We had so much fun playing around with different ways to decorate our “snowman.”  We ended up going the tropical route and served him on a plate with brown sugar “sand,” a tropical drink umbrella, a beach ball, and a sand dollar.  How will you theme your snowman?

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Tropical (or not) Snowman Cheese Ball

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 10

Ingredients

• 2 8 oz packages cream cheese room temperature
• 1/2 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 1/4 cup chives snipped
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan
• 10 peppercorns
• 1 piece red licorice
• 3 pieces dried cherries
• 2 wafer sticks or pretzel sticks
• 1 carrot very tip cut off

Instructions

• Put cream cheese, monterey jack cheese, spices, hot sauce and chives in a medium bowl. Mix.
• Place in the refrigerator for at least an hour or until cream cheese has set.
• Make 3 balls in varying sizes. Roll balls in the shredded parmesan cheese. Place on a platter. Secure with a wooden skewer cut to the height of the snowman.
• Decorate with peppercorns, licorice, wafer sticks, and dried cherries.

Notes

If you want to make it tropical put brown sugar or crushed graham crackers on the plate for "sand."  Serve with crackers.

Here is a super easy, quick recipe to do with your children or grandchildren.   Let them pick which fruits to use, set up their “skewer station,” and watch them delight in creating this healthy, colorful snack!

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Fresh Fruit Skewers

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 1 container strawberries cut bite-size
• 1 fresh pineapple cut bite-size
• 1/2 seedless watermelon cut bit-size
• 1 container raspberries or blackberries
• 8 wooden skewers

Instructions

• Alternating fruit, place them on a skewer -it's that easy!

Here’s a crowd pleasing dip that will have you two-stepping right out of the kitchen!

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Two-Step Mexican Dip

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 10

Calories 119kcal

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 can 15 oz black beans drained and rinsed
• 1 can 15 oz shoepeg corn drained
• 3 scallions chopped
• 2 Tbsp cilantro minced
• 1/2 jalapeño pepper deseeded and minced
• 3 ounces feta cheese crumbled

Instructions

• Step One - Whisk the sugar, vinegar and oil in a large bowl. 
• Step Two - Add the black beans, corn, scallions, cilantro, jalapeño and cheese and mix well. Chill until serving time.

Notes

Serve with "scoop" style multi-grain tortilla chips.  Thanks, Jen Keatinge, for the recipe!

This dip will be the first gone at the party!  The recipe can’t be any easier  – only 2 ingredients!!

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Yummy Two Ingredient Dip

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Ingredients

• 15 ounces Prepared Spinach & Artichoke Dip
• 1/2 cup grated 5 Italian Cheese more if you like it really cheesy

Instructions

• Place dip in a microwave dish.  Add cheese and stir.   
  
• Microwave until cheese melts, about 1 minute.
• Stir and serve with tortilla chips.

Easy, easy, easy … and tasty too!  You can make these skewers early in the day of your simple celebration (keep refrigerated).

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Party on a Stick

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Greek

Servings 12

Equipment

• Small wooden skewers

Ingredients

• 2 cucumbers
• 40 small cherry or grape tomatoes
• 2 blocks feta cheese good quality, such as Boar's Head cut into 3/4 inch cubes
• 40 pitted kalamata olives
• 40 small wooden skewers
• 1 bottle creamy Caesar dressing for dipping

Instructions

• Peel the cucumbers and cut lengthwise.  With a teaspoon, scrape out the seeds and cut into 1/2 thick pieces (they will look like half moons).    
• To assemble, place a cucumber on the skewer followed by a tomato (it will sit in the cucumber).
• Next, add the feta and top it off with an olive.  
• Place on a platter with the dressing on the side for dipping.

Serves 10-16.

Below is a simple, yet delicious hummus recipe to add to your appetizer table for your simple celebration.  Hummus is not the prettiest of food, but by adding toppings and using attractive serving pieces, it will be irresistible!

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Hummus

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 10

Ingredients

• 1 can garbanzo beans/chick peas
• 1/3 cup liquid from canned beans
• 3 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 1/4 cup tahini sesame seed paste - be sure to stir well
• olive oil
• paprika
• pine nuts
• Kalamata olives
• pita bread
• celery

Instructions

• Drain the beans and save the bean liquid. 
• In a food processor with metal blade, puree the beans along with reserved bean liquid (1/3 cup) with all ingredients up to the olive oil. 
• Taste for seasoning and refrigerate.
• We recommend putting the hummus in two bowls.  In one, mix in four chopped Kalamata olives and sprinkle a few on top.  In the other bowl, toast a tablespoon of pine nuts, add a few to the hummus, and sprinkle the rest on top with a drizzle of olive oil and paprika. 
• Toast pita bread in 350° oven for about ten minutes, then cut into triangles.  Serve hummus with toasted pita triangles and celery at room temperature. 
• Hummus can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Notes

Other suggestions for additions to the hummus are sun-dried tomatoes, lemon & dill, or anything your heart desires.