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Before Dinner Extra's - Keeping a Hungry Crowd Happy
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.
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.
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.
Create My Own Soup
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Finding a way to get vegetables into the mouths of kids is easy if they are part of the fun. Creating ways to
get kids to help with the preparation and the cooking of kids' recipes is part of the fun.