It’s that time of year when friends and relatives drop by to celebrate and share good wishes.  It’s also that time of year when you need snacks! Veggie chips, seasoned nuts or raw veggies with a luscious dip are so tasty your guests and your family won’t miss the sweets.   

Make a veggie Christmas Tree with an avocado dip on the side:

●      Christmas Tree: Arrange small pieces of broccoli in the shape of a Christmas Tree, Decorate with strips of red or yellow peppers and cherry tomatoes for ornaments and cauliflower pieces under the tree for snow. 

Your kids will love to make the “tree” while you make the dip

●      Simple avocado dip: Mash together two ripe avocados with ½ cup of plain Greek yogurt, 2 cloves of minced garlic and the juice of a lemon.  Add cilantro or spices you enjoy.

 Surprisingly Delicious: Roasted Grapes! Easy & quick, an old favorite gets dressed up! Goes well with cheese:

INGREDIENTS:

●      3 Cups red or green grapes

●      1 Tbsp olive oil

●      1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme

●      1 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano

●      1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, or to taste

 TO MAKE:

1.     Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2.     Combine grapes, olive oil, thyme, and oregano together in a bowl and lightly toss to coat. Place grapes on baking sheet.

3.     Bake in preheated oven until grapes begin to wrinkle and split, about 15 minutes. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and season with salt and ground black pepper.

Nuts are great for nibbling: Serve plain or spice them up (See below) You don’t have to tell your guests that yumminess is good for them!

Happy Holidays from Harvest Home!

RECIPE: Nuts for Nibbling

Deliciously good for you. Nuts keep your heart healthy and prevent diabetes. WOW!  Here’s how to spice them up: INGREDIENTS

•3 cups of nuts like almonds, pecans, cashews

•1.5 tsp chili powder

•1/2 tsp garlic powder

•1/2 tsp cumin

•1/2 tsp black pepper

•1/2 tsp salt

•1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

•1 Tbsp olive oil

TO MAKE:

•Preheat oven to 350°. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. (No parchment paper? Just turn your nuts more often to prevent burning.) Place nuts in single layer and roast for 10-15 minutes, turning halfway through.

•While nuts are roasting, prepare spice mixture by combining everything except the olive oil.

•Take nuts from oven and cool. Put in a bowl. Mix nuts with olive oil, then spice mixture.

•Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks!  Making ahead lets the nuts soak up more flavor.

TIPS: Make-Ahead Storing Tips

Holiday cooking and baking can take up a lot of time, time that you’d rather be spending with your family or guests.

Here’s some tips for making things ahead:

COOKIES: Almost any kind freezes well.

•After the cookies cool, freeze on a baking in a sheet single layer. 

•When frozen, put in a zip-lock bag & squeeze out all the air.  If they are delicate cookies, put wax paper between them and store in an airtight container in the freezer. TO THAW: Either leave in the fridge overnight or warm in the oven for a few minutes.  In a hurry? Microwave for quick 10 second intervals until thawed. (Remove any wax paper before heating.)

PIES: Cool after baking. Wrap in layer of plastic wrap and then tin foil to prevent freezer burn.  Lasts up to 4 months in freezer.  TO THAW: Leave wrapped at room temperature for about an hour.

Do NOT frost cake or cupcakes before freezing

•MUFFINS & CUPCAKES: When cool, wrap individually in plastic wrap and then foil.  Place on baking sheet to freeze.

TO THAW: Leave wrapped at room temperature

•CAKE: Freeze on a baking sheet until solid. Then wrap in plastic and then foil.  Lasts for 4 months in the freezer.

RELAX AND ENJOY!

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