HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
Celebrate Christmas or the holidays with a Winter Wonderland party. Make your home warm and inviting with candles, twinkling lights, sizzling drinks and a scrumptious food buffet. This terrific Winter Wonderland dinner buffet party works for crowds large or small. It's ideal for an open house evening gathering starting at 7PM. Casual mixing, mingling and jingling with food and drinks promise a warm and festive party mood! Good luck making your Winter Wonderland party memorable. Check out my Globe-Trotting Drinks and Desserts ideas to make your entertaining edibles look great.
Ingredients
- 3 slices country white bread, crusts removed
- 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
- 1 cup Hellmann's ® or Best Foods ® Real Mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic
Steps
- In medium bowl, soak bread in warm water for 2 minutes. Squeeze bread and discard excess water; set aside.
- In food processor or blender, process almonds until finely ground. Add bread and remaining ingredients and process until smooth. Chill, if desired, and serve with pita bread or your favorite dippers.
Preparation Time: 5-5 Minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1/2 cup Hellmann's ® or Best Foods ® Real Mayonnaise
- 1 cup crumbled blue cheese (about 4 oz.)
- 1/2 cup toasted finely chopped pecans
Steps
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, combine all ingredients.
- In 3-cup casserole, spoon cheese mixture. Bake 20 minutes or until golden.
Ingredients
- 6 to 8 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
- 3 tbs olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely chopped shallots, (about 2)
- 1 cup Arborio or Carnaroli rice
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 4 to 6 tbs unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for grating or shaving
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Steps
- Heat stock in saucepan over medium heat; keep at a low simmer. Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots to oil, and cook, stirring, until translucent.
- Add rice, and cook, stirring, until rice begins to make a clicking sound like glass beads, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add wine to rice mixture. Cook, stirring, until wine is absorbed by rice.
- Using a ladle, add 3/4 cup hot stock to rice. Using a wooden spoon, stir rice constantly, at a moderate speed. When rice mixture is just thick enough to leave a clear wake behind the spoon,add another 3/4 cup stock. Continue adding stock 3/4 cup at a time and stirring constantly until rice is mostly translucent but still opaque in the center.
- Rice should be al dente but not crunchy. As rice nears doneness, watch carefully and add smaller amounts of liquid to make sure it does not overcook.
- The final mixture should be thick enough that grains of rice are suspended in liquid the consistency of heavy cream. It will thicken slightly when removed from heat.
- Remove from heat. Stir in butter, Parmesan cheese, and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Divide the mixture among four shallow bowls, mounding risotto in the center, and grate or shave additional Parmesan over risotto. Serve immediately.
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (or 6 oz Grand Marnier)
- 2 packages (12 ounces each) premier white morsels
Steps
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine cream and butter. Bring mixture to a simmer, whisking. Remove pan from heat.
- Add white morsels then stir in vanilla extract.
- Stir mixture until melted and smooth.
- Transfer to a fondue pot or ceramic bowl. Serve with dippers.
Ingredients
- Fresh fruits - bananas, strawberries, grapes, tangerines, pears, apples, raspberries. Fresh fruit should be ripe but still firm enough to not dissolve while dipping.
- Dried fruit - apricots, dates, figs
- Cakes or cookies - Bite sized pieces of angel food cake, pound cake, lady fingers or crisp biscotti
- Nut Breads - Nut breads can be served toasted or fresh.
Steps
- Cut into bite sized pieces.
- Try date nut bread, cinnamon bread, persimmon pumpkin or zucchini breads.
Ingredients
- 3 parts vodka
- 1 part crème de menthe
Steps
- Fill a shaker with ice, then add ingredients. Shake, strain into martini glasses, then garnish with a mini candy cane or white chocolate swizzle stick.
Ingredients
- 1 oz Hpnotiq Liqueur
- 4 oz Champagne
Steps
- To a chilled champagne flute, add liqueur and champagne. Garnish with a peppermint stick or fresh raspberry.
Ingredients
- 1 Shot Vodka
- 1/2 Shot Disaronno ® Amaretto
- 1/2 Shot Kahlua ® coffee liqueur
- 2 Shots Cream
- 1 Scoop Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Steps
- In a blender, blend all ingredients with a cup of crushed ice. Serve in a chilled martini glass and garnish with a fresh mint sprig.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Create an inviting and sophisticated room in winter white with dazzling silver accents. Silver candles, placemats and turquoise accents add drama to even the plainest white plates and serving bowls. A vase of stunning white lillies adds the finishing touch.
The room will shimmer with twinkle lights wrapped in white tulle and draped over a window frame or seats like soft, snowy curtains. Tie back the tulle with a snowflake ornament or white satin ribbon. Fill clear hurricane vases with sparkling silver stone beads and martini glasses with luxury sugarcoated silver-chocolate almonds. Sprinkle votive candles around the room to create a soft light.
The room will shimmer with twinkle lights wrapped in white tulle and draped over a window frame or seats like soft, snowy curtains. Tie back the tulle with a snowflake ornament or white satin ribbon. Fill clear hurricane vases with sparkling silver stone beads and martini glasses with luxury sugarcoated silver-chocolate almonds. Sprinkle votive candles around the room to create a soft light.
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