Christmas Party Recipes

A Christmas party can be a major undertaking or a low-key gathering of friends. Be sure you plan ahead, since Christmas is a busy time of year for everyone. One thing is for sure, though, everybody loves a Christmas party. Make hors d'oeuvres, arrange the flowers, cook the food and chill the wine as appropriate, and set the tables or arrange the serving table.
Just before guests arrive, light the candles, turn on some soft Christmas music, set out the hors d'oeuvres, and bring out the punch or open the bar.

*Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms*

 "Tasty crab stuffed mushrooms with bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese make a great Christmas party snack."

Ingredients:

• 1 pound large mushrooms
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 3 green onions, minced
• 3 to 4 tablespoons minced red bell pepper
• 4 ounces crab meat
• 1 cup fresh fine bread crumbs
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning blend
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

Preparation:

Wash and trim the end of stems from mushrooms. Pop remaining stem out. Chop stems and set aside. Melt 2 tablespoons butter; brush over mushrooms. Spray a shallow baking dish (about 8-inch square, or one which will fit mushrooms in one layer) with butter-flavored spray or grease with butter.

Melt remaining butter in skillet; add reserved chopped stems, minced green onions and red bell pepper. Cook until vegetables are tender. Combine cooked ingredients with bread crumbs, crab meat, and seasonings. Fill each mushrooms, piling up. Sprinkle each mushroom with a little Parmesan cheese, if desired. Bake at 350° for 15 to 20 minutes, until hot and mushroom caps are tender.
Makes 16 to 20 stuffed mushroom appetizers.

*Creamy Shrimp Dip*

"This shrimp dip is made with sour cream and cream cheese, Ranch Dressing mix, and other seasonings."

Ingredients:

• 2 small packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon chopped green onion
• few drops hot sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 envelope Ranch Dressing mix (.4 ounce)
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste, optional
• 6 to 8 ounces small shrimp, drained and chopped

Preparation:

Beat cream cheese with sour cream until well blended. Blend in the green onion, hot sauce, paprika, dressing mix. Stir in shrimp. Taste and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper, if desired. Chill until serving time.

*Tangy Cocktail Franks*

"A tasty appetizer everyone will enjoy. Serve with decorative toothpicks. You can double the cocktail franks in this recipe."

Ingredients:

• 1 jar (12 ounces) currant jelly
• 2/3 cup chili sauce
• 2 teaspoons prepared mustard
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 pound cocktail franks or regular hot dogs cut in 1-inch slices
• 1 can sliced pineapple tidbits, drained, quartered
• dash ground cayenne or chipotle pepper, optional, or to taste

Preparation:

In a medium saucepan combine currant jelly, chili sauce, mustard, and lemon juice. Add the hot dogs or cocktail franks, pineapple, and ground pepper; simmer for about 5 minutes. Transfer to slow cooker and keep on LOW for serving. Serve with toothpicks.

 

 

*Glazed Sausage Bites*

"Sausage appetizers with herbs and a sauce of ketchup, brown sugar, and other ingredients."

Ingredients:

• 1 pound bulk pork sausage
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1/2 cup fine cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
• 1/8 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

Preparation:

In a bowl, combine sausage, egg, crumbs, 1/3 cup milk, and ground sage and thyme. Beat with electric mixer at high speed for 5 minutes. Shape into about 3 dozen small balls (about 1 1/4-inch diameter). The mixture is soft, so keep hands wet to make shaping easier. In a large skillet, in batches if necessary, brown the sausage balls slowly on all sides, about 12 minutes. Pour off excess fat. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over the sausage bites. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes about 3 dozen sausage bites.

*Crab Bites*
"These crab bites are so easy to make, and this recipe makes enough for 48 appetizers."

Ingredients:

• 6 English muffins, split
• 1 roll (6 ounces) garlic cheese, or a small jar (5 ounces) of Old English Cheese Spread, room temperature
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, if not using garlic cheese
• 1 teaspoon freshly chopped parsley
• 1 can (6 to 7 ounces) crabmeat, drained, flaked
• sliced green onions and tomatoes for garnish, if desired

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350°. Arrange split muffins, cut side up, on a baking pan lined with foil.In a medium bowl, mash the garlic cheese or cheese spread with butter, mayonnaise, onion powder, garlic powder, if using, and parsley. Stir in the crabmeat. Spread evenly over the split muffins. Bake for 10 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Cut into quarters and serve warm, garnished with green onions and diced tomatoes, if desired.

*Turkey Cocktail Meatballs w/ Orange Cranberry Glaze*

"One note about the diced hot peppers you see added in the video: Sweet cancels heat. Do not be scared to add these because you don't like spicy food. When you're dealing with a sweet sauce, which this certainly is, the heat from the peppers really gets mellowed out, and you get the benefit of the flavor without all the heat."

Turkey Cocktail Meatballs with Orange Cranberry Glaze Ingredients:
(makes about 32-36 cocktail-sized meatballs)
1 1/4 lb ground turkey
1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
pinch of cayenne
1 large egg, beaten
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
For the glaze
1 cup canned jellied cranberry sauce
1/2 cup orange jelly or marmalade
1/2 cup chicken broth or water
1 tablespoon minced jalapeno peppers, optional
1 tablespoon minced Fresno peppers, optional

*Sausage Balls*

"These are so yummy! Your family will want them every Christmas morning. Enjoy!"

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground pork sausage
• 2 cups biscuit baking mix
• 1 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

            Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine sausage, biscuit baking mix and cheese. Form into walnut size balls and place on baking sheets.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown and sausage is cooked through.               

*Decadent Truffles*

"Insanely easy, but oh so rich! Recipe makes a large amount but you can vary flavorings and coatings to make several different varieties."

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips, melted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

            Preparation

1. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until well blended. Stir in melted chocolate and vanilla until no streaks remain. Refrigerate for about 1 hour. Shape into 1 inch balls.               

*Buffalo Wings*

"My friends and family really seem to love these, and I encourage you to give them a try. The wings are always fried in Buffalo, but a really hot oven works just fine."

Ingredients:
2/3 cup Louisiana hot sauce
1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter
1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce or other hot sauce (like the Sriracha I used)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
salt to taste

 

*Cinnamon-Roasted Almonds*

"Here is an easy snack idea to serve at any holiday party."

Ingredients

• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon cold water
• 4 cups whole almonds
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

            Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Lightly grease a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.
2. Lightly beat the egg white; add water, and beat until frothy but not stiff. Add the nuts, and stir until well coated. Mix the sugar, salt, and cinnamon, and sprinkle over the nuts. Toss to coat, and spread evenly on the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until golden. Allow to cool, then store nuts in airtight containers.

 

*Eggnog*

"It is relatively easy to toss a few quarts of eggnog and a bottle of rum into a punch bowl, but take the time to make some eggnog from scratch and you will be amazed how great real eggnog can be."

Ingredients

• 12 jumbo egg yolks
• 1 pound granulated sugar
• 1 quart whole milk
• 1 quart heavy cream, lightly whipped
• 1 liter spiced rum
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

            Preparation

1. Beat yolks in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add sugar. Beat until mixture thickens. Stir in milk and rum. Pour into a large punch bowl and chill for 3-4 hours.
2. Fold in whip cream before serving. Garnish with freshly ground nutmeg.