Food ideas for Xmas get-together
 

This year, our family has decided to have a get-together on Xmas Eve, 7-9 p.m..... first time for doing it.
I am hosting this year. Instead of a big meal, I plan to have just hot and cold appetizers and beverages,........ many family members will be attending other functions later in the evening.
I would appreciate ideas on quick and easy appetizers. I want to have most of the preparations done beforehand so that I can enjoy spending time with family.

I know some of you are used to doing this but hosting this is a first-time thing for me.
Looking forward to your suggestions/tips.
Thank you.

Meatballs in the crockpot are always a hit at my house. Pre made frozen meatballs & any number of recipes for sauce like the grape jelly/chili sauce one. Warm spinach dip, cheeseball- I love having things done ahead of time too.

Keep It Simple .. so you don't spend the time fussing.
You'll enjoy it more, as will others.

How many people you are expecting, will determine how broad and vast a menu you will need.

For any hots, use your crockpot(s) to keep things warm.

A cheese tray is always popular ... four cheeses is all you need.
1. a basic favourite, such as cheddar
2. something more pungent, such as blue cheese
3. something creamy and spreadable, such as an herbed cream cheese
4. something conversational, such as chocolate cheese, or a wine cheese, or maple cheese, etc.
Put each out in its block form and let them cut their own, small or large, as they choose. In reality, you will discover less will be used. Plus it will not dry out as much, as would with small pieces. Besides, what do you do with a bunch of leftover dried up pieces! Bonus ... less prep work for you! :D

Then have 3 or 4 different cracker/bread types.

Chicken wings and a hot nacho dip with tortilla chips are always a favorite at my house.

Tortilla Roll-Ups.....the ingredient possibilities are endless.....spread flour tortillas with cream cheese, top with green chilies, or green onions, ham, etc. etc. and roll up. Slice for serving. Easy to make ahead too.

-Li'l Smokie sausages in barbecue sauce in a crock pot with tooth picks for serving (Super easy)
-Hot artichoke dip in a bread bowl with break cubes and crackers
-Pickle tray with all sorts of pickles and olives
-Asparagus rolled up with ham and a mustard dipping sauce

Red Lobster style biscuits

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/330/Red_Lobster_Biscuits14007.shtml

mini crescent pigs in a blanket

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/min...e-23b677a161ac

pizza pinwheels with crescents

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/piz...2-85b70215807a

for some tasty items that work at room temp as well as being warm

NEIMAN MARCUS DIP

Love this!!

Ingredients
1/4 cup sliced almonds
4 slices real bacon, cooked,crumbled and cooled
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 green onion, sliced thinly
1/2 cup mayonnaise ( not Miracle whip...mayo!!)
salt


Directions
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Spread almonds on a cookie sheet and toast for 10 minutes.
Let cool.
Combine all ingredients until well mixed.
Serve with crackers or apple slices.

OMG!!!!

Fondue is coming back. Use a smaller crockpot with melted chocolate and lots of things to dip. I use strawberries, bananas, cut up angel food cake, simple vanilla cookies, etc.

I enjoy doing a Brie cheese appy….Buy the wheel, slice in half cross the wheel, fill with (I use) bing cherry preserves (not quite to the edge of the cheese) wrap in Crescent dinner roll pastry and bake following directions for timing.
With a bit of the pastry, you can make a design for the top…It is quite festive when sliced into and the preserves show…...

I always try to have something sweet, something salty, and something healthy. For sweet, make bar cookies or homemade candy. They can be done in advance. Salty...bread and cheese things, homemade cheese sticks (another make ahead) sausage/cheese/biscuit mix balls. For healthy fruit or cut up vegetables. I serve a punch made with frozen cranberry juice reconstituted with a lemon-lime beverage or champagne ( if you want alcohol). The red is really pretty at Christmas. Have fun with it

Ham Rollups-take a slice of prepackaged ham-dry with paper toweling-spread cream cheese to edge-put a dry slice of pickle down the middle-roll up into a tube-refrigerate for 2 hours, then slice into pinwheels and put on plate for serving-you can make some plain and some with pickles-all are pretty as an appetizer

I just remembered a cold app. That I used to make that leant some thing not-so-rich to the buffet. Use a round platter and shape a wreath on it out of broccoli florets. Scatter other green veggies on it like pea pods and strips of green pepper. Use a red pepper and cherry tomatoes on the wreath to add some color. You can even fashion a bow out of red pepper pieces to the bottom of the wreath. Place a bowl of dip in the center, any kind. Can be assembled early in the day, covered with Saran and chilled. Very festive, easy and do-ahead! HTH. Enjoy!

Don't forget to make some Chex party mix, too! Our family get-togethers just don't seem complete without party mix.

Deviled eggs, they can be done ahead, most people love em!

I have the most wonderful dip recipe and I will get it off the frige and bring it tomorrow

Seven layer dip, Cream cheese block with Raspberry/chipotle sauce over it and topped with fresh raspberries, Orange chicken from Costco's - spear each piece with a pretzel stick, mini quiches from Sam's, are just a few off the top of my head.

I used an electric skillet on low and had cheese sticks with marinara sauce, everyone loved them.

Don't forget the homemade banana pudding and a miracle whip chocolate cake with your offerings. Always a big hit with my big informal gatherings.
If people are dropping in during the whole night, I make pretty ICED meat, vegetable and fruit trays. Really great sandwich rolls and cookies and candy dishes filled to the brim! I put out pickle, olive and relish dishes and a couple great potato salad or macaroni salad dishes. Don't forget the decorations like a beautiful fresh bouquet of roses or carnations that smell up the place and fancy paper plates and napkins (if informal) or the good stuff if formal. Put something outside at the front door to welcome everyone like a decorated sled or ski's. People will be impressed before they step into the house. Remember to put the serving tongs, forks and spoons in each dish. Then set up a drinks area with tea, sodas , ice, coffee, creamer, sugar, alcohol, glasses, cups and spoons. Much of this can be set up the day before.

Make yourself a list of to do things and a list for shopping. Lots of these items can come from the deli or great bakery in your neighborhood. Who will know if you put them out onto your pretty platters? Check it off as you go and remember to slow down during the party and smile. Be dressed at least an hour ahead of the party. Greet each person as they arrive and try to mingle with them all. A good hostess is organized enough to enjoy her own party. Put on some great music soft in the background. It sets the mood. Take pictures so you can sit back and remember your first hostess experience.

I know you can have a good time and look like a pro. Just get organized and go for it.

One of our family's simplest, and favorite, finger foods is Crab Dip. Couldn't be easier.

8 oz. cream cheese (regular or low-fat/neuftachel type)
1 bottle shrimp cocktail sauce
1 can canned crab
Crackers

Spread the cream cheese in a thin layer onto a plate (about 10-12 inches or so). Spread with enough cocktail sauce to cover lightly. Open crab, drain any liquid, and sprinkle over the sauce. That's it! Easy peasy. We like it with Ritz or Wheat Thins, but goes great with any crackers.

wow, great ideas, thank you for sharing

We are trying this at Thanksgiving

Cream Cheese Sausage Balls with Creamy Mustard Dipping Sauce~~

"Ingredients:
1 lb. SAUSAGE, uncooked (you can use regular or hot)
8 oz. CREAM CHEESE, softened
1 1/4 cups BISQUICK BAKING MIX( or low carb bake mix)
4 oz. CHEDDAR CHEESE, SHREDDED

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°.

Mix all ingredients until well combined. Roll into 1 inch balls.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

You can make these ahead and refrigerate until needed. Or also freeze until ready to use, you will need to add a few minutes to the baking time.

Dipping Sauce:
1/2 cup MAYO
1/2 cup SOUR CREAM
2 Tablespoons DIJON MUSTARD
1 Tablespoon WHITE WINE VINEGAR
2-6 drops HOT SAUCE
1 medium GARLIC CLOVE, crushed

Combine all ingredients. Chill until serving."

I found this recipe @ Texas Recipes's photo.

I've made these and they are wonderful!
Don't forget the children.
Make peanut butter sandwiches and cut them up in fours and pig in the blankets. They will love it.

A veggie pizza. Take crescent rolls pressed together flat and bake on a cookie sheet. Mix cream cheese with dill and spread on top of the crescent rolls. Chop up your favorite veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, black olives and spread on top with grated cheese. Cut into slices.

Okay,,,,, I'm getting hungry reading all this yummy's !!

I make my own meatballs. One year I had to come up with a quick appetizer to take to work. I use icecream scoops to make my meatballs. I didn't have but 1 1/2 #s of ground beef. I had a frozen pizza dough in the fridge. Made my meatballs (I also add sausage w/o sage (allergies). Put all the meatballs (using small scoop; tsp works fine) on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. In the oven for about 20 mins at 350. Rolled out the pizza dough and used cookie cutter. I did sprinkle the dough with grated the dryer parmesan grated cheese. After the meatballs were done, I tossed them into pizza sauce. Then place one meatball on cookie size pizza dough, folded over and pinched the edges. You can either put into the oven for about 10 minutes and reheat later or heat up before the party. Sprinkle with more cheese before serving. This can be made a day or two ahead of time also.

So many ideas. I do veg pizza, fruit pizza, Lefse, chex Mix, 7 layer salad, apple cider w/red hots in it - you can serve this hot or cold. I also Use a mix from tastefully Simple - Beer Bread Mix (recipe is on box then serve with a dip. really good. They say you can use soda instead of beer but it is not as good and I am not a beer drinker and can not taste the beer. Do a cheese, sausage and cracker plate.

It's a dip using ham to use with what ever kind of crackers.

1 1/2 cups finely chopped ham, 2 tbsp. dijon mustard, 1 tbsp. pickle relish, 1/2 cup finely chopped peanuts

grapes coated in herbed cream cheese and rolled in diced almond slices.. shrimp and cocktail sauce endlessly easy and always inhaled. going crazy make a cream cheese mixed with a bit of worchestershire sauce 2 tsps. , diced green onions, garlic powder.. make a ball coat it with bay shrimp the tiny ones and then pour red cocktail sauce over and serve with crackers..

bacon wrapped waterchestnuts (have recipe its incredibly simple) and then there are.. oh go with what you like to smunch on.. and be happy and they will be well loved I think. go to pinterest for appetizers you will find tons.

What wonderful idea. Thanks everyone for sharing.

This thread makes me wish I was having a party! Thanks for all the ideas.

There are some good looking recipes, thanks for sharing.

I make lean ground turkey meatballs, then dip in an oriental sauce (teriyaki, tempura, or whatever is on hand). Bake on a cookie sheet and serve. Very good warm or cool, freezes well for a quickie meal or add into chicken broth with scallions. I rarely cook so multi-use foods work best for me.

Thank you.
My mouth started to water while reading some of those recipes!
I will try some of the easier ones.
Thanks everyone...you are the best!

Thanks for posting recipes!

We do a sausage /cheese dip made in a crock pot, it makes a big batch and everyone loves it.Also a cheese/egg /jalapeno quiche that is really good served hot or cold. Crab/cream cheese stuffed mushrooms. Bisquick/sausage/cheese balls. Country ham on either small biscuits or small dinner rolls.Cold shrimp and cocktail sauce. Wine, beer,soda and iced tea and lots of cookies, bars and candy.Christmas Eve is our family night , opening presents and sharing lots of love and laughter. On Christmas Day everyone is scattered about,but, those who can will come for a big breakfast. I'll share recipes .

I do a make ahead smoked salmon and cream cheese spread. I mince a small package of smoked salmon and mix it with either chopped chives or green onions and a regular size package of softened cream cheese. I serve it with some nice crackers. My friends and family love this easy treat.

I cheat ..... I buy the ready made smoked salmon cream cheese. :D
No doubt no where near as good as yours .... now you have me drooling!

My crowd loves these and they are so fast to make and look great on a tray. I make them as much as 2 days ahead. Just slide your tray into a ziplock bag, put in frig, and you're good to go. Sour, sweet and salty all rolled up in one.

1 package cubed sharp cheddar cheese
1 package of fresh pineapple spears (cut into chunks)
1 jar of large green stuffed olives, drained

I buy the fancy little plastic picks at Dollar Tree(the ones with hearts on the top). Thread onto each pick-

1 cheese cube, 1 pineapple chunk, 1 olive

I never have a single one left over!

Thanks to everyone for the great ideas.