Christmas Party Tips and Christmas Dessert Ideas

Christmas, the most magical time of the year - the season of merriment is here again! The season of new beginnings, where forgotten vows are renewed and love fills the air around us that transcends above all. Especially children who wait in much anticipation for their favourite guy - Ole' Santa Claus! Don't you just love the growing merriment and excitement filling the air as the big day draws near? Breathe in...ah, how can you not love the aroma of delicious gingerbread, cakes and cookies baking and other food which are specially prepared only during the Christmas season?

Time for parties and celebrations and you are probably scratching your head for ideas or small little parties for family and friends. This can be a challenge especially if you are looking at coming up with something fresh and new. Some tips here if you plan to hold a party at home:

\"Pizza Recipe\"

• Firstly, have the right mix of music. Have lively Christmas music to create the right festive mood of party cheer as your guests enjoy the food and laughter. Can you picture your guests having fun with Silent Night playing in the background?
• Next, decorate your house with traditional Christmas decorations to set the right atmosphere. Don't forget Christmas stockings, mistletoes and Christmas ribbons. Have plenty of lightings, especially outdoors. Pay special attention to the Christmas Tree. Make it sparklingly grand!
• Kids will be at your party? Arrange special activities to occupy them and ensure sufficient supervision of them. Leave the tv on with Christmas cartoons or movies.
• And most importantly, some Christmas dessert ideas if you're planning to serve your guests.
• Prepare a wide spread of food and desserts, in other words, something for everyone. Dress desserts up with pretty traditional Christmas colours. Include cream cheese desserts, chocolate desserts and the traditional Christmas cake or puddings and even homemade candies for kids. Prepare great fruit punches so that everyone can enjoy them. Always prepare more than expected. That's the spirit of Christmas - giving and abundance.

Christmas Party Tips and Christmas Dessert Ideas

Easy chocolate desserts work best as they are a favourite with most folks, so you will almost never go wrong. You can also easily find many favourite Christmas dessert recipes that are available online or from recipe books if you are keen on making your own homemade cakes, cookies or pies. Again, easy is the keyword here, as you will want time to mingle around.

I have a simple recipe for you too - it's called the Delicious Yuletide Fruit Cake which took me less than 30 minutes to prepare so you'll have plenty of time for your guests too.

Ingredients :

1/2 cup Self-raising Flour; sifted

1 can Condensed Milk

1 tsp Vanilla Essence

1 1/2 cups Dessicated Coconut

2 1/2 cups Pecans; coarsely chopped

1 cup Dried Apricots; chopped into small bits

1 1/2 cups Dates; coarsely chopped

300 g Candied Cherries; red and green; chopped

2 tbsp Icing Sugar; for decoration

Method:

Mix chopped pecans, apricots bits, dates and cherries together. Drizzle condensed milk over fruit mixture and keep stirring. Add in vanilla essence. Now add in dessicated coconut. Fold in sifted flour until no more flour lumps.

Spoon cake mixture into greased tube pan. Bake in preheated oven at 150°C for 20 minutes before upping heat to 170°C and bake for another 30 minutes.

Allow cake to cool a little before removing from pan. Dust cake lightly with icing sugar. Keep cake in air-tight container.

Sarah Chew

Website: http://www.best-dessert-recipes.com

Christmas Party Tips and Christmas Dessert Ideas

If you're looking for more Christmas dessert recipes or some chocolate dessert recipes for the coming Christmas, visit http://www.best-dessert-recipes.com and surprise your family and friends.

Traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake

Christmas fruitcakes have been baked for centuries with the oldest known recipe dating back to Ancient Rome. Fruitcakes were a way to preserve fruits and nuts as well as a way to celebrate the harvest and seek good luck in the coming year. Jamaicans favorite Christmas cake is dark, spongy and heavy, with rum soaked fruit and rich flavor. Eaten only at Christmas the cake is a favored gift and family tradition.

Ingredients:

\"Pizza Recipe\"

* 1 lb. Raisins

Traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake

* 4 oz. Cherries

* ½ lb. Chopped prunes

* 2 oz. Cranberries

* 32 oz. Dark Jamaican rum

* 4 oz. Citrus peels

* grated rind of 1 lime

* 6 oz. or 1.5 cup flour

* 8 oz. butter

* 8 oz. sugar

* 4 eggs

* 1 tsp. cinnamon

* ½ tsp. allspice

* ½ tsp. Ground cloves

* ½ tsp. salt

* 1 cup wine/brandy

* 1 tsp. baking powder

* 1 tsp. vanilla

* 2 tbsp. browning

Directions:

Soak fruits, peels and rind in rum for two weeks before baking. In a separate bowl whip butter, sugar and browning until creamy. Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl and mix well. In a third bowl beat eggs and brandy together until well blended.

Add egg mixture to creamed butter mixture and blend well. Strain and add fruits, keeping rum for fruity drinks. Gradually mix dry ingredients to batter and fold together.

Pour batter into a lightly buttered 9" cake pan and bake at 350F for 1-½ hours checking after 1 hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake

For further tips and ideas for cooking great and traditional food from around the world, visit Jamaican Recipes [http://www.worldwide-recipes.com/jamaican-recipes.html]. Article submitted by Jen Carter, owner of the World Recipes [http://www.worldwide-recipes.com] website.

Find more recipes & cookbooks at the One Dollar bookstore.

Christmas Dinner Traditions and Dessert Ideas

Christmas is my family's favorite time of year. We have many Christmas traditions that we've developed over the years.  One is that each year one of us daughters (mother and sister-in-laws) is responsible for a part of the dinner.  My favorite part to make is the Christmas desserts.

Our family is large, there are five sisters, four brothers and both parents still living. We also have a lot of wives, husbands, nieces and nephews mixed in. When we get together there are twenty seven people.  Each year one of us cooks for a different segment. We put the dinner segments in a hat. After dinner, after all the dishes are done and we're relaxing we choose what our dishes will be for the next year. The menu is broken up into appetizers, before and after dinner drinks (for the adults), meat, stuffing/potatoes (starch), vegetables, rolls, desserts. Two people are responsible for meat, two for stuffing/potatoes and two for vegetables. One for appetizers, one for before and after dinner drinks and one for desserts. And, now that there are ten of us every year one lucky girl gets a get out of jail free card, which means she doesn't have to cook the next year!

\"Pizza Recipe\"

As I said earlier Christmas dessert is my favorite. I start cooking about a week in advance. I know everybody's favorites, and like to add a few new things.  I like to make lots of different types of desserts for the family. One of my favorites is Black Bottom Cup Cakes. Another is Greek Almond Cookies. These are super simple. Another favorite is definitely a Red Velvet Cake with Butter Cream Icing. It's my Grandmother's recipe and the family loves it. The Red Velvet Cake is the one thing we're guaranteed to have every year, regardless of who is assigned dessert duty.

Christmas Dinner Traditions and Dessert Ideas

I also make a Cinnamon Crumb Cake, a Chocolate Truffle with Raspberry Sauce and a Louisiana Roasted Pecan Pie.  All of these things make quite an impressive looking Christmas dessert buffet and everyone is able to find something that they really like.

Over the years we girls have shared recipes between us.  We all love cooking, us sisters were all raised to enjoy being in the kitchen.  When a new item is introduced to the table there is also a menu card for each sister for that new item.  When I added Greek Almond Cookies to the dessert table last year everyone was amazed how easy the recipe is. I got it from an actual Greek friend, Valerie.  The Cinnamon Crumb Cake is also easy to make and goes really well with a cup of coffee after dinner.

One year when my sister-in-law picked the Christmas dessert portion of our meal I gave her a lot of advice on recipes as she really isn't comfortable baking. I went to her home two days before Christmas and helped her make the traditional Red Velvet Cake. She did it really well and is now a pro!

Perhaps if you have a large family you can do something like our family does. We all enjoy our Christmas cooking tradition.

Christmas Dinner Traditions and Dessert Ideas

Catherine Olivia has some tasty and easy Christmas dessert ideas and recipes
at http://www.greenbeansnmore.com

Christmas Dinner Traditions and Dessert Ideas

Christmas is my family's favorite time of year. We have many Christmas traditions that we've developed over the years.  One is that each year one of us daughters (mother and sister-in-laws) is responsible for a part of the dinner.  My favorite part to make is the Christmas desserts.

Our family is large, there are five sisters, four brothers and both parents still living. We also have a lot of wives, husbands, nieces and nephews mixed in. When we get together there are twenty seven people.  Each year one of us cooks for a different segment. We put the dinner segments in a hat. After dinner, after all the dishes are done and we're relaxing we choose what our dishes will be for the next year. The menu is broken up into appetizers, before and after dinner drinks (for the adults), meat, stuffing/potatoes (starch), vegetables, rolls, desserts. Two people are responsible for meat, two for stuffing/potatoes and two for vegetables. One for appetizers, one for before and after dinner drinks and one for desserts. And, now that there are ten of us every year one lucky girl gets a get out of jail free card, which means she doesn't have to cook the next year!

\"Pizza Recipe\"

As I said earlier Christmas dessert is my favorite. I start cooking about a week in advance. I know everybody's favorites, and like to add a few new things.  I like to make lots of different types of desserts for the family. One of my favorites is Black Bottom Cup Cakes. Another is Greek Almond Cookies. These are super simple. Another favorite is definitely a Red Velvet Cake with Butter Cream Icing. It's my Grandmother's recipe and the family loves it. The Red Velvet Cake is the one thing we're guaranteed to have every year, regardless of who is assigned dessert duty.

I also make a Cinnamon Crumb Cake, a Chocolate Truffle with Raspberry Sauce and a Louisiana Roasted Pecan Pie.  All of these things make quite an impressive looking Christmas dessert buffet and everyone is able to find something that they really like.

Over the years we girls have shared recipes between us.  We all love cooking, us sisters were all raised to enjoy being in the kitchen.  When a new item is introduced to the table there is also a menu card for each sister for that new item.  When I added Greek Almond Cookies to the dessert table last year everyone was amazed how easy the recipe is. I got it from an actual Greek friend, Valerie.  The Cinnamon Crumb Cake is also easy to make and goes really well with a cup of coffee after dinner.

One year when my sister-in-law picked the Christmas dessert portion of our meal I gave her a lot of advice on recipes as she really isn't comfortable baking. I went to her home two days before Christmas and helped her make the traditional Red Velvet Cake. She did it really well and is now a pro!

Perhaps if you have a large family you can do something like our family does. We all enjoy our Christmas cooking tradition.

Christmas Dinner Traditions and Dessert Ideas

Catherine Olivia has some tasty and easy Christmas dessert ideas and recipes
at http://www.greenbeansnmore.com

See Also : Recipes Bookmark

Christmas Party Tips and Christmas Dessert Ideas

Christmas, the most magical time of the year - the season of merriment is here again! The season of new beginnings, where forgotten vows are renewed and love fills the air around us that transcends above all. Especially children who wait in much anticipation for their favourite guy - Ole' Santa Claus! Don't you just love the growing merriment and excitement filling the air as the big day draws near? Breathe in...ah, how can you not love the aroma of delicious gingerbread, cakes and cookies baking and other food which are specially prepared only during the Christmas season?

Time for parties and celebrations and you are probably scratching your head for ideas or small little parties for family and friends. This can be a challenge especially if you are looking at coming up with something fresh and new. Some tips here if you plan to hold a party at home:

\"Pizza Recipe\"

• Firstly, have the right mix of music. Have lively Christmas music to create the right festive mood of party cheer as your guests enjoy the food and laughter. Can you picture your guests having fun with Silent Night playing in the background?
• Next, decorate your house with traditional Christmas decorations to set the right atmosphere. Don't forget Christmas stockings, mistletoes and Christmas ribbons. Have plenty of lightings, especially outdoors. Pay special attention to the Christmas Tree. Make it sparklingly grand!
• Kids will be at your party? Arrange special activities to occupy them and ensure sufficient supervision of them. Leave the tv on with Christmas cartoons or movies.
• And most importantly, some Christmas dessert ideas if you're planning to serve your guests.
• Prepare a wide spread of food and desserts, in other words, something for everyone. Dress desserts up with pretty traditional Christmas colours. Include cream cheese desserts, chocolate desserts and the traditional Christmas cake or puddings and even homemade candies for kids. Prepare great fruit punches so that everyone can enjoy them. Always prepare more than expected. That's the spirit of Christmas - giving and abundance.

Easy chocolate desserts work best as they are a favourite with most folks, so you will almost never go wrong. You can also easily find many favourite Christmas dessert recipes that are available online or from recipe books if you are keen on making your own homemade cakes, cookies or pies. Again, easy is the keyword here, as you will want time to mingle around.

I have a simple recipe for you too - it's called the Delicious Yuletide Fruit Cake which took me less than 30 minutes to prepare so you'll have plenty of time for your guests too.

Ingredients :

1/2 cup Self-raising Flour; sifted

1 can Condensed Milk

1 tsp Vanilla Essence

1 1/2 cups Dessicated Coconut

2 1/2 cups Pecans; coarsely chopped

1 cup Dried Apricots; chopped into small bits

1 1/2 cups Dates; coarsely chopped

300 g Candied Cherries; red and green; chopped

2 tbsp Icing Sugar; for decoration

Method:

Mix chopped pecans, apricots bits, dates and cherries together. Drizzle condensed milk over fruit mixture and keep stirring. Add in vanilla essence. Now add in dessicated coconut. Fold in sifted flour until no more flour lumps.

Spoon cake mixture into greased tube pan. Bake in preheated oven at 150°C for 20 minutes before upping heat to 170°C and bake for another 30 minutes.

Allow cake to cool a little before removing from pan. Dust cake lightly with icing sugar. Keep cake in air-tight container.

Sarah Chew

Website: http://www.best-dessert-recipes.com

Christmas Party Tips and Christmas Dessert Ideas

If you're looking for more Christmas dessert recipes or some chocolate dessert recipes for the coming Christmas, visit http://www.best-dessert-recipes.com and surprise your family and friends.

See Also : BBQ Recipe

Choosing & Cooking Chinese Christmas Recipes

With the Chinese New Year being the most important event in the Chinese calendar, you'd imagine that Christmas got swept under the carpet. Not so, as celebrating Christmas becomes more popular throughout China.

Whilst you won't find the hype and shopping madness of Western countries, in major cities you'll see lights, trees and Christmas decorations on the streets and in stores. Christmas Day is not even a bank holiday in China, although it is in Hong Kong and Macao. Whether this is just part of the Chinese interest in Western culture, or a sales ploy by the big stores, who can say?

Pizza Recipe

With an increasing number of Christians, it can only be expected that more people will be celebrating the festive season in China each year. With little tradition and history, cooking for a Chinese Christmas dinner means you can cook any special occasion dish you choose.

However, there are a few suggestions we can make to get you started:-

• Peking Duck
• Cantonese Roast Duck
• Kung Pao Chicken
• Cookies
• Five Spice Peanuts
• Sesame Seed Balls
• Spring Rolls

Whilst many of the recipes above are traditionally eaten for the Chinese New Year, they will serve just as well for a Christmas dinner. As always with Chinese cooking, use the freshest ingredients, prepare them well ahead of time, so that all you have to do is cook!

An excellent resource is http://chinesefood.about.com/ which has lots of great recipe and food ideas for every holiday occasion including Chinese cookie recipes.

Choosing & Cooking Chinese Christmas Recipes

About the Author

For further tips and ideas for cooking great and traditional food from around the world, visit Chinese recipes [http://www.worldwide-recipes.com/chinese-recipes.html]

This article was submitted by Jen Carter, owner of the Worldwide Recipes [http://www.worldwide-recipes.com] website.

See Also : Recipes Bookmark Pizza Recipe Steak Recipe