I wanted to share some new ideas and tips I've come across for hosting a holiday party this Christmas. I am hosting two different parties this year at my house, which I'm really excited about since I really love being a hostess and cooking/baking special things for everyone. I definitely needed to do some research since I wanted to do something that everyone would remember and love. I'm not set on anything at this point, but here's some neat ideas that I might try or that's just noteworthy.
These look so good! And seem pretty easy to make. I'm sure guests would love these and they would look so beautiful displayed on a table for them to just grab up.
Chocolate Pretzels by Robin Miller- Food NetworkDifficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
User Rating: 5 of 5 stars
2 bags chocolate chips (dark or milk chocolate)
1 bag pretzels (logs work well for this, but you can try any of the medium to thick variety of twists)
Chopped nuts, for garnish, optional
Colored nonpareils, for garnish, optional
Sprinkles, for garnish, optional
Coconut, for garnish, optional
Crushed cookies, for garnish, optional
Melt chocolate in double boiler over medium heat on stove top. Using tongs, or your fingers, quickly dip pretzels in chocolate allowing the excess to run off. Place dipped pretzels on waxed paper lined cookie sheets. Sprinkle with chopped nuts, colored sugars or other toppings. Allow to harden. You may need to refrigerate for a while to help this along. Once hardened, remove from sheets and store in a cool location, with waxed paper between layers.
Tip: Package pretzels in clear cellophane bags or in vase for festive gift giving!
Ingrid Hoffmann- from Food Network tells us this cute idea.
I make cookie labels which can hang on a tree, be a place card setting or even a name tag on a gift. Cut cookie dough into label shapes, bake, and when cooled, write the guest's or gift recipient's name on it with icing.
I doubt many of us have a label shaped cookie cutter, but we could improvise by using a knife to cut out the design ourselves.
A personal recipe that is always a big hit is Banana Nut Bread. I'll be making loaves to send home with my guests wrapped in holiday saran wrap and tied with pretty ribbons.
Serves: 12 slices
1 3/4 cups All Purpose Four
3 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup White Sugar (or for a lower calorie alternative use Splenda)
1/3 cup Butter, softened (or used I Can't Believe It's Not Butter)
2 Eggs
1 cup mashed Banana
1/2 cup chopped Walnuts
Grease an 8x4 inch loaf pan. Preheat oven to 350. In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Add butter, eggs, nuts, and mashed banana. Beat until well blended. Pour batter into pan.
Bake at 350 for 1 hr. 15 mins.
It's done when a toothpick is inserted in the center and comes out clean.
From the December issue of Kraft Food & Family Magazine there are some cute decorating ideas. It says that for a lovely last minute centerpiece put two different sizes of pretty ball ornaments in a vase or crystal bowl.
And you can make your own gift wrap with craft paper and rubber stamps. A quick and easy idea for scrapbookers to put a personal touch on gifts. Or, let the gift inspire the wrapping: for
baked goods, use tea towels and fasten with raffia. You could use Christmas themed tea towels as an inexpensive touch. They are available at Dollar General for only $1.00!
baked goods, use tea towels and fasten with raffia. You could use Christmas themed tea towels as an inexpensive touch. They are available at Dollar General for only $1.00!You can sign up for the free magazine at Kraft Foods. They have alot of great recipes and tips. I've made quite a few great dishes from them and they're always a hit with the family and guests.
And with a husband and father who are brownie fanatics, this is a great holiday touch.
Prep Time: 15 min
Total Time: 50 min
Makes: 1-1/2 dozen brownies or 18 servings, 1 brownie each
4 squares BAKER'S Unsweetened Baking Chocolate
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine
2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
1 cup coarsely chopped PLANTERS Pecans, (I would say this is optional)
1 tsp. powdered sugar
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwavable bowl on HIGH 2 minutes or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in granulated sugar. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour and pecans; mix well. Spread into greased foil-lined 13x9-inch baking pan.
BAKE 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not over bake.) Cool in pan.
CUT brownie in pan into 18 decorative shapes with 1-1/2 inch star-shaped or holiday cookie cutters. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Reserve the trimmings for snacking or another use.
Happy Holiday Hostess-ing!
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