Food/Cooking

Unique Ideas for a Christmas Party!!!!!

Creamy Herb Dip

         1/2 cup sour cream 

1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing

    3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4teaspoon salt

1/4teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 small clove garlic, finely chopped

Vegetable Platter

3 cups fresh broccoli florets

14 grape tomatoes

1/2 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips

1 1/2 cups fresh cauliflower florets

3/4 oz (about 40) pretzel sticks (from 15-oz bag)

• In small bowl, stir together dip ingredients. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour to blend flavors2
• Rinse and thoroughly dry vegetables. Trim broccoli and cauliflower floret stems.3
• Arrange broccoli on serving platter to form tree shape and tomatoes to form garland. Arrange bell pepper to form star and cauliflower to form snow (see photo). If desired, cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.4
• Just before serving, arrange pretzels at bottom of tree to form trunk. Serve with dip.
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Why not bring a watermelon snowman? We brought this to a family party and it was such a hit!

Your little angels can help to find the sticks that were used to make the snowman’s arms and to put it all together. 

You can’t go wrong with watermelon - it's packed with Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin B 6 to keep eyes healthy and boost immunity.

AVOCADO APPETIZER HOLIDAY WREATH

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups coarsely mashed ripe avocado (about 3 avocados)
• 2/3 cup seeded, chopped plum tomatoes, divided (reserve 2 Tablespoons)
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice
• 1 Tablespoons grated or finely minced onion
• 1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Ingredients:

1/2 cup vanilla ice cream, softened 

• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 8 ounces white chocolate, chopped 
• 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies

Preparation:

1. 1. In a small bowl, stir together ice cream and extract until blended. Freeze until firm, at least 2 hours. Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and freeze alongside.
2. 2. Using a large melon baller, quickly scoop all the ice cream into balls and place them on one side of the cold baking sheet. Freeze until firm, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
3. 3. Insert a decorative skewer or pick into the center of each ice cream ball and return to freezer to set, about 30 minutes.
4. 4. Meanwhile, put chopped chocolate and shortening into a small metal bowl. Set bowl in a slightly larger bowl of hot water and let sit until melted, stirring occasionally. Transfer chocolate mixture to a 1-cup glass measuring cup. Put crushed candies on a small plate.
5. 5. Working with 1 ice cream ball at a time, dip into melted chocolate to coat, making sure chocolate reaches above ice cream onto the skewer and letting excess chocolate drip off bottom. Roll ball in candy and set on the clean side of the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining balls, returning them to the freezer if they start to soften. Freeze at least 2 hours before serving.
6. Bonbon Variations: Experiment with other flavors of ice cream, such as coconut or chocolate, and coatings, such as flaked coconut or dark chocolate.