Christmas Party - Need Ideas and recipes what to make!!

Krystyna - posted on 11/17/2008

I try to do some prep work the day before like cutting veggies and putting in Zip loc bags. That way, the day of I just grab what I need for the actual cooking.

I also make my meat marinade the day before, so its ready to pour over the meat the next morning or afternoon.

Instead of rice, couscous is sooooo quick and easy. It literally takes 5 minutes prep. Just boil some chicken broth and pour in the couscous. Cover it with a lid and voila...in 5 min you have fluffy couscous. You could obviously add whatever you like to it, but as a side dish, its a great alternative to pasta, potoates or rice.

I also like that Costco has a variety of delicious jarred marinated olives, roasted peppers, antipasto... From the sound of your menu, you are doing Italian style foods. An antipasto platter would be a great addition...olives, roasted peppers, sun dried tomatoes. artichoke hears, spicy pepperoni. All you have to do is open a jar.

Another of my favorites is fresh tomatoes with fresh mozzarella. Just sprinkle with some fresh chopped basil before serving and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.

Good luck.

Ann - posted on 11/17/2008

I always do phello dough and you can fill with anything you like we do feta chesse and steamed vegs we like asparagus just chop veggies coarsely and sprikle cheese over to taste

Amy - posted on 11/17/2008

Here is a pretty easy potato dish, and it is very tasty too.



PEPPER JACK POTATOES



*6 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced in 1/4 inch slices

* 1 medium onion, sliced

* 1/3 cup butter, melted

* 1/2 tsp salt

* 1/4 tsp chili powder

* 1/8 tsp pepper

* 2 1/2 cups shredded pepperjack cheese, divided





Preheat oven to 400 degrees



In a large bowl, combine potatoes and onions.

Combine the melted butter and seasonings and drizzle over the potatoes. Toss to coat. Place half in a greased 13x9 dish and sprinkle with half the cheese. Top with the remaining potates.

Cover and bake for 45-50 minutes, uncover and sprinkle remaining cheese. Bake for 5 more minutes or until cheese melts.





Hope you like this one, my mom makes it. It is different and very good.

Renee - posted on 11/17/2008

Thank you so much for all of the recipes!!! I really appreciate it.

Lisa - posted on 11/16/2008

The appetizer idea reminded me of our family tradition cheese ball.



1 block cream cheese

1 jar Kraft Old English cheese

1 jar Kraft Blue Roca cheese

chopped nuts



Mix the cheeses together so that you can still see the colors swirled together, form a ball and roll in the nuts. Everyone RAVES about this and it could not be easier!

Valerie - posted on 11/14/2008

Here's a good appetizer idea, it's so easy to make and people RAVE about it even though it's so simple! Mix some cream cheese with a little worchestershire sauce, lemon juice and onion. Spread it on a round serving dish. Top with bottled coctail sauce. Top that with immitation crab mean and baby shrimp (or you can cut up bigger shrimp.) Then top it off with something green, parsley is what I use but I have also used dried basil and that's good too. So easy!!

Natalie - posted on 11/14/2008

I love to cook and post the recipes for what I cook every night of the week on my blog, I cook for a lot of parties too, last night was my sisters baby shower, hobblecreekkitchen.blogspot.com

Rachelle - posted on 11/14/2008

if you don't already have an bread dish. I make every year for my family garlic cheese bread with asparagus on top. Everyone loves it and it looks fancy and is easy. You just buy the garlic cheese bread from the store bake it according to directions and at the last few minutes put a couple pieces of cooked aspargus on top. Delicious and different.

Lisa - posted on 11/14/2008

Lil smokies and bbq sauce in a crockpot is always a favorite for my family around the holidays and kids love them too. I use open pit hickory bbq sauce but you can use your favorite.

Elaine - posted on 11/14/2008

Have you thought about using a crock pot? You could do a nice beef roast with little potatoes and baby carrots and a little onion for flavoring.. just throw it all in the crock pot, with a little water in the bottom and it will be ready when you are!

Or you could always do meatballs and keep them warm in the crock with a sauce.

Another one I like to do is potato lasagna. You cook lasagna noodles, then make mashed potatoes and dress them up with sauteed onions, and cheese (any kind you like) and then just layer the potato mixture with the noodles ...like you are making a lasagna. top with some cheese and bake. it is wonderful!

Renee - posted on 11/13/2008

I love snickers bars!! I think I might make that for Thanksgiving.

Thanks for the recipe!!

Tracie - posted on 11/13/2008

Easy Snickers Cake
Step 1. Cook 1 boxed Devil's Food Cake as directed
Step 2. As soon as you pull it out of the oven, use a toothpick to punch holes all over the cake
Step 3. Pour 1 bottle of caramel ice cream topping over hot cake
Step 3. After cooling, top with 1 large container of cool whip and sprinkle 2 large chopped snickers bars over the top (you could substitute any candy bar)

Renee - posted on 11/13/2008

That sounds sinful!! But like you said its Christmas time and that only comes once a year. Thanks for the recipe. I will let you know how it comes out.

Tina - posted on 11/12/2008

For a luxurious pudding... try chocolate torte!... quick easy but not too kind on the waistline.. but hey Christmas is only once a year.

For the biscuit base..
110g / 4oz self raising flour
28g / 1oz cocoa powder
56g / 2oz caster sugar
110g / 4oz unsalted butter

Mix together between fingers to make breadcrumb mixture
Press into a 8" baking tin with the back of a metal spoon.
Bake at 200C / Gas Mark 5 ....for 10 minutes. It will be soft when it comes out of the oven but that is fine...Cool in Freezer for 10-15 minutes

For the topping...
200g Plain Chocolate (70-75%) or Belgian Cooking Chocolate
2tbsp Golden Syrup
300ml Whipping Cream (double cream can be used just as well)

Melt chocolate in a bowl over boiling water gently. (do not overheat)
Add golden syrup. Leave to cool slightly.
Whip the Cream until it forms peaks
Fold the chocolate into the cream until well mixed.
Pour evenly over chocolate biscuit base.
Freeze for one hour..
Serve and enjoy.

Renee - posted on 11/11/2008

That sounds so delicious. I am going to try to make that. Thank you so much and it sounds easy to make.

Brieanna - posted on 11/11/2008

One of my FAVORITE holiday sides is "Twice-Baked Potatoe Casserole"



6 medium potatoes, peeled 1 c. sour cream

8 oz cream cheese, cubed 2/3 c. milk

2 T. butter 1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar

1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

cheese 1/4 c. real bacon bits

salt & pepper (optional)



Take baked potatoes peel and cut into cubes; if you don't have baked potatoes peel potatoes, cut into cubes and boil til slightly tender. Put cubed potatoes into bowl with the above ingredients holding back 1/2 c. of each cheese. Mix all together, salt and pepper. Pour into buttered 9 x 13 casserole dish. Sprinkle the rest of both cheeses on the top. Bake uncovered 350 degrees until cheese melts and it's slightly golden brown on top.



It is a must at our home. Enjoy!

Renee - posted on 11/10/2008

Anyone have any recipes that they make for christmas or parties?

Renee - posted on 11/09/2008

Thanks Angela for the recipe!!

Shelly we are having about 30 people and its going to be a buffet style. I am definitely making the chicken oreganato. But I was thinking about also making a shrimp scampi with angel hair pasta, Fettuccine in a cream sauce with prosciutto and peas, Skinny Italian sausage with potatoes and onions. For side dishes I was thinking about corn, yellow rice (like a Spanish rice), Caesar salad. I just don't know if that would be enough side dishes? I am just stressing out because this is not just a Christmas party it is like Christmas eve just a few days before.I am just looking for easy recipes that taste great because I will be cooking this all that day and all by myself. Last year was the first time we had a Christmas party and it was a lot of work so I am just trying to simplify the menu. Last year I made Spanish pork roast, Yellow Spanish Rice, Clams in a White sauce over linguine, roasted potatoes, chicken oreganato, Mac and cheese for the kids, Caesar Salad and another veggie that I just can't remember. I am looking for less prep time. I wish all the dishes would be as easy to make as the chicken oreganato. I would appreciate any recipes that you might have that you know go over well at parties. I just want everyone to enjoy!

Angela - posted on 11/09/2008

we usually make a simple pasta salad ... 500g pasta spirals cook and drain . 2 rashes of bacon (diced and cooked till crispy ) 1/4 each red and green capsicum 1/2 an onion put all these in a bowl and mix in some french dressing serve cold if its a little dry add more dressing it goes a long way and tastes great with salads or bbq

Shelly - posted on 11/09/2008

how many people are you having? Is it a sit down or stand around party??