Cooking for the holiday’s doesn’t have to be a stressful occasion. By using just a few creative tips, you can turn a simple starter dish into a holiday artistic masterpiece. If you’re in need of some seasonal inspiration, try a few of our holiday Appetizers, guaranteed to impress your every last guest.
Fruit and Cheese Christmas Tree Tray
1 bunch of red or concord grapes
1 bunch of green grapes
6-8 oz Cheddar Cheese Cubes
6-8 oz Munster Cheese Cubes
6-8 oz Swiss Cheese Cubes
6-8 oz Provolone Cheese Cubes
1 bunch of parsley or Rosemary
Use a kitchen tool of your own choice to outline a tree shape. We used to plastic wrap rolls. Layer the cheese and grapes starting with the top of the tree and work your way down. Separate each layer using a sprig of Rosemary or parsley. Finish off the tree with a cheese star, using a cookie cutter.
Bruschetta Wreath
4 plum tomatoes, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
5 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into long strips
1 tbs balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
1 loaf of French Bread or a Baguette, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
Preheat the oven at 350. Add the tomatoes, garlic, 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, basil and balsamic vinegar to a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Cut bread into ½ inch slices, arranging the rounds onto a baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle a little of the olive oil to give an added burst of flavor to the toasts. Bakein the oven until golden brown about 5 minutes. Top the bread with tomatoes and arrange each Bruschetta piece in a circle, like a wreath. Use large basil leaves (or Rosemary) where the bow would go on a wreath. Drizzle with remaining extra-virgin olive oil right before serving.
Cranberry Brie Puffs
1 package puff pastry, thawed
8 oz Brie cheese
1 cup cranberry sauce
Preheat oven to 350. Cut pastry sheets into 3 inch squares. Using a mini muffin tin, wedge the puff pastry squares into each tin. Cut a 1 inch cubed piece of brie and place into each muffin tin. Top the brie with a dollop of cranberry sauce. gently fold the corners of the pastry into each muffin tin, like a gift box. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes,or until golden brown. Plate the Puffs by topping each with a cranberry (like a bow) or try our sparkling cranberry recipe for an added sweetness.
Sparkling Cranberries
2 cups of cranberries
1 cup maple syrup
1 cup of sugar
Heat maple syrup in a saucepan over medium-low heat for only one minute. Remove the syrup from the heat and begin to gently coat the cranberries. Allow the cranberries to chill overnight or refrigerate for 8 hours. Place sugar in a separate bowl. Drain cranberries in a colander for 20 minutes so excess syrup is removed. Toss a handful of berries at a time to coat with sugar. Repeat until the remaining cranberries of sparkling. Let the cranberries stand, using a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper, until they are dry.