe makes 40 pieces
Ingredients
- 2-8 oz tubes of refrigerated crescent rolls
- 1 1/2 tsp taco seasoning divided
- 20 pretzel sticks cut in half
- 4 oz of cream cheese softened
- 1 C of guacamole
- 2 med sweet yellow peppers
- 1 med sweet red pepper
- 1 med sweet green pepper
- chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
*For a bit of a bite, consider swapping one of the peppers out for a hot pepper in a festive colour!*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F
- On an ungreased baking sheet, unroll a tube of crescent dough, and press into a 13×8 rectangle
- Prick with a fork, and sprinkle with 3/4 tsp taco seasoning
- repeat these steps with second tube of dough and taco seasoning
- Bake until golden brown, 10-12 minutes
- transfer both crescent sheets to a wire rack to cool completely
- Cut each rectangle cross-wise to make 4 strips (8×4 inches)
- For trees, cut each strip into 5 triangles, reserving scraps at each end for another use
- For the tree trunks, insert a pretzel piece into the bottom of each triangle
- Beat cream cheese and guacamole together until smooth
- Spread over the trees
- Half and seed all peppers
- Cut 40 stars from the yellow peppers using a 3/4 inch star shaped cookie cutter
- Dice and julienne remaining peppers to make tree decorations
- Decorate the trees with the pepper pieces, and if desired the cilantro.
- Refrigerate until serving time.
Hot Buttered Rum
Skill Level: All Levels
Prerequisite: None
Description
This delightful drink is sure to keep you warm on cold winter nights, and be a smashing success at any gathering where good cheer is needed.
Makes 4
Ingredients
- 2 C water
- 1/4 C unsalted Butter (1/2 stick)
- 1/4 C packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 2/3 C dark rum
Instructions
- Bring water, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt to a boil in a sauce of med-high heat
- reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes
- remove from heat and stir in the rum
- serve hot
Eggnog Cocktail
Skill Level: Medium
Prerequisite: Cocktail equipment
Description
A twist on the classic eggnog.
Makes 1 serving
Ingredients
- 1 oz Amaretto
- 1 oz Vodka
- 2 oz Eggnog
- A pinch of Cinnamon
- Carmel Sauce for rimming glass
Instructions
- Rim a cocktail glass with carmel sauce
- shake eggnog, amaretto, and vodka together in a shaker half filled with ice
- Strain into the cocktail glass and garnish with more cinnamon.
Easy Homemade Apple Cider
Skill Level: All Levels
Prerequisite: None
Description
This tasty drink is easy to make, and even easier to consume. It will be a hit at all party gatherings.
Makes 4
Ingredients
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1/2 tsp whole cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 4 cups unsweetened apple juice
- 1/2 TBSP orange zest
*add a dollop of pure maple syrup for added sweetness*
Instructions
- Combine first 3 spices in a saucepan, and cook over med-high heat until aromatic, about 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently
- add the nutmeg and stir to combine
- Add in apple juice and orange zest
- bring to a boil
- reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, depending on how strong you like your cider (the longer you simmer, the stronger it’ll be)
- Pour juice through a fine mesh sieve, into 4 mugs
- Allow to cool slightly before drinking
