Make Holiday Entertaining Easy
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?Celebrating doesn?t have to cost a lot or take a lot of time,? says Dana Christine, HGTV entertaining expert and author of ?Return to the Table? found on amazon.com. One of Christine?s maxims is to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. She suggests using one of your green houseplants and decorating with red bows, garland or icicles for an eye-catching centerpiece or front entry decoration. Cut gift wrap to cover your dining or buffet table; tape down corners. Pick a pattern to suit your party theme.
?Use what you have and have fun with it. Guests are there to see you, not a magazine spread,? Christine counsels.
Having a well-stocked pantry of shelf stable ingredients leading into the holidays enables you to quickly make great-tasting party foods. Turn ready-to-eat cereal into savory or sweet snacks, such as Chex Savory Snacktime Mix or Chex Brittle. Use maraschino cherries to make and serve guests these tempting and beautiful Chocolate Covered Cherries. Add pizzazz to the Party Cheese Ball by including chopped maraschino cherries. Create different moods with your serving containers ? your best bowls, decorative tins or holiday dishware.
Christine advises hosts to look at holiday activities from a new perspective, to alter the way ?you?ve always done it? and keep it simple. ?Your party gathering is about people, not perfection.?
Savory Snacktime Mix
Don?t wait for a party?this simple snack mix is a hit anytime!
Prep Time: 10 min ? Start to Finish: 55 min ? Makes: 15 servings (1/2 cup each)
2 cups Cheerios cereal
2 cups Chex cereal (any variety)
2 cups pretzels
1 cup peanuts
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1. Heat oven to 275?F. In ungreased 13×9-inch pan, mix cereals, pretzels and peanuts.
2. In small bowl, mix remaining ingredients. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.
3. Bake 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container up to 1 week.
Easy Chocolate Covered Cherries
Let your whole family help make these taste tempters.
Prep Time: 20 min ? Start to Finish: 1 hr
Makes: About 5 dozen
2 (10-ounce) jars maraschino cherries with stems
1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips
1. Drain cherries; discard juice or use for another purpose. Put cherries on paper towels to drain completely.
2. Put chocolate chips in a medium saucepan with a heavy bottom. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat.
3. Dip cherries into chocolate; swirl to coat completely. Place on baking sheet lined with waxed paper.
Tip: Marinate cherries overnight in rum, amaretto or your favorite spirit before coating in chocolate.
Chex Brittle
A sweet, salty and crunchy treat.
Prep Time: 10 min ? Start to Finish: 40 min
Makes: 20 servings (1/2 cup each)
8 cups Rice Chex cereal
1 cup salted peanuts
1 can (14-ounce) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1. Heat oven to 325?F. Spray two 15x10x1-inch pans with cooking spray.
2. In large bowl, mix all ingredients until evenly coated. Spread in pans in single layer.
3. Bake 12 minutes. Spread on waxed paper to cool, about 15 minutes. Break into pieces. Store in airtight container.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Heat oven to 300?F. Bake 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
Original Chex Party Mix
A party favorite for over 50 years.
Prep Time: 10 min ? Start to Finish: 1 hr 25 min Makes: 24 servings (1/2 cup each)
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
3 cups Corn Chex cereal
3 cups Rice Chex cereal
3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup bite-size pretzels
1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces
1. Heat oven to 250?F. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in remaining ingredients until evenly coated.
2. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.
Microwave Directions: In large microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in remaining ingredients until evenly coated. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.