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| Before Dinner Extra's - Keeping a Hungry Crowd Happy |
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by Brenda Hyde Each time I have had a crowd of people over for the holidays they walk in starving. It doesn't matter what time they arrive or how close dinner is. I have found that giving them special extras to munch on really helps to give me some time in the kitchen without people asking where the meal is every five minutes. Somehow, they end up eating just as much at dinner despite snacking! Here are some recipes that you can serve before your holiday meal. Spicy Shrimp Spread Ingredients: 1/2 pound frozen salad shrimp 1 fresh jalapeno, halved and seeded 1 medium clove garlic, peeled 8 ounces cream cheese 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 1/8 tsp. salt pinch of sugar Put jalapeno and garlic in food processor, blender or mince very very fine. Add remaining ingredients except shrimp. Process until smooth. Add shrimp and just process until coarsely chopped. Can be refrigerated up to 2 days. I would serve this with thin crackers, bagel chips or pita crisps. Poppy Seed Bread Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 cup butter or margarine 3 eggs 1 1/2 tsp. almond extract 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 3 cups flour 1 1/2 cups milk 1 tablespoon poppy seeds 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 1/2 tsp. salt Preheat 350 degree oven. Combine sugar, butter, eggs, and extracts. Mix on medium speed, scrape bowl often until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Beat 1-2 minutes more until mixed. Pour into bundt or tube pan. Bake 50-65 minutes until done. Cool 10 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Slice into medium thin pieces and place on serving plate for guests. Cheese Dip I got this recipe from my Mother-in-Law years ago. It started out as a cheese ball and along the way became a dip for everything! You can serve with pretzels, crackers, bagel or pita chips. It tastes good with everything! Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese 1 jar Roca cheese spread from Kraft 1 jar Old English spread from Kraft Dash garlic powder Mix it all together; the cheese should be soft to do this. Be sure to take out of the refrigerator so it can be room temperature to serve. Pistachio Bread This is another family recipe. A holiday doesn't go by that one of us doesn't make this! Ingredients: 1 yellow cake mix 1 box instant pistachio pudding 1/4 cup oil 1/2 pint sour cream 4 eggs 1/4 cup water Mix all ingredients with a mixer until blended. In another bowl mix these ingredients: 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup crushed walnuts or pecans 1 tsp. cinnamon This makes two loaves. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter pans. Start with a layer of the bread mixture, then sprinkle on the nut mixture, another layer of bread mixture, and at the end sprinkle the top with the nut mixture and marble it all with a knife through the batter. This does not have to be exact as far as the layers as long as you distribute it in both loaves and then marble. Bake for one hour; or when toothpick comes clean. |
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About the Author: Brenda is a wife, and mom to three living in Michigan. She is editor of http://oldfashionedliving.com where you will find more herb and recipe features. |
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Create My Own Soup 
