Speaking of Christmas - Let's Talk Food

[mtatum4496]

Anybody have some new and different ideas for finger foods? I usually have the cocktail weiners in the bbq sauce, sausage balls, cut fruits and vegies, cucumber sandwiches, dips, chips, assorted sweets and candies, etc.

I've developed a taste for hummus this year, so I will have that too.

If you've got a recipe for something a little out of the box, I would love to give it a try.

[scott snedeker]

Gazpacho! :cool:



Ingredients:

1 red onion diced :'(
3 ripe tomatoes diced :mad:
1 cucumber diced :rolleyes: :D
1 green pepper diced :D
1 yellow pepper diced (for color) :)
4 cloves of garlic grated (use small holes on a cheese grater)
1 jar of pimentos
2 cans of tomato paste
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp cilantro, oregano,
1/2 tsp majoram
1/2 tsp celery seed
2 tsp of Badia adobo
1/4 tsp anise
1 bag cheese herb croutons
sour cream
tobasco:eek:
Directions:


Add 2 cans tomato paste, vinegar, olive oil, seasonings to a large 4 quart bowl.
Add all vegetables.
Add water to 1/2 inch below lip of bowl.
Carelessly mix until tomato paste is evenly mixed throughout and the counter completely covered.
Hot it up with tobasco to taste
Cover with an air-tight seal and refrigerate overnight.
(You can eat it after just 1 hour but it is better to wait)
Serve with coutons on top with a dollop of sour cream for a refreshing and healthy meal!


scotty:cowboy:

[tdogg]

Only if you like salami - get the sliced variety, cream cheese and Bruno wax peppers (Nippy is best but a bit spicy for those who prefer mild). Spread some cream cheese in the salami, put a piece of pepper inside and roll up, then secure with a toothpick. Simple but normally quite popular wherever I bring it.

Another simple one - a block of cream cheese, covered in cocktail sauce and salad shrimp with crackers. Always popular and way too easy.

I have a recipe for some excellent seafood dip/spread involving crab and/or shrimp, cream cheese, tomato soup and green onions (and a few other ingredients). I can post that if it's something that might appeal. When I have a little more time.

[mtatum4496]

Gazpacho! :cool:

<snipped for length>

Serve with coutons on top with a dollop of sour cream for a refreshing and healthy meal!


scotty:cowboy:

Scotty, thanks a bunch for this one. I have a few recipes for gazpacho, but none that include apple cider vinegar - which I use religiously as an additive in my bottled water and such. I will definitely try this one out.

[mtatum4496]

Only if you like salami - get the sliced variety, cream cheese and Bruno wax peppers (Nippy is best but a bit spicy for those who prefer mild). Spread some cream cheese in the salami, put a piece of pepper inside and roll up, then secure with a toothpick. Simple but normally quite popular wherever I bring it.

Another simple one - a block of cream cheese, covered in cocktail sauce and salad shrimp with crackers. Always popular and way too easy.

I have a recipe for some excellent seafood dip/spread involving crab and/or shrimp, cream cheese, tomato soup and green onions (and a few other ingredients). I can post that if it's something that might appeal. When I have a little more time.

I love salami, so this one will be perfect for me. Thanks!

On the seafood dip - I could really use that recipe. A dear friend of mine loves shrimp and crab, and he has been working extra hard lately - a batch of this sounds like it would be just right to help him relax a little.

[tdogg]

Seafood Dip

2 - 8 oz packages of cream cheese
3/4 can condensed tomato soup
1 cup mayo
5 green onions, sliced thinly
crab/shrimp
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup water

Mix and cook all ingredients in sauce pan over medium heat EXCEPT GELATIN AND WATER. When mixed and dissolved into a somewhat liquid form, mix gelatin and cold water, then pour into sauce pan and mix all ingredients again. turn off heat, pour into a mold (or tupperware bowl with lid works too). Refrigerate until firm (best overnight). Enjoy with crackers.

[mtatum4496]

Seafood Dip

2 - 8 oz packages of cream cheese
3/4 can condensed tomato soup
1 cup mayo
5 green onions, sliced thinly
crab/shrimp
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup water

Mix and cook all ingredients in sauce pan over medium heat EXCEPT GELATIN AND WATER. When mixed and dissolved into a somewhat liquid form, mix gelatin and cold water, then pour into sauce pan and mix all ingredients again. turn off heat, pour into a mold (or tupperware bowl with lid works too). Refrigerate until firm (best overnight). Enjoy with crackers.


Thanks, tdogg!

If I use crab, should I use fresh or frozen, or would the canned crab meat work?

[Pablo Rafael]

Our family is generally a simple "chips and salsa" group. You never can go wrong with that.

Something fancier that is super fast and easy is made from rolled up flour tortillas, usually made with cream cheese though I suppose you could use something else. The cream cheese keeps everything stuck together.

You take flour tortillas and spread them with soft cream cheese. Then add what you want on top of that layer. I have seen them with a layer of dill or a layer or chopped cucumbers. They are good with parmesan cheese, basil and garlic on the cream cheese to make sort of a pesto. (Adding something like pastrami sounds good on the Italian ones, though I haven't tried it.) Also good is to add a layer of finely chopped walnuts and cinnamon and sugar for a sweet version. I don't eat bacon, but I think bacon bits would be good.

Then roll the tortilla up in a cylinder and cut into about 1 inch pieces. Put the pieces cut end up so that they make little spirals. Stick toothpicks in so they won't unroll.

I don't know what they are called (does anybody else?). I suppose you could put almost anything in them.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[tdogg]

Fresh crab is best but canned would work. Ideally you would get some king crab legs & pull out the meat. There is also the crab in pouches, forget the brand name tho.

Pablo, I just call them tortilla roll ups - there are so many varieties, they are easy and delicious! And, chips, salsa and guac is my absolute favorite.

[scott snedeker]

Now I'm hungry!

Scotty:cowboy:

[Sokrates]

Some swedish foods we have at christmas.

Knäckebröd or as someone translated it to "Crispbread":
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Knaeckebroed.jpg/300px-Knaeckebroed.jpg

Kroppkakor:
http://www.livsmedelssverige.org/tema/mat_fest/oland/kroppkakor.jpg

Lussekatt: (More of a snack afterwards, wich we drink with "Glögg" wich is instead of your eggnog.)
http://www.icakuriren.se/img/recept/bilder/ik4902lussekatt.jpg

Glögg:
http://www.dlc.fi/~marianna/gourmet/pic/glogg.jpg

Janssons Frestelse:
http://www.sweden.se/upload/Sweden_se/english/Theme%20sites/Culinary%20classics/Jansson's_temptation.gif

That about does it for now. *Smiles*

//Christian :D

[Vanessa White]

I have a couple of ideas that I have had recently:

Our cafeteria here at our University has a pretty far out menu sometimes, and on the salad bar, they spice up hummus by doing a roasted pepper hummus. I think all they do is mix roasted red peppers that have gone through the food processor in with regular hummus recipe. Nice variation and tastes delicious! Also, I went to a friend's home recently, and similar to what Tdogg offered with cream cheese, this friend put a block of cream cheese on a plate, and covered it with jalapeno jelly from gourmet supermarket, and just served it with crackers. It was delicious.

Happy eating! Great thread, and now I want to throw a party with all of these foods!!!!! :) :)

[tdogg]

I wish we could all get together for a holiday party Vanessa!!!

How are you doing by the way? What are your plans for the holidays?

[Vanessa White]

Thanks for asking!!! I am actually doing okay, better than okay. I am out on my own about two months now, settled in, our daughter seems adjusted to the visitation schedule, and we are more civilized with one another lately as well, my ex and I. Thanksgiving our daughter spent with my ex and her family, and I spent with a close friend and her family, and really enjoyed it. On Christmas, the details are not quite set yet, but think we will be sharing time on Christmas Eve and Day both, plus my family members are coming in from FLA and VA, so I will be surrounded in love. How are things with you? Maybe, someday, we can all meet up, at least some of us, and throw a massive bash!!! :love: :love:

[mtatum4496]

Everybody, I am about to go out of town, so time is limited. But I wanted to pop in and thank everyone for all the wonderful ideas and recipes! I should have some big fun in the kitchen over the next few weeks.

[marutidas]

My aunt Goldie, doesn't prepare the usual christmas feast, its all Mexican Food, Tacos, enchiladas, burritoes, And a spicy spanish stew. ITS SO GOOD.
and my Nana, makes some of thee best lasagnia, and pecan pies.

Unfortuantly I don't know the recipes, sorry.

Does anyone have some good vegetarian Tamale recipes?

Dont over do it, with the food, or you will be to lethargic to open your presents.

[tdogg]

My beloved grandmother who passed on quite a few years ago always cooked an awesome, delicious traditional Thanksgiving dinner - turkey and ALL the fixin's. And, she never failed to include a large pan of lasagne. I was too young and involved to think about asking her why at the time. My partner is Filipina, and along with the all the traditional dishes we have pancit (noodles, vegies and meat) and biko (rice, coconut milk and brown sugar). I love mixing it up! Oh, and Mexican dishes sound perfect for Christmas, but at my partner's house it will be ham/turkey, etc. and probably some ethnic choices as well.

I'm also an appetizer person - I could make a dinner out of various appetizers. Best to open presents BEFORE dinner!!! Or wait until the food has settled... :D

[nmwolfboy]

Okay, now you've all got me really hungry!

The tortilla roll-ups are great, everyone usually loves them, and they're so easy to make. The trick is to make sure to use some really flavorful ingredients, otherwise they can be a bit bland. Spice 'em up!

It's become a holiday tradition for me to include some soul food in the holiday meal. At Thanksgiving a big pot of collard greens & kale was my contribution to the communal feast we attended.

Don't know what we'll be doing for Christmas, but you can be sure that i'll cook up something. Sweet potato pie? Homemade mac-n-cheese? More greens? Corn bread? Hmmmm. Of course, we'll definitely also have a ham and some enchiladas, red chile, frijoles. Maybe a flan. Those i can make. The tamales i'll buy - that's just too much work.

Oh, my stomach's grumbling now!!!!!

[Jaroslaw99]

Hope I'm not too late for new recipe ideas.

I had this at a vegan potluck but you can use regular ingredients as well.

Wonderful Salsa/Bean/olive/green onion DIP

8 oz sour cream, at room temperature or you can't spread it.

In an 8 x 8 Brownie pan, spread one can refried beans at the bottom. They are usually the right consistency right out of the can. Sometimes, if too thick stir in a bit of water.

Next layer, salsa to your taste (hot, mild) next a layer of sliced, drained black olives. Next sliced green onions. Next layer, shredded cheese. The finale layer would be the sour cream, garnished with a few chopped green onions and olive slices. Refrigerate at least a few hours.

Serve with the tortilla chips shaped like little bowls.


Grandma's quick and healthy roll up

Get Spinach Lawash (not pita bread) or your favorite lawash. Spread with your favorite type of Hommous, then with Taboulli. Roll up per directions on the back of the Lawash package like a jelly roll. Slice into 1/2 inch slices, secure with a toothpick if necessary.

Since you can buy all this and don't have to make anything from scratch, it is very quick.

Let me know if you like it.

[Deb833]

If you're making stuffing, make a little extra, throw some sausage (I usually use Jimmy Dean's) in, mix well, make little balls and bake in the oven til done. They are yummy.