Easy Recipes for Festive Occasions

Our family has had the privilege to have a great circle of friends that allows us to try out new recipes. We alternate between homes and need very little reason to invent a festive occasion to get together. One of our favorite get-togethers is game night. We have a set time, 7:00 p.m., and everyone brings one appetizer to share. Each time we try out a new appetizer and a new drink.

One of the most popular appetizers and the easiest to make is Lavash. We first tasted Lavash in an Armenian restaurant, but you can find it in many fashionable restaurants. Most grocery stores carry the bread or cracker for this recipe. They usually are sold in a paper container with three pizza size crackers. The hardest part of this recipe is getting the cracker home without breaking it! Add to this the great Danish cheese, havarti and you have all it takes for a low carb, high protein, whole grain appetizer. Another great reason to make this for any festive occasion, no leftovers. About half an hour before you eat, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Wet a kitchen towel well and wring it out. Place the crackers on a pizza pan or stone and lay the wet kitchen towel over the top. The cracker will become limp, at that point, place thin slices of the havarti on top with a circular pattern. There are many different flavors of havarti, so choose the one you prefer. Place in the oven for 10 minutes, or less. Just until the cheese begins to melt, then serve. The cracker is crunchy and the cheese tastes nutty.

Another very easy recipe was discovered by my daughter-in-law and we love it. This recipe is great for any type of festive occasion. I have taken her recipe and modified it, just to make it quicker to assemble. Imagine cream cheese and cranberries with a kick. Purchase two bricks of cream cheese and one can of cranberry relish, with the cranberries. You will also need a few red pepper flakes and some sugar. Simmer the entire can of relish in a pot with ? cup of sugar and ? tsp. of red pepper flakes and the juice of one lemon. Allow this to cool completely while the cream cheese is coming up to room temperature. Put the cream cheese in a pretty dish, and using a slotted spoon, scoop the cranberries onto the cream cheese. Use two butter knives to slice the cream cheese and the cranberries slightly, but do not mix completely. Arrange a variety of your favorite crackers and you have invented a reason for your next festive occasion.

One of our favorites we stole from a restaurant in Arizona. The restaurant called it Monkey Bites. Check in the clearance section of the meat department for any inexpensive cuts of beef. Cut them into one inch chunks and marinate in teriyaki sauce overnight, if you can. You will also need sesame seeds and the long wooden skewer sticks. We usually provide about 10 pieces of beef per person, depends on the appetite. The best part of this is that each guest cooks their own monkey bite. Each person puts a bite of beef on the skewer, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. We lay out the skewers that have been soaking in water, for at least an hour. We provide a large variety of dipping vegetables and several dips. My husband likes the cooking best. He lights the portable patio heater. There are a variety of heaters available, from propane to charcoal. Then, each person cooks one monkey bite at a time, while sitting around the warm flame. This way each person can cook their monkey bite just the way they want it.

A beautiful dish to serve at a festive occasion is an angel food cake, with a twist. It is nice to be able to serve something that looks as good as it tastes. Purchase a large container of strawberries or any berry you prefer, a store bought angel food cake, two cans of whipped cream. Now, if you want to save some calories, switch to Cool Whip. You will also need a jar of jam to match the berry you purchased. Warm the jam or preserves in a small pan. Cut the angel food cake in half, horizontally. Slowly spoon the warm jam over the bottom layer of cake, let it cool slightly. Don't worry if the jam rolls over the side, it only makes it prettier. Place a layer of sliced strawberries on top of the jam. Handle gently and place the remaining cake on top of the strawberries. Pour the remaining jam on top, layer more strawberries and spray liberally with whipped cream.
Save one strawberry to garnish the top of the whipped cream.

This recipe is an ole stand-by, a chili cheese dip. Just walking in and smelling all that spice puts one into a festive mood. This couldn't be simpler. One small log of spicy Velveeta cheese, one small jar of your favorite salsa and one can of chili. Warm all of the ingredients in a dutch oven or a fondue pot. We serve with corn chips or Fritos.

What could be better than caramel and apples? This is a great combination of both. You will need one brick of cream cheese at room temperature, ? cup of dark brown sugar and one tsp. vanilla. Stir them well and serve with sliced apples. The cream cheese tastes exactly like caramel, but with a lot less sugar and additives. Please remember this usually goes quickly, so you may need another batch.

The last recipe is one of my daughter's. She is a working Mom and has little time to waste cooking for festive occasions. This recipe is a hit at the company potluck or for family and friends. One whole chicken, cut into pieces along with ? diced onion. Combine with ? diced bell pepper and one can diced, stewed tomatoes and one jar of spaghetti sauce. All of the above simmer in a crock pot for at least 4-6 hours. This can be served all by itself, or with your favorite side of buttered noodles or rice. What a simple recipe for your next festive occasion.

Hope you enjoy these perfect, simple recipes at your next party or festivity.

By Brenda Gibson