Here's a picture of my table setting from my jewelry party...so at least you have an idea of what it all looks like:
Feta Bruschetta
This is my own recipe, for once. I had seen a lot of bruschetta recipes that just weren't quite what I wanted, so I created my own with all my favorite parts of a whole bunch of different recipes. It was really good and has been made 3 or 4 more times since Christmas by my family.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 c. butter, melted
- 1/4 c. + 3 T. extra virgin olive oil
- Baguette, sliced relatively thin
- 2-3 oz. Crumbled Feta
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 T. fresh basil, minced
- 6-8 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
Directions:
Mix tomatoes, basil, feta, garlic, and 3 T. olive oil together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving. Mix butter and olive oil together in a small bowl. Brush sliced bread with butter/olive oil mixture, and put on a baking sheet in the oven under the broiler until toasted.
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Cranberry-Jalapeno Dip
This is a Pinterest specialty, and it's delicious. The original recipe is at Jamie Cooks it Up if you're interested in checking it out. It's super duper easy too, which is a plus :)
Ingredients:
1 - 12 oz. package fresh cranberries
1/4 c. green onions, chopped
1/4 c. cilantro, chopped (I usually use less than this cuz I'm not a huge cilantro fan)
1 small jalapeno, seeded and minced
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. cumin
2 T. lemon juice
Dash of salt
2 - 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
Directions:
Chop up cranberries in food processor or mini processor. Combine all ingredients except cream cheese in bowl, and store in refrigerator for at least 4 hours (this is important...it brings out the sweetness in the cranberries as the sugar starts to break them down). When ready to serve, spread cream cheese mixture on a plate and spread cranberry mixture on top of cream cheese. Serve with crackers.
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Union Square Bar Nuts
We made these for a bridal shower a few years ago, and they've been a go-to ever since. I gave out little tins of them for Christmas presents a couple of years ago too. Yum. They're originally from the book Nigella Bites, by Nigella Lawson. Also, quick and easy :)
Ingredients:
18 oz. lightly salted assorted nuts (I like to use the Emerald ones)
2 T. coarsely chopped rosemary
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 tsp. brown sugar (dark or light is fine...I usually use dark)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 T. butter, melted
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread nuts on baking sheet and toast in the oven till light golden brown...about 8-10 minutes. In large bowl, combine rosemary, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, salt, and melted butter. Thoroughly toss nuts in spiced butter. Serve warm or let cool before storing in a lidded container.
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White Sugar Cookies
I, personally, think these are the best cookies in existence. My friend gave me the recipe last year, and I've made them a bunch of times for holiday parties, etc. since. The recipe should make about 4 dozen, and from my experience, they don't last long. lol :) They're really easy to make, nearly impossibe to mess up, and absolutely NOT diet food.
Ingredients:
Cookies
- 1 c. white sugar
- 1 c. powdered sugar
- 1 c. oil
- 2 sticks margarine
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups flour
Frosting
- 1 stick margarine
- 1 lb. powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. butter flavoring
- 3 T milk (to desired consistency)
Directions:
Cookies - Mix all ingredients and bake 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies.
Frosting - Mix all ingredients till smooth. Spread over cooled cookies.
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And that's all for tonight...I'll save pumpkin squares and wassail for another day :)
