Food for Your Body, Mind, and Spirit

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Celebrate with a Party

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 It’s holiday time! Gather up your family and friends and have a party!

Forget about big, stuffy get-togethers and enjoy a fun party that everyone will love. Whether you make it a cocktail party, sports’ event, gamers’ evening, afternoon tea party, coffee klatch, or old-fashioned holiday party, keep it simple, traditional yet trendy, with a couple of “go-with” fun choices. If you are hosting a holiday party this year, feature a few easy-baked goodies, family favorites, and dinner-time surprises. To help you out, Jessie-Sierra Ross will reveal some effortless entertaining ideas from her new book “Seasons Around the Table.” Stay tuned as we present a joyful feast of recipes and ideas.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Holiday Cocktail Celebrations

Celebration Cheese Balls
Arrange your cheese balls in unusual patterns like a wreath or snowflake.

About the Recipe: Cocktail parties offer an opportunity to relax and enjoy talking to our guests, having some drinks, and munching some fun appetizers. This is a great way to meet some new neighbors, hear from our old friends, or just enjoy hearing some new ideas. This appetizer is one of my favorites because it’s easy to make, simple to serve, and offers different flavors. Everyone can enjoy their favorite. See what you can create using 25 cheese balls. Have fun!

Recipe Inspired by:  Cuisine at Home, Winter 2024, Issue No. 161 CusineAtHome.com

Cook’s Note: Create a small label so guests can identify each flavor.
Herb Medley, Pecan Thyme, Cranberry, Pistachio, and Parmesan.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Celebration Cheese Balls

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Cheer Your Favorite Team

Butter Crusted Deviled Ham ‘n Cheese Puffs
5 ingredient quick-to-make party snack.

Cheer Your Favorite Team

Southern Sweet ‘n Smoky Barbecue Chili
Give Your Chili a Nashville Twist.

About the Recipe:  Adding a touch of Nashville barbecue flavor.is pure magic! Then let beans and sweet potatoes join the spiced-up party with a touch of red wine. At the end, drizzle in some maple syrup for a spicy sweet taste. It’s a chili that’s perfectly spiced, a one pot wonder that makes everyone smile.

 Cook’s Note:  Make It Vegetarian: This recipe can also be prepared using plant-based ground beef and vegetarian broth. Another alternative is to prepare two pots of chili, one for vegetarians and the other for those who prefer meat.

Serve as desired with your favorite chili toppings. If you really like it hot, add a scoop of chili crisp.

Serves: about 4 bowls

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Southern Sweet ‘n Smoky Barbecue Chili

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jessie-Sierra Ross -Book Author

Food and lifestyle blogger Jessie-Sierra Ross aims to take the stress out of entertaining with her step-by-step instructions for each recipe and tablescape, freeing hosts to experience the joy of spending time together. Guests will marvel as they gather around tables adorned with garden-inspired fresh, seasonal blooms and colors before sitting down to enjoy a full menu infused with seasonally inspired ingredients.

16 stress-free menus (with recipes) and beautiful tablescapes, all with a focus on seasonal ingredients and flowers, for effortless seasonal and occasion entertaining, from popular food and lifestyle blogger Jessie-Sierra Ross.

For those who cherish gathering around a beautifully set table with family and friends any time of year, Seasons Around the Table offers 100 recipes over 16 streamlined and versatile menus from beverages to dessert, paired with lush tablescape ideas and visuals, for traditional celebrations throughout the year, like Mother’s Day Brunch, “Build a Bouquet” Baby Shower, and a Thanksgiving Feast, along with novel celebrations that can quickly become a host’s new favorite annual gathering tradition, like a Summer Solstice Garden Party and Fall Harvest.

The book is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other fine bookstores across the country

Jessie-Sierra Ross Interview

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 Oven- Roasted Turkey
with Fresh Herbs and Apples
It’s tradition, comfort, time with family and friends, and grateful for what we have.

About the Recipe: There are so many ways to cook a turkey, but if you want to have crisp skin, Jessie Ross suggests that you brine the bird and add a flavorful combination of fresh herbs. She also uses a high, constant temperature 400 degrees F. on convection mode. Serving a golden roasted turkey is always makes impressive holiday dinner.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Oven- Roasted Turkey

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sourdough Bread Stuffing
with Turkey Sausage and Cranberries

About the Recipe: What is the secret ingredient needed for a great stuffing? Believe it or not, it is the love that you put into it. Every family likes it made with the traditional ingredients like oysters, savor sausage, or even corn dressing. Jessie Ross shared her family dish which uses toasted sourdough, savory sausage, and tangy dried cranberries.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Sourdough Bread Stuffing

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Cranberry Aperol Spritz
Toast up the season with this Spritz drink.

About the Recipe: This easy-to-make recipe uses a simple syrup that adds a tart sweetness. Jesse Ross adds a bit of New England Style cranberry sauce to create sweet and tart notes. A few frozen cranberries, orange slices, or edible flowers dance in the prosecco bubbles, creating a festive drink that your guests will love.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Cranberry Aperol Spritz

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Level-Up for Game Day

Zucchini Stack-Ups
Round out your game plan with some zucchini hummus veggies.

About the Recipe: This recipe lets you make as many as you need to fill your plate. Since they can be chilled ahead, preparation is super easy. Hummus is quick to make in a food processor, and any leftovers go well with crackers, chips, or veggie sticks. A short marinate time adds just enough lemon flavor to blend all the flavors together.

pdf for Copy of Recipe -Zucchini Stack-Ups

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Level-Up for Game Day

Dealer’s Choice Baby BLTs
Hold ‘em in Your Hand; serve on lettuce lined plate.

About the Recipe: The world just loves bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes, and these little appetizers fill the bill with that flavor and keep the game going. If you have lots of patience, use the smaller cherry tomatoes but we used the larger sizes. Stuff them with bacon flavored filling and don’t forget the garnish, which adds that crisp bacon crunch and looks yummy. Serve on lettuce lined plate. 

Recipe Inspired by: Andy Lunique; The Ultimate Gamers Cookbook

Cook’s Note: Store bought cherry tomatoes come in different sizes. The larger ones are easier to work with but will need more filling. I found myself making a little more filling for the ones we served. If you want lettuce with them, line the serving dish with lettuce. Most guests will just eat the tomatoes. I love adding a sprinkle of pepper and touch of brown sugar for added flavor. Taste the filling and season as desired.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Dealer’s Choice Baby BLTs

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Level-Up for Game Day

Philadelphia Cheesesteak Hand Pies
Mini 2-bite meat pies are sure to please.

About the Recipe: These will be so welcomed by your hungry game players. They are a teasing taste of the popular Philadelphia cheesesteaks that people just love. Tender beef is twirled with green peppers and caramelized onions, smothered with onion flavored cream cheese filling, and topped with a touch of melting mozzarella. A must for any game party!

Recipe Inspired by: Andy Lunique; The Ultimate Gamers Cookbook.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Philadelphia Cheesesteak Hand Pies

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Level-Up for Game Day

Queen of Hearts Savory Spinach Tarts
No messy spinach artichoke dips – try these two-bite pop-in pies.

About the Recipe: Everyone loves spinach/artichoke dip served with chips. For game playing, serve an updated style of those flavors in crisp, petite shells. There’s no fuss and no muss; just great tasting nibbles.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Queen of Hearts Savory Spinach Tarts

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Have a High Tea or Coffee Get-Together

Crunchy Italian Biscotti
These cookies are dippers for tea, coffee, or even wine.

About the Recipe:  One taste takes you right to Italy. These cookies are crunchy but soft and not solidly hard like some recipes. They are perfect partners with wine, milk, coffee, or tea. Some people dip the ends of these in melted chocolate or their favorite lemon frosting. It’s fun to sprinkle some chopped nuts on them too. Great for cookie sharing or party snacks.

Recipe from: Ron Smoton from New Jersey.

Cook’s Notes: Dough might be a little sticky. Use knife to make straight sides on strips of dough. Grease and flour cookie sheets, use nonstick baking mats or parchment paper. Form the strips on cookie sheets for easy shaping. You can use 1-1/2 Tablespoons anise flavored liquor in place of anise extract and some of the brandy if desired. Do not overcook as the cookies will be too dry.

pdf for Copy of Recipe -Crunchy Italian Biscotti

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Have a High Tea or Coffee Get-Together

Slice & Bake Ice Cream Kolacky
Dough is ready in the refrigerator – bake only what you need.

About the Recipe: When Pope John Paul II was in Chicago, he tasted Eleanor Brasky’s homemade Kolacky pastries at their local parish and loved them. Traveling to Rome, Bishop Alfred Abramowicz, a resident Bishop at Five Holy Martyrs in Chicago, offered to take the baked Kolacky to Pope John Paul ll as a surprise when he traveled to the Papal Conclave of Cardinals and Bishops. Eleanor was so delighted that the Pope actually wanted her little Kolacky. What a magic moment for her! A double thrill was a thank you note from Pope John Paul II, thanking her for the delicious goodies. Wouldn’t it be fun to share this story with your friends?
Eleanor passed and would be so happy to be part of your celebration too.

Recipe from:  Eleanor Brasky – an old-fashioned Polish dessert cookie. Eleanor rolled out her dough and cut it into squares or circles.

Cook’s Note: I love the idea that I can bake only 1 dozen fancy pastry cookies and save the dough in the refrigerator until the next day. Also, regular confectioners’ sugar can be used for baking. The special non-melting confectioners’ sugar should only be used for sprinkling the tops of the cookies or cakes. I use Solo pastry filling that can be found on-line or at certain supermarkets.

Yield: about 2 to 3 dozen cookies depending on the size of the cookie.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Slice & Bake Ice Cream Kolacky

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Have a High Tea or Coffee Get-Together

Baklava Cookies
Snickerdoodle-like dough with a lightly spiced, honey sweetened nut.

About the Recipe: Imagine snickerdoodle dough wrapped around a honey rich, pistachio nut Baklava filling that can be made into a big cookie or 2-inch nibbler. Sparkling spiced sugar glistens over the top, almost yelling out “Let’s have a sweet treat party!

Cook’s Note: To make smaller cookies, use 1 Tablespoon of dough for each cookie and add about ¼ teaspoon filling following the same procedure as described above. If you want to make open-faced cookies, use a thumbprint procedure with the dough and filling. The cookie will flatten as it bakes. Yes, you will have a lot more than 16 cookies.

Recipe from: bon appetit, Dec.2023/Jan.2024 The Holiday Issue

Yield: 16 large cookies

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Baklava Cookies

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Bethlehem Christmas Cake
Baked with Golden orange, warm balsamic Frankincense, and smoky Myrrh.

‘

About the Recipe:  The original recipe was a West Jerusalem Palestinian Christian family favorite that was baked for decades.
It inspired me to recreate this cake, highlighting the journey of the 3 Kings and adding flavors of golden oranges, sweet balsamic tang, and smoky almonds to the recipe. The finished cake has the added flavor of snappy ginger cookies.

A Word about the Herbs:  They are best known through the story of the Three Wise Men (Magi) delivering gold, frankincense, and myrrh for the baby Jesus; myrrh was also used to anoint Jesus’ body after the crucifixion. These herbs, valued like gold, were mentioned repeatedly in the Old Testament, in instructions to Moses about making incense and anointing oil, and in the Song of Solomon.
St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia (now in Turkey) was a 4th-century miracle-worker, known also for the healing myrrh that flowed from his sacred relics      http://www.itmonline.org/arts/myrrh.htm

Serve cake in 1- or 2-inch slices. Yield: one 13×9-inch cake

pdf for Copy of Recipe – The Bethlehem Christmas Cake

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Internet Podcast

‘Tune into the Creating Calm Network podcast of Gloria Piantek- Food for Your Body, Mind, and Spirit episode airing at 3:00 PM ET – Sunday – December 15^th “On Demand” at your convenience after the initial airing.

Log into our December 15^th Program.

• Hear from experts about various trending topics.
• Learn how to make delicious recipes.
• Listen to our monthly 3:oo PM ET on 3rd Sunday of every month for the internet podcast from your computer as well as “On Demand” for our previous podcasts.
• Share your ideas, suggestions, and recipes with us’.

Gloria Goodtaste⁺⁺

**That is the name some of my friends call me. My real name is Gloria Piantek.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 Subscribe for Free Monthly Email by Completing Comment Box Below

Add Your Email Address to Comment Box

(Note: this will only be privately posted to my comment box)

Remember to: arrow: Post Comment

© 2014 – 2024 – GloriaGoodtaste. all rights reserved.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++