It seems like we are all pressed for time around the holidays with shopping, family activities, office parties, and social gatherings. If you are planning a party this year my best advice is to choose a few items to make from scratch and purchase the remainder pre-prepped ? like vegetable trays, deli platters and spiral-cut hams. When selecting items you want to make yourself, try to choose simple preparations that won’t stress you out. Here are a few of my favorite simple, yet elegant, holiday hors d’?uvres.
Baked Potato Bites with Blue Cheese, Walnuts and Honey
Buy the smallest baby red skin potatoes you can find. Cut them in half. You can scoop out a little of the center with a melon baller, but it’s not really necessary. Toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper and place them on a cookie sheet cut-side down. Roast them in a 400ºF oven for 15 minutes or until soft. Turn cut-side up and top with blue cheese crumbles and walnut pieces. Pop them back in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes to melt the cheese slightly. Simply drizzle the potatoes with a touch of honey and serve.
Salmon “Mousse” on Endive Spoons
Combine 8 oz of smoked salmon cream cheese with 8 oz of plain whipped cream cheese. Blend thoroughly. Add salt and lemon pepper to taste. Spoon the mixture into a quart size freezer bag. Snip off one of the bottom corners of the bag ? about a ¼ inch opening is perfect. Use the bag to pipe the mixture onto Belgian Endive leaves. (If your local grocer doesn’t carry endive, use a water cracker instead.) Top with some lemon zest and a sprig of fresh dill.
Brie Brûlée
Cut the top off of a wheel of brie. Sprinkle the bottom layer with your favorite dried fruit and nuts. I like dried cranberries and pecan pieces or diced dried apricots and slivered almonds. Place the top of the wheel back onto the bottom layer. Bake in a 350ºF oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until the brie begins to melt slightly. Remove from the oven and sprinkle generously with brown sugar. Using a kitchen torch, brown the sugar until it bubbles and caramelizes. If you don’t have a kitchen torch, place the wheel of cheese under the broiler of your oven for a couple minutes. (Keep a close eye on it under the broiler so that the sugar doesn’t burn.) Cool slightly then carefully transfer the brie to a cake plate or serving platter. Surround the beautiful caramelized cheese with grape clusters and crackers. This dish will be the perfect centerpiece for your holiday buffet!
What are some of your favorite fast and fabulous holiday hors d’?uvres?
These recipes sound great. I love my spinach/veggie dip and hot artichoke spinach dip but what is this "warm bacon blue cheese dip"? Sounds fabulous.
Ginger8051 - The brie with sauteed mushrooms sounds fantastic. The Marsala adds a caramel sweetness that would be delicious with brie. Great idea! - Erin
I also love brie and use it a lot in recipes. I have made a baked brie with medley of mushrooms that were sauteed in butter/garlic/touch of marsala put on top of the brie wrapped in puff pastry and baked. If you like a real earthy brie it is wonderful.
The brie sounds delicious. I have a new brie baker and am anxious to try this recipe.
Wow, all of these sound wonderful, it is so nice to learn great recipes that are easy and cost effective! Thanks for sharing all the good tips! Will try some of them for the ladies church socials.
These sound good! I love to try and make something new every Christmas.
I love brie and this recipe seems like a must try!
Oh my! I am going to make this for Christmas. Sounds wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the potato idea! I will definitely be making that year round.
Always love new ideas. They all sound great!
Love this. I was looking for some new ideas and so happy to find them!!
I love baked brie in pastry and also love all kinds of dips and spreads. Always like spinach dip and warm bacon blue cheese dip which is served with granny smith apples...it is life changing!
All of these recipes sound scrumptious! I host a Christmas/Birthday party every year (my poor husband was born on Dec.22). I love trying new recipes and will definitely try one or more of these. This year I will probably have appetizers only. Each year I try to do something different. I have had sit down dinners, heavy h'orderves, you name it and I have tried it. This year I am trying to make things a little more simple. Thanks for some ideas!
Wow! The Baked Potato Bites with Blue Cheese, Walnuts, and Honey = AWESOME! I tried them and love them. Thanks so much for the ideas! Please keep adding blogs and sharing your ideas!
Defenitely going to try the Brie recipe - sounds devine!