Christmas Punch Recipe

Ingredients

2 Bottles of Sparkling Wine (Sparkling Brut)

1 Bottle of Sprite (I used 2 Liter Sprite Zero)

1 Container of Raspberry Sherbet (I used 4-6 scoops)

2 Cups of Cranberries

Directions

1.)  Mix all ingredients together and serve chilled

Baked Brie Bites

Ingredients

1 Can of Crescent Dough (You can use the rolls or sheet)

1 Wedge of Brie Cheese

1 Jar of Fig Spread (You can use any flavor, Sour Cherry, Cranberries, Honey, etc.)

1/4 Cup of Pecans Chopped

Directions

1.) Preheat oven to 350 Degrees

2.) Grease a mini muffin tin

3.)  Cut crescent dough into squares and place in muffin tins

4.)  Chop Brie into squares and place in muffin tin on top of crescent dough

5.)  Top Brie with fig spread and chopped pecans

6.) Bake at 350 Degrees for 10 minutes

Christmas Potpourri

Potpourri Recipe

Ingredients

1 Orange, Sliced

1 Cup Fresh Cranberries

2-3 Sprigs of Pine or Rosemary

1 Tablespoon Cloves

2-4 Cinnamon Sticks

Directions

*Slice orange and place in a medium saucepan with cranberries, pine, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and 2 cups of water

*Simmer mixture and turn heat to low.  Your house will then smell amazing!

Baked Pineapple

Ingredients

1 Can of Crushed Pineapple

2 Eggs, beaten

1/2 cup of Sugar

1 tsp. Cinnamon

2 TBSP Cornstarch

1 TBSP Butter, melted

Directions

1.) In a medium bowl add crushed Pineapple, Eggs, Sugar, Cornstarch, and Cinnamon.  Mix well until all ingredients are evenly mixed together

2.)  Pour into a baking dish

3.)  Drizzle melted butter on top and sprinkle with cinnamon

4.)  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes

Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients

2 packages of whole Mushrooms

1 package of Bob Evans Ground Sausage

4 oz. Cream Cheese

1 TBSP minced garlic

1 TBSP Parsley

1/4 cup of Parmesan Cheese

1/4 cup of Panko Bread Crumbs

Directions

1.)  Clean Mushrooms and remove stems (be careful not to break the mushroom).  Set mushrooms on baking sheet

2.)  In a skillet cook sausage until browned.  Add in garlic, cream cheese, and parsley.  Once cream cheese is melted remove from heat

3.)  Stir in Parmesan Cheese and Bread Crumbs

4.)  Divide sausage mixture evenly among mushrooms

5.)  Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until mushrooms are cooked through and the tops are golden brown.

6.)  Garnish with chopped Parsley and serve!

Baked Brie with Pecans

Ingredients

1 Package of Brie wrapped in Puff Pastry

1 cup of chopped Pecans

1/4 cup of Brown Sugar

1/4 cup of Maple Syrup

1 tsp Cinnamon

Directions

1.)  In a saucepan over medium heat stir together Brown Sugar, Maple Syrup, Cinnamon, and Pecans.  Stir until brown sugar is melted and all Pecans are evenly coated

2.)  Place Brie in the center of a baking dish and top with Pecans and syrup

3.)  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes

4.)  Serve immediately with crackers, bread, or cinnamon and sugar pita chips

**If you cannot find Brie already wrapped in puff pastry you can make your own.  Just buy a Brie wheel and puff pastry.  Wrap the brie in the puff pastry and baste with egg white

Sticky Buns

Ingredients

Frozen Rolls (I use Rhodes)

1 Box Cook & Serve Vanilla Pudding

1 Stick of Butter

1 Cup of Brown Sugar

2 tsp. Milk

2 tsp. Cinnamon

Nuts (Optional)

Directions

1.) Spray bunt pan with Pam

2.)  On stove top bring Butter, Pudding, Brown Sugar, Milk, and Cinnamon to a boil over medium heat

3.)  Pour hot mixture into bunt pan and place 15-20 frozen rolls around the pan

4.)  Cover with Cling Wrap that has been sprayed with Pam and let rise overnight

5.)  Bake @ 350 for 35-40 minutes (I typically cover the pan with foil until the last 10-15 minutes)

Christmas Tree Drink Dispenser

Ornament Cup with Straw

Red Cake Stand

Christmas Wine Glasses

Bar Cart

Christmas Punch Recipe

Ingredients

2 Bottles of Sparkling Wine (Sparkling Brut)

1 Bottle of Sprite (I used 2 Liter Sprite Zero)

1 Container of Raspberry Sherbet (I used 4-6 scoops)

2 Cups of Cranberries

Directions

1.)  Mix all ingredients together and serve chilled

Baked Brie Bites

Ingredients

1 Can of Crescent Dough (You can use the rolls or sheet)

1 Wedge of Brie Cheese

1 Jar of Fig Spread (You can use any flavor, Sour Cherry, Cranberries, Honey, etc.)

1/4 Cup of Pecans Chopped

Directions

1.) Preheat oven to 350 Degrees

2.) Grease a mini muffin tin

3.)  Cut crescent dough into squares and place in muffin tins

4.)  Chop Brie into squares and place in muffin tin on top of crescent dough

5.)  Top Brie with fig spread and chopped pecans

6.) Bake at 350 Degrees for 10 minutes

Holiday Charcuterie Board

Christmas Potpourri

Potpourri Recipe

Ingredients

1 Orange, Sliced

1 Cup Fresh Cranberries

2-3 Sprigs of Pine or Rosemary

1 Tablespoon Cloves

2-4 Cinnamon Sticks

Directions

*Slice orange and place in a medium saucepan with cranberries, pine, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and 2 cups of water

*Simmer mixture and turn heat to low.  Your house will then smell amazing!

Baked Pineapple

This baked pineapple dish was one that my Mom made every Christmas and it always reminds me of her.  It goes perfectly with ham and is an easy side dish to whip up.

Ingredients

1 Can of Crushed Pineapple

2 Eggs, beaten

1/2 cup of Sugar

1 tsp. Cinnamon

2 TBSP Cornstarch

1 TBSP Butter, melted

Directions

1.) In a medium bowl add crushed Pineapple, Eggs, Sugar, Cornstarch, and Cinnamon.  Mix well until all ingredients are evenly mixed together

2.)  Pour into a baking dish

3.)  Drizzle melted butter on top and sprinkle with cinnamon

4.)  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes

Appetizers

Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients

2 packages of whole Mushrooms

1 package of Bob Evans Ground Sausage

4 oz. Cream Cheese

1 TBSP minced garlic

1 TBSP Parsley

1/4 cup of Parmesan Cheese

1/4 cup of Panko Bread Crumbs

Directions

1.)  Clean Mushrooms and remove stems (be careful not to break the mushroom).  Set mushrooms on baking sheet

2.)  In a skillet cook sausage until browned.  Add in garlic, cream cheese, and parsley.  Once cream cheese is melted remove from heat

3.)  Stir in Parmesan Cheese and Bread Crumbs

4.)  Divide sausage mixture evenly among mushrooms

5.)  Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until mushrooms are cooked through and the tops are golden brown.

6.)  Garnish with chopped Parsley and serve!

Baked Brie with Pecans

Ingredients

1 Package of Brie wrapped in Puff Pastry

1 cup of chopped Pecans

1/4 cup of Brown Sugar

1/4 cup of Maple Syrup

1 tsp Cinnamon

Directions

1.)  In a saucepan over medium heat stir together Brown Sugar, Maple Syrup, Cinnamon, and Pecans.  Stir until brown sugar is melted and all Pecans are evenly coated

2.)  Place Brie in the center of a baking dish and top with Pecans and syrup

3.)  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes

4.)  Serve immediately with crackers, bread, or cinnamon and sugar pita chips

**If you cannot find Brie already wrapped in puff pastry you can make your own.  Just buy a Brie wheel and puff pastry.  Wrap the brie in the puff pastry and baste with egg white

By now you know I love to put together fun and creative food and desserts for parties and holidays.  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner I made a dessert board that would be a great addition to your Galentine/Valentine’s Day parties!

All of the cookies were super easy to make and I added some of the kids favorite candy too!  This is your chance to be creative and design a fun platter of your own!

**The XoXo gummies are from Trader Joes and the heart gummies are Valentine’s Day Sour Patch Kids

**I also used the leftover vanilla chocolate to make chocolate covered pretzels

Strawberry Cookies

Ingredients

1 Box Strawberry Cake Mix

2 Eggs

1/2 Cup of Vegetable Oil

1 Bag of Ghirardelli Vanilla (or Chocolate) Melting Wafers

1 Container of Valentines Day Sprinkles

Directions

1.)  Mix Strawberry Cake Mix, Eggs, and Vegetable Oil together using mixer

2.)  Once mixed scoop dough into 1 inch round balls and place on baking sheet

3.)  Bake at 350 Degrees for 10-12 minutes

4.)  Remove from baking sheet and place on cooling rack

5.)  Melt vanilla wafers in microwave until smooth

6.)  Dip half of the cookie into the chocolate, place on cooling rack and add sprinkles

**You can also frost the cookies with Vanilla or Chocolate Frosting and add sprinkles

Cake Pops

Ingredients

1 Box of Funfetti Cake Mix (You can use chocolate or vanilla too)

1 Container of Vanilla Frosting

1 Bag of Ghirardelli Vanilla Melting Wafers

1 Container of Valentine’s Day Sprinkles

1 Bag of Baking Sticks (Or I used festive straws here)

Directions

1.)  Bake Funfetti Cake according to box in 9×13 baking pan

2.)  Once cake is cool crumble cake

3.)  Add 2-3 Tablespoons of Vanilla Frosting to cake crumbles, Mix together with handheld mixer

4.)  Roll into 1-2 inch balls

5.)  Melt vanilla wafers in microwave until smooth

6.)  Dip the end of the sticks into white chocolate and place into the center of the cake pop

7.  Place cake pops in fridge 30 minutes to allow the pops to harden

8.)  Dip cake pops into the white chocolate and add sprinkles

9.)  Let cake pops harden 20-30 minutes

Heart Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

1/2 Cup of Butter flavored Crisco

1/2 Cup of Peanut Butter

1/2 Cup of Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup of Sugar

1 Egg

2 Tablespoons Milk

1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 3/4 Cup of Flour

1 tsp. Baking Soda

Pinch of Salt

1 Bag of Reese’s Valentine’s Hearts (or Hershey Kisses)

Directions

1.)  Using a mixer cream together, Crisco, Peanut Butter, Sugar and Brown Sugar

2.)  Add in Egg, Milk, Vanilla, and mix together

3.)  In a separate bowl mix together Flour, Baking Soda, and Salt

4.)  Slowly add in dry ingredients to peanut butter mixture

5.)  Once combined roll into 1 inch balls

6.)  Roll cookie balls into sugar and place on baking sheet

7.)  Bake at 350 Degrees for 10-12 minutes

8.)  Remove from baking sheet and place onto cooling rack and gently press chocolate hearts into cookies

9.)  Let cool and harden for 30 minutes

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake Cups

Ingredients

1 8 oz. package of Cream Cheese, softened

1 15 oz. can of Pumpkin

1 package of Cheesecake Instant Pudding

1 can of Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 container of Cool Whip

3 Teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 Cup of Graham Cracker Crumbs (you can buy the pre-crushed or crush your own with food processor)

4 Tablespoons Butter, melted

2 Tablespoons Sugar

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

Directions

1.)  Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and brown sugar together.  Place in the bottom of individual cups

2.)  Using a hand mixer beat cream cheese until creamy.  Add pumpkin, pudding, pumpkin pie spice, and sweetened condensed milk.  Beat with mixer until all ingredients are combined

3.)  Gently fold Cool Whip into pumpkin mixture with spatula.  Mix by hand until combined

4.)  Spoon pumpkin mixture into cups.  Set in refrigerator for at least an hour to set

5.)  Garnish top with additional Cool Whip and pumpkin pie spice.  Keep in refrigerator until ready to serve