How To Make The Holidays More Festive
A good host knows that preparation is key when it comes to organizing a successful party. With the upcoming holidays right around the corner, how prepared are you for your meal gameplan?
Yes, you already have in mind such main course favorites like turkey, ham, and steak; you've also commissioned a fantastic pastry chef for the desserts, but you can take your menu a step further by serving unexpected specialties. And the best part? These dishes sound intricate, but they're actually very EASY to do (That is, if you have the perfect tools with you!). Simple to prepare but festive to serve, these easy holiday menu add-ons will wow your guests while keeping kitchen prep to a minimum.
Tortilla Pinwheels
Start on the right note with an appetizer like Tortilla Pinwheels. From vegetables to cold cuts, there are endless ingredients you can stuff inside these bite-sized savory treats. Make it even more special by preparing your own tortilla wraps from scratch. Use your family favorite recipe for the tortilla batter and then have a reliable tortilla press do the work to create nice, evenly-cooked tortillas.
For this recipe, we'll use softened cream cheese, sour cream, and crumbled feta, all combined to form the spread. Spread the tortillas with a layer of that mixture and then top it with some thinly sliced green onions and dried cranberries, then a final layer of thinly sliced deli ham. Next, tightly roll up the tortillas and wrap them securely with plastic wrap. Refrigerate them for at least an hour; careful not to let it sit for long as it can become soggy. After the chilling time, slice and serve!
Olive Wreath Appetizers
This is another appetizer idea that can also serve as decor for the main table! You can never go wrong with olives--they're easy, they’re healthy, and they fit just about every diet out there. Of course, before serving them, make sure they're perfectly pitted. We know this can be tedious work, but good thing there are great olive pitter tools out there.
To get started, you'll be needing a large round tray that's about 12-16 inches big. Gather fresh herbs like rosemary, dill, thyme, sage, marjoram, oregano and bay, and lay them on the platter, forming a wreath. Next, get your favorite variants of olives and place them randomly, looking like ornaments of the wreath. Add in more "ornaments" like cheese, nuts, gherkins, capers, and whatever else you fancy. Red peppers are also great to add more color to the wreath.
By the way, while we're at the appetizer table, we've also found a great Cheeseboard Set you can also use to serve other knickknacks.
Gingerbread Churros
After a festive meal, it's time to gather around for a little holiday ritual. Exchange gifts, nice words, and well wishes with your guests, and let the spirit of the holidays put you in a really good mood. While at it, serve some comforting treats like candy cane-shaped churros partnered with thick hot chocolate. To make the churros, start with your favorite churro batter recipe. Place the batter on a churro maker and using this tool, slowly form candy cane shapes on a pre-heated oil for deep frying. Next, turn off the heat and let the churros cool a bit. Transfer them onto a plate with paper kitchen towel to get rid of the excess oil. Now to turn these homemade churros into gingerbread churros, you need to coat them in sugar that you have mixed with gingerbread spice mix.
Will you try any of these recipes? What other unexpected treats do you have in mind for the upcoming holidays?
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