Search Results for: blog cream cheese delights

Super Simple Cheese Snacks for Your Holiday Party

These aren’t your typical boring cheese and cracker snacks. Rather, the following super simple recipes (super simple because most can be made in three steps or less) are both eye and palate pleasing. The main ingredient is fresh cheese. If you live in a smaller town you might consider shopping at a specialty cheese store to get the fresh Brie needed for the following snacks. However, if you reside in a larger city you can get all the ingredients at Whole Foods or your favorite major grocery chain. JARLSBERG CHEESE SPREAD Ingredients: 2 cups Jarlsberg cheese, shredded 1 to 2 … Continue reading →

To Die For Christmas Treats

Have you ever had a dessert that you absolutely fell in love with? One that you dream of at night and placed on your list of foods to be included in your last meal on earth? That’s how I feel about the Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake I was served at a friend’s house last Christmas. The decadent dessert is to die for. Honestly, I would contemplate swimming in shark-invested waters if it meant that I would be rewarded with a slice of this incredibly rich cheesecake. I included the recipe below in case you want to impress your friends at your … Continue reading →

Bite-Sized Holiday Treats

Tis the season to be eating… and eating… and eating. I’ve been stuffing my mouth for the past week and Christmas is still five days away. Wherever you go during the holiday season, there’s usually some type of Christmas goodie to be devoured. Bite-sized treats are my favorite because you can sample a variety of recipes without feeling guilty. The following mini treats are among my holiday favorites: RASPBERRY BRIE BITES Ingredients: 4 ounces Brie 1/4 cup fresh or frozen raspberries 1/4 cup sliced almonds 12 phyllo cups Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash raspberries. Cut Brie into 12 … Continue reading →

Merry Christmas Breakfast Recipes

Christmas morning is not the time to be serving cold cereal and dry toast for breakfast. The special day deserves an extra special morning meal. However, it shouldn’t require you spending hours in the kitchen while the rest of the family enjoys playtime with their new gifts. So, what do you do? Consider whipping up the following simple, yet festively sweet breakfast recipes: ORANGE AND CRANBERRY CREME BRULEE FRENCH TOAST Ingredients: 2 tablespoons corn syrup 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 1 loaf Texas Toast 5 eggs 1 1/2 cups half and half 1 teaspoon vanilla … Continue reading →

Go Red This Christmas

Put a little color into your season’s eatings. Why settle for drab brown and white Christmas cookies when you can serve up festive red ones instead? The following yummy desserts are not only packed with flavor, but they also feature colors that will get you into the Christmas spirit in no time: EASY RED VELVET CUPCAKES Cupcake Ingredients: 3 large eggs 3/4 cup unsalted butter 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 2 1/4 cups sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 2 tablespoons red food coloring 1 1/2 cups buttermilk 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 … Continue reading →

Christmas Dinner: Surf and Turf

Not everyone is headed over the river and through the woods to spend Christmas with grandma, grandpa and 25 other relatives. Some clans actually spend time in their own homes, with their immediate family members celebrating the holiday minus parents, in-laws and second cousins. If you are one of the millions of families who has decided to go at it alone this holiday season you might be interested in the following festive recipes. They are spectacularly decadent and prove that you don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant or to another person’s home to enjoy a mouthwatering holiday meal. … Continue reading →

Quick and Easy Holiday Appetizers

If you are hosting a holiday party there’s no reason to make it harder on yourself by making dozens of elaborate dishes. These quick and easy appetizers are just as mouthwatering as fancier munchies. What’s more, they can be made in advance and kept in the refrigerator until party time. Happy snacking and happy holidays! ITALIAN CHEESE AND PESTO PARTY TORTE Ingredients: 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced 10 slices Provolone cheese 8 ounces pesto 3 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, chopped fine Fresh basil leaves, for garnish Directions: Mix cream cheese and garlic; … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Christmas Feast

What are you serving for Christmas dinner? With such an auspicious occasion to celebrate you might consider giving Chef Boyardee a break for the night and instead whip up the following festive dishes for your family. It’s a fancy meal fit for a king, but you won’t have to spend all day in the kitchen preparing it. SHRIMP WITH HOMEMADE COCKTAIL SAUCE Ingredients: 32 to 40 medium to large cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails intact Cocktail sauce (recipe below) 1 fresh lemon, sliced Parsley sprigs for garnish Directions: Spoon cocktail sauce into martini glasses. Place 8 to 10 … Continue reading →

Recipes for Your Christmas Breakfast Buffet

If you are a hosting a house full of family members for Christmas, then you are likely spending this week putting the final touches on your holiday menu. While most of us fret over what to serve for Christmas dinner, there are some of us (me) who dwell on what to serve the morning after Santa visits. Cold cereal and dry toast won’t cut it on Christmas morning, but you don’t want to chain yourself to the stove either. After all, who wants to be slaving away in the kitchen while the rest of the family is enjoying their new … Continue reading →

More Easy and Affordable Snacks for Your Holiday Party

Ground beef is one of the most affordable meats in the market, which is why you don’t need to wait for it to go on sale before you buy. If you are entertaining for the holidays ground beef should be at the top of your shopping list. Not only is it a budget-saver, but it’s also extremely versatile as seen in the following simple yet delicious party dishes I like to make this time of year: GROUND BEEF STUFFED JALAPENO PEPPERS Ingredients: 8 ounces ground beef 1/2 cup finely chopped white onion 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup drained canned diced … Continue reading →