CHEERS TO A NEW YEAR: DAY 5!!

Wassail Bowl Punch

Ingredients

• 4 cups hot brewed tea
• 4 cups cranberry juice
• 4 cups unsweetened apple juice
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup lemon juice
• 3 cinnamon sticks (3 inches)
• 12 whole cloves

Directions

• In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the first six ingredients. Place the cinnamon sticks and cloves on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with string to form a bag. Add to slow cooker.
• Cover and cook on high for 1 hour or until punch begins to boil. Discard spice bag. Serve warm. Yield: 3-1/2 quarts.

Hot Bacon Cheese Spread

Ingredients

• 1 unsliced round loaf (1 pound) Italian bread
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
• 1 garlic clove, minced

Directions

• Cut top fourth off loaf of bread; carefully hollow out bottom, leaving a 1-in. shell. Cube removed bread and set aside. Combine the remaining ingredients; spoon into bread bowl. Replace top. Place on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until heated through. Serve with reserved bread cubes. Yield: 2 cups.

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CHEERS TO A NEW YEAR: DAY 4

Cranberry Mimosa

Strawberries are going to be very expensive this time of year...

I would replace the strawberry with a few fresh cranberries floating

in the drink or even make a small skewer stick of cranberries to place in the cocktail.

Ingredients:

1/2 ounce orange liqueur
Champagne ($3.98 at Paul's Market)

Cranberry Juice (FREE at Albertsons

1 small strawberry, halved, garnish or fresh cranberries

Directions:

• In a champagne flute. Place orange liqueur in bottom of glass
• Fill glass half way with Champagne
• Fill to the top with cranberry juice. 
• Garnish with strawberry or cranberries, if desired.

Ultimate Party Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 14-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce
1 12-ounce bottle Heinz® Chili Sauce
1 2-pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs

Directions:

Combine sauces in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Add meatballs. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.

Makes 30 appetizer servings.

Slow cooker Preparation: Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Combine sauces and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH.

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CHEERS TO A NEW YEAR: DAY 3

Coffee & Cream Martini

I am soo making this martini!

I made homemade Kahula & I can't wait to use it!

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons coarse sugar
• 1 teaspoon finely ground coffee
• Ice cubes
• 1-1/2 ounces vodka
• 1-1/2 ounces Kahlua
• 1-1/2 ounces Irish cream liqueur
• Chocolate syrup, optional

Directions

• Sprinkle sugar and coffee on a plate. Moisten the rim of a cocktail glass with water; hold glass upside down and dip rim into sugar mixture.
• Fill a mixing glass or tumbler three-fourths full with ice. Add the vodka, Kahlua and liqueur; stir until condensation forms on outside of glass.
• Drizzle chocolate syrup on the inside of prepared martini glass if desired. Strain vodka mixture into glass; serve immediately. Yield: 1 serving.

Bacon Water Chestnut Wraps

Here is a great salty appetizer to help balance that sweet Martini!

• 10 Servings
• Prep: 20 min. Bake: 30 min.

203050

Ingredients

• 1 pound bacon strips
• 2 cans (8 ounces each) whole water chestnuts, drained
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup chili sauce

Directions

• Cut bacon strips in half. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until almost crisp; drain. Wrap each bacon piece around a water chestnut and secure with a toothpick. Place in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish.
• In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mayonnaise and chili sauce; pour over water chestnuts. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Yield: about 2-1/2 dozen.

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CHEERS TO A NEW YEAR: DAY 1

HOSTING A NEW YEARS PARTY? 

MAYBE ATTENDING ONE?

FOR THE NEXT 5 DAYS I WILL POST A GREAT

PARTY DRINK & APPETIZER THAT WILL PAIR WONDERFULLY TOGETHER

& COMPLETE ANY NEW YEAR PARTY!

Mulled Merlot

9 Servings

Prep: 10 min. Cook: 1 hour

10 60 70

Directions

• Place cinnamon sticks and cloves on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with string to form a bag.
• In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine the wine, sugar, orange juice, brandy and orange slices. Add spice bag. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour or until heated through. Discard spice bag and orange slices. Serve warm. Yield: 9 servings.

Layered Blue Cheese Spread

Ingredients

• 4 cinnamon sticks (3 inches)
• 4 whole cloves
• 2 bottles (750 milliliters each) merlot
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup brandy
• 1 medium orange, thinly sliced

32 Servings

Prep/Total Time: 25 min.

25 25

Directions

• On a serving plate, spread two packages of cream cheese into an 8-in. circle. In a small bowl, combine the blue cheese, 1/4 cup sour cream, parsley, cilantro, chives and pepper until blended. Spread over cream cheese layer to within 1/2 in. of the edges.
• In a small bowl, beat remaining cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Spread over blue cheese layer to within 1 in. of the edges. Sprinkle with walnuts just before serving. Serve with breads or crackers. Yield: 4 cups.

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Ingredients

• 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened, divided
• 1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled blue cheese
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sour cream, divided
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon minced chives
• 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• Assorted breads or crackers