From the Christmas hustle and bustle of trying to remember what gifts to purchase for who, getting your decorations up around your home, and hosting or attending Christmas eve parties, there is always one little thing that may slip your mind. Who would ever think that food would be something that could be forgotten, but something as small as appetizers may be the last thing on your to-do list. Here are a few recipes that you can whip together in a flash. You may have to brave the crowd of last-minute grocery shoppers, but these are better than plain old cheddar cheese and crackers.
Sweet & Savory Spiced Nuts
3 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon cumin
Pinch of cloves
¾ teaspoon salt
1 egg white
4 cups nuts (mix of pecans, walnuts and blanched hazelnuts)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a sheet pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, spices and salt. Set it aside. In a large bowl, whisk the egg white until it’s frothy. Stir in the nuts. Add your spice mix. Toss it around to coat. Spread in a single layer on your prepared cookie sheet. Bake it for about 20 minutes, stirring once or twice until it’s dry and toasted. Loosen it from the pan and let it cool completely.
Sausage Balls
1 pound bulk sausage (hot or mild — we like hot)
4 cups cheddar cheese grated (sharp or mild — we like sharp)
3 cups Bisquick mix
Bring the sausage to room temperature and combine them with the cheese and bisquick. If the mixture is too dry to handle, add a teaspoon of water. Shape it into balls the size of walnuts. Bake them on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
White Chocolate Snack Mix
1 pound white chocolate
3 cups Rice Chex
3 cups Corn Chex
3 cups Cheerios
2 cups pretzels
2 cups dry roasted peanuts
12 ounces pack of M&M’s
Melt the white chocolate slowly in a double boiler. Stir the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Pour the chocolate over the dry ingredients and stir it over to coat. Spread it on wax paper to cool, and break it into small chunks.
What is your favorite Christmas Eve appetizer?
Photo credit: Thinkstock
