What to serve for a Christmas Gathering

What to serve for a Christmas Gathering

Christmas is coming and you have invited a few friends over for a little gathering.

That’s the easy part the hard part is what to feed everyone and stay on a budget. Not an easy thing to do.

Appetizers and dips are the way to go as far as the food is concerned. They are easy to make and less expensive than fixing enough food for a meal and perfect for buffet serving. They also can be made ahead of time. 

I am not suggesting you need to make all the dips and appetizers I am giving you the recipes for, no I suggest just two. For example I like the Sausage Cheese Balls and Raspberry-Lemon Fruit Dip with lots of raw vegetables and fruit for dipping.  

 Then set out a beef log and some cheese for a small cheese tray. That should be more than enough.

 Next what to serve to drink. Make eggnog the center of your table.

Its not expensive and people love this special eggnog. 

I fixed it for years when we owned the antique shop and had a Christmas Eve party. No one could guess how easy it was to make. 

All it takes is a quart of eggnog and a quart of vanilla ice cream.

Mix together almost like a milkshake but keep about four small scoops of ice cream aside to float in the eggnog mixture.

Its up to you if you use liquor or perhaps just the flavoring if kids are going to be at the party. Top off the eggnog with a sprinkling of nut meg and its done.

Next a pot of coffee and a couple of holiday inspired creamers.

Make real hot chocolate for the kids and the adults who are kids at heart. I just loved doing this. I would serve each cup of hot chocolate with a pepperment stick as a stir. Always a hit.

Finally get some ice and a bottled water. Now your done with the beverages.

Below are several easy and affordable appitizers to prepare

Sausage Cheese Balls

3     cups Original Bisquick mix

1     pound uncooked bulk pork sausage*

4     cups shredded Cheddar cheese (16 ounces)

½    cup grated Parmesan cheese

½    cup milk

½    teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed

1 ½  teaspoons chopped fresh parsley or 1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes

Barbecue sauce or chili sauce, if desired

Directions:

 1Heat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease bottom and sides of jelly roll pan, 15 1/2x10 1/2x2x1 inch.

 2In large bowl, stir together all ingredients except barbecue sauce, using hands or spoon. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls. Place in pan.

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    3Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until brown. Immediately remove from pan. Serve warm with sauce

for dipping

Raspberry-Lemon Fruit Dip

 

½   cup raspberry reduced-fat cream cheese spread, from 8-ounce container, softened

½   cup marshmallow creme

1    container (6 ounces) Yoplait® Original lemon burst yogurt

Assorted fresh fruit pieces or Berries

Directions:

·        1Mix cream cheese and marshmallow creme in medium bowl with wire whisk until smooth. Stir in yogurt.

·        2Serve dip with fruit.

Creamy Pesto Dip

½    cup sour cream

½    cup mayonnaise or salad dressing

1/3   cup pesto

2      tablespoons thinly sliced green onions

2     teaspoons lemon juice

Cut-up raw vegetables,

Directions:

 1Stir together all ingredients except raw vegetables.

·        2Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 48 hours. Serve with raw vegetables.

·         

Margarita Fruit Dip

2    packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened

2/3  cup frozen (thawed) margarita drink mix (from 10-ounce can)

¼    cup orange juice

2    teaspoons grated lime peel

½    cool whip

Whole strawberries

Directions:

·        1Beat cream cheese, margarita mix, orange juice and lime peel in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed until smooth.

·        Fold cool whip into cream cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. Serve with strawberries

·        Chipped Beef Dip in a Bread Bowl

·        

·        Ingredients

·         

·        1 c     sour cream

·        1 c     mayonnaise

·        1 jar dried chipped beef

·        1 tsp dill weed (dried)

·        1 tsp celery seed

·        2 Tbsp onion, minced fine (I prefer the dried onion flakes)

·        1 lg    round bread loaf, unsliced

·         

·         

·         

·        Directions

·         

·        1 Rinse and drain chipped beef well.

·        2 Chop beef rather fine.

·        3 Combine all ingredients and mix well.

·        4 Cut off top of bread. Pull out most of the inside and cut up the pieces to use for dipping..

·        5 Pour dip into bread bowl.

·        6 Serve with chunks of bread.

·        You will want more than just the bread removed from the center of the bread so plan on extra bread for dipping

Now that what you are going to serve your guests is settled its time to get ready and enjoy your evening with your friends.