Menu choice for 2004

[huffjoann]

I am putting together my menu and am wondering what is on everyone else's menu for this year. I usually get comliments on the food, but seem to be stuck in a rut this year.

So far I have thought of:
sweet & sour meatballs
Hot Crab dip
Chipolte dip & veggies
Brickle dip & apples
Buckeye balls candy
Parmesan rosemary pinwheels

This is not set in stone and I am really looking for things that can be done ahead and either quickly heated or something like that. HELP!

[sandy]

I am planning on making homemade chicken salad sandwiches and cutting them with christmas tree cookie cutters, meatballs, potato salad, spinach dip, a chipped beef cream cheese ball, a vegetable tray and chocolate cake with peanut butter glaze. Along with an assortment of beverages.

[Claudine]

I just had my annual xmas party with 138 people attending and the hot appetizer was gone within 1-2 hrs. So I've learned people prefer the hot finger food stuff over the cold stuff. So for my 1st cookie exchange I am doing alot of Pampered Chef recipes.
So far I think I'm having: mushroom puffs, a shrimp spread w/crackers, chicken salad tea sandwiches, cheesy bacon bites, bacon tomato cups, cheesy spinach pinwheels, and chicken wings. I also plan on having a hot cider with mulling spice and maybe/ probably a punch and a few other beverages. catering for 12 women is a piece of cake after having to feed 138 people(LOL)!!!

[huffjoann]

wow Claudine, you are really putting out a spread! All sounds fab, especially since I sell PC and love any of their recipes. The only item at my party that was completely eaten was those awesome parmesan rosemary pinwheels. So easy and so yummy! Ended up with leftovers of everything else.

[Carla]

Here's what I'm serving at my exchange on Friday:
Hot Artichoke Dip with Tortilla Chips
BBQ Chicken Bites
Sausage Balls
Tortilla Roll-Ups (like a sandwich, just rolled up in tortillas)

Fresh Fruit Platter
Chocolate Puffs (squares of baked puff pastry with a chocolate mousse filling layered in between)

Coffee Drinks
Cider
Soft Drinks

I think that's it! I'm hoping everyone enjoys themselves!

[Shawna Gasak]

My Menu for Sunday 12/12:

Petite Quiches--spinach and lorraine

Chicken Cranberry Salad Sandwiches (served in homemade puffs)

Cocktail Weiners wrapped in Puff Pastry

Scones w/ cream and jam

Strawberries w/ Cream and Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Decorative Sugar Cookies

Spiced Cider

Spiked Egg Nog

[Robin]

I've got a lot going on this week, so I am trying to keep it simple. Here's my tentative menu for this Sunday.

**Finger sandwiches**
Ham and cheese - Roast Beef - Egg Salad

**Cold Salads**
Carrot and Raisin Cole Slaw
Curried Rice Salad with almonds
Green Bean Salad

**Hot Hors d Oeuvres** (served in chafing dishes)
Mini Quiches -- Cocktail Weiners
Hot Beef Dip served w/ Mini Pumpernickle Slices

Vegetable Chips with Creamy Salsa

Pineapple Lime Dip served with Apples and Strawberries

**Dessert**
my own cookies from my family selection, which are different the the exchange cookies, and Baklava
Sodas, Hot Cider, Coffee, Wine

Notes: Re: Mini Quiches, I always serve these. One year I didn't and everyone asked where they were. For the cocktail weenies, I place a 'dip' of dijon mustard and ketchup mixed.

Two recipes I got from the Betty Crocker Appetizers booklet which is on sale right now at the counter of my grocery store and probably yours, too.
They are: Pineapple Lime Dip served with Apples and Strawberries and the Creamy Salsa that goes w/ veggie chips.

From Costo, which I still call Price Club:
The gourmet Veggie Chips, like potato chips, but colorful and made with all sorts of veggies.
The mini quiches and cocktail weiners, the baklava which is excellent, if you haven't tried it!

I've found not to over do the desserts, they are consistently the least popular foods at my exchanges. I think people are on sugar burn out, which is why no one ever requests to test the cookies.

The salads are all home made and the Rice salad is my very own made up recipe. It's delish. I'll post those later.

[Laura Pokas]

Last year I held my first and very successful exchange. We enjoyed an appetizer buffet before exchanging and then had the "samples" plus chocolate fondue for dessert.

Here are a few of appetizers that were a huge hit (be sure to have recipe cards on hand for any new/unique appetizers).

Feta Spinach Dip

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
4 oz. crumbled feta cheese
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sliced pitted ripe olives
1/4 cup chopped drained roasted red peppers

Preparation: Mix all ingredients until well blended; cover. Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.
Serve with assorted cut-up vegetables or pita bread wedges.


Chile 'n Cheese Appetizer Tart

1 (15-oz.) pkg. Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crusts
8 oz. (2 cups) shredded Cheddar/Monterey cheese
1 (4.5-oz.) can chopped Green Chiles, drained
1/4 tsp chili powder
1 cup salsa


Allow both crust pouches to stand at room temperature for 15 to 20 mins. Heat oven to 450f. Unfold one crust onto ungreased cookie sheet; press out fold lines. Sprinkle cheeses over crust to within 1/2 inch of edge; sprinkle with green chiles. Unfold remaining crust; remove plastic sheets and press out fold lines. Place over chiles. Seal edges with fork; generously prick top crust with fork. Sprinkle with chili powder.

Bake at 450 F. for 10 to 15 mins or until golden brown. Let stand 5 mins. Cut into wedges;serve with salsa.


Poinsettia Martinis
glasses, shaker - Equal parts, shake w/ ice. Pour & serve. vodka, cranberry juice, pineapple juice

There is nothing like networking to get new appetizer recipes! I love it!! Happy Holidays!!!

[SJayneW]

Here's my final (I think) menu for my exchange next Monday night (the 13th):

Tea Sandwiches:
Chicken Salad on toasted wheat
Cucumber salad on white
Turkey with Cranberry mustard on toasted wheat
Celery/Walnut salad on wheat
Ham with Apricot/Cream cheese spread on toasted white

Simple veggie tray

Homeade tortilla chips with creamy salsa

Assorted mini cheesecakes
Caramel
Chocolate
Peppermint
Cherry

Christmas Champagne Punch

Spiced Tea

**All of the sandwiches and the chips will be cut with cookie cutters.


So, what do you guys think? A friend told me it was too simple, and I needed something hot.

[Jeanine]

SJayneW:
i think your menu sounds fabulous!
you have a vast selection of sandwiches, so i don't think you need anything hot. if you did choose to do something hot, maybe try to do something simple like a hot dip for your homemade chips. i think it sounds great.