Friday, December 2, 2011

Try These Easy Easy Holiday Snacks

Entertaining for the Holidays?  Keep it simple!

Most of us will be entertaining during December, whether it be the family Christmas meal, a cocktail party for business colleagues, a tree trimming or caroling party, or even an impromptu sledding party.  Whatever it might be, remember to plan your party menu with more healthy foods.  And while you are at it, why not make things a little easier for you!  Grandma’s Kitchen Recipes will share some easy solutions in this article.  After all, you should enjoy the holidays, too!

There are a number of options you can choose if you are hosting something informal, like a tree trimming party.  Don’t feel that you have to serve a meal unless, of course, you really want to.  Plan the party after meal time and offer snacks.  You will want something salty, a little something  sweet, and something to whet your whistle. 

OK, you have created a festive atmosphere, very casual,making conversation easy.  These folks will be your most intimate friends or family.  This is a good place to start because you can really let you hair down and have fun with the participants.  Let’s try some munchies.  If you don’t want to take the time to make the ever popular Chex Mix, create a mix of your own.  Here’s how you’ll do it.  I call it:

Grandma’s Kitchen Recipes’ No-Brainer Salty Snack Mix

1.       Go down the snack section of your grocery store and find some tastes and shapes that will make a fun mix.
2.        Pick some items that have a bold spicey taste like nacho cheese or chili, or ranch flavored snacks.  And don’t forget the crunchy cheese snacks.
3.       Choose an interesting shape of pretzels.
4.       Peanuts and cashews are always good.
5.       Look for small, bite size whole grain crackers or use some wheat Chex cereal.
6.       Grandma’s Kitchen Recipes says, be creative, and mix and match with gusto.  Before party time, find your biggest Christmas snack bowl and start dumping the ingredients.   There are any number of ways you can make this by changing some flavors or ingredients.  Plus you can cater to your guests’ special tastes.



Now, for something sweet.  And we are going to use the same technique as the salty snack mix.
We’re going back to the store for these items, and you can mix as match as you see fit.

Grandma’s Kitchen Recipes “I Can’t Believe it’s This Easy” Trail Mix

1.       Find the dried fruits that you like.  I would suggest dried cranberries paired with dried strawberries; dried blueberries with dried mango and dried cherries; or dried apricots with dried pineapple and banana chips.  Or just mix them all together.
2.       Get yogurt covered raisins.
3.       Don’t forget the walnuts or use pecans.

Once again, just toss together for a good sweet snack.  Now, wasn’t that easy?  And look how much more time you will have with your guests.  You may actually spend more time picking out Christmas music than fixing the food.  And for something to drink try serving a couple of different Christmas flavor coffees or hot tea.  Hot chocolate with the low fat spray can of whipped cream is always good.  And if you have children at your party, Grandma’s Kitchen Recipes suggests heating some apple cider or apple juice and letting them use whole cinnamon sticks as straws. 

So, Grandma’s Kitchen Recipes hopes these ideas will save some time.  We all seem to need more time.  Until the next post, Grandma’s Kitchen Recipes says have fun at your holiday parties and, enjoy life!

Nanna Dorie