Thanksgiving is here! This year, I decided to make two different appetizers for my family to try. We like to "pre-game" before the big meal, and these two appetizers were just perfect.
The first one is a Spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip. If you've read my past posts, you know that we like all varieties of buffalo chicken.
Ingredients:
2 cups shredded chicken (you can buy this in a can, already cooked)
1 package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
2 tablespoons hot sauce
1/3 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
In a casserole dish, spread the cream cheese, then drain the chicken, and layer the pieces into the dish. Pour the wing sauce and drizzle the hot sauce over the chicken. Add the ranch dressing. Over the top, sprinkle the shredded cheese. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Once baked, you can turn the broiler on and leave it in there for a few more minutes so that the cheese gets crispy.
Serve with tortilla chips and carrot sticks. Enjoy!
The second appetizer is a really quick and easy one. It is Raspberry Baked Brie. All it involves is a bit of prep time.
Ingredients:
15 filo cups (you can find these in the freezer section of the grocery store)
1 block of brie cheese
Seedless raspberry jelly
Instructions:
Cut the brie cheese into small cubes. Into each filo cup, place one of teh cheese cubes. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes, or until you see that the cheese has melted. Now, take them out of the oven and spoon about 1 teaspoon of jelly into each. Put them back in the oven for about 5 minutes.
Enjoy these bite-sized apps!
This is one of the easiest, tastiest recipes for a Christmas treat. This is a great thing to make while you're making your holiday cookies.
Ingredients:
1 stick of butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 sleeve of saltines
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Lay all of the saltine crackers down onto the sheet, one next to the other. Fill the entire sheet with the crackers. Now, in a saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, and the vanilla. Cook on medium heat until it is all dissolved. Once dissolved, pour the mixture over the crackers. Bake this for about six minutes at 350 degrees. Then, take it out and pour the chocolate chips over the crackers. Make sure to sprinkle the chips evenly. Put back in the oven for about three more minutes. Smooth the melted chocolate out with a spatula. Cover it with plastic wrap and put in the fridge overnight. The next day, break it up into pieces. The brittle is done! Enjoy!
I typically think of snowball cookies as a Christmas treat, but I made some a little early this year. These are the easiest cookies to make, because there's really only a few ingredients!
Ingredients:
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
3/4 cup confectionery sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
Optional: 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions:
Microwave the butter for about 45 seconds to soften. Then, combine with the sugar and cream them. A mixer is essential for getting the sugar and butter well mixed. Now, add in the flour, salt, and vanilla. Mix well. If you are adding pecans or walnuts, be sure that they are finely chopped, and add them now. Stir batter so that nuts are mixed in. When it is fully combined, roll the dough into small spheres, and bake at 375 degrees for about 12 minutes. When they are just turning golden brown, take out the oven and let them cool for about five minutes.
Now, get some extra confectionery sugar and put it into a shallow bowl. Mix each cookie around in the sugar until the outside of the cookie is mostly coated. Enjoy!
*yields 3 dozen*
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