Tuesday, Dec. 29
Spicy Santa Dip
This dip is especially good for parties because of it's fiery color. It's a little bit spicy, but not really hot (unless you add more cayenne than this recipe calls for) What's really fun about it, though, is the fact that you can change the name of the dish and serve it at other holiday parties too! I've called it "Devil Dip" for Halloween, "Rockets Red Glare" dip for the 4th of July and "Volcano Dip" for a luau. It tastes yummy and looks exotic. You can make it even more dramatic if you serve it in a black dish. I usually serve it with pita chips or blue corn tortilla chips.
Saturday, Dec. 26
Pesto Tortellini Salad
I just put this pasta salad together for my family's pre-Christmas potluck. Everybody loved it. It's very easy to make the night before, transports easily in a cooler and tastes great the next day. This recipe makes a pretty big batch for a large crowd, but you can halve the ingredients for a smaller gathering, such as a New Year's Day brunch.
Curried Waldorf Salad
This is a nice salad to serve at the holidays because of the festive red apples. I like to serve it in a glass bowl for presentation's sake. I've doctored up the traditional "Waldorf" dressing to make it a little more fruity and spicy. I like this version much better than the original. Family members at our Christmas party kept asking me what was in it. Well, here you go. I've made this recipe mostly as a side dish for large potlucks, but you can also serve this as more of a featured salad, plated and served atop curly green leaf lettuce.
Friday, Dec. 25
Holiday Salad
I love salad and I love shopping at Trader Joe's. All of the ingredients for this salad can be found at Trader Joe's and one of the ingredients, a white stilton cheese with cranberries, is only sold at Trader Joe's around Thanksgiving and Christmas. This salad is very easy to put together at the last minute. I usually serve it in a big glass salad bowl because it looks pretty.
Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
This recipe is ridiculously simple and extremely delicious. It was passed to me by word of mouth many years ago and I have been making it ever since. I always serve it on a pretty glass plate, but it would probably look even more spectacular served on a silver platter. This dish always gets oohs and aahs for presentation. I usually serve this with crackers that are not too salty, but it's equally yummy served with fresh vegetables, especially carrots, cauliflower and celery.
Mediterranean Layered Dip
This is a different take on the Mexican 7 layer dip. It's still served in a glass trifle dish like the Mexican version, because it looks so pretty, but the flavors are from Italy, Greece and Lebanon. For the sake of convenience, I purchased all of the ingredients at Trader Joe's.
Wednesday, Dec. 23
Number "1" Peanut Butter Cookies
These are the simplest peanut butter cookie recipe. It's easy to remember (1 cup, 1 cup, 1 egg) and quick to whip up a batch with only three ingredients. Variations can fancy them right up! Add chocolate chips or peanut butter chips. Use crunchy peanut butter. Or drop a chocolate kiss in the middle of each one.
Tuesday, Dec. 22
Stuffed Mushroom Madness
This recipe will surprise your family and friends and they will think you have become a gourmet cook. This holiday is a great time to share and this recipe will make you the talk of the town. They will think you have gone mad for cooking hence the name "Mushroom Madness" Enjoy the holidays and if you love mushrooms you will be happy that you tried this recipe. Happy Holidays and Be Nice To One Another
Monday, Dec. 21
Spicy tuna dip
An appetizer for those who consider who consider toasting bread to be cooking: I hate potlucks. I hate them because I don't want to be lame and bring store-bought cookies, but I hate cooking, and honestly I don't want to be cruel by making other people eat my food either. But thanks to my best friend I no longer have to stress about such occasions. I just whip up this four ingredient dip and present it confidently alongside chips.
Saturday, Dec. 19
Holiday Pops
Take a pillsbury cookie dough of your favorite flavor or make as directed below and prepare your own Yule-delicious homemade cookies. Place the cookies on a 6 or inch or longer lollipop stick and bake in the oven. Wrap them in a sweet holiday cellophane wrap cut into 6 to 8 inch square depending on on the size of your cookie. Then decorate each cookie with your favorite ribbon. Then place the cookies stick side down in in a holiday pictured, red or green bowl of uncooked rice. Cover the top of the rice well with colored sugar and wrap in holiday cellophane wrap. As an added idea you can palce them in a oriental food container and place parchment paper between each cookie and wrap in holiday cellophane wrap and give as a gift or an party favor. You can use both of these ideas as a gift with your friends or family or place them at a holiday party. ****Carefully Wrap lollipop sticks in foil to prevent burning or browning***