Are You Ready to Ring in the New Year?

Hello and Welcome to my Blog: Food for Thought.  I hope that my culinary advice will help you as it has helped many of my friends and colleagues in the recent past.  I am not a trained culinary expert or even claim to be, but have grown up in a household surrounded by great cooks including my mother, my sisters (who have graduated from culinary schools and are excellent chefs in their own right), and my French and Italian grandmothers. What I have learned was how to use recipes and various ideas that I have collected to make any occasion special.

So, whether you are planning an elegant dinner, or just some really cool and interesting appetizers to help you ring in the New Year, make it easy and special. Some ideas you might want to consider include my Mother's Retro Cheese Ball, the EASIEST Cocktail Meatballs ever, and Mushroom Puffs. 

Retro Cheese Ball
1 brick Cheddar cheese
1 8oz. container cream cheese
1 can deviled ham
1/2 onion, diced
1/.2 can black olives, chopped

Mix all together and put onto a large piece of wax paper.  Roll into a ball and refrigerate for 2 hours.  Unwrap and roll ball into a pile of chopped walnuts.  Serve with assorted crackers.


Easiest Cocktail Meatballs Ever
1 pkg. frozen, prepared small meatballs
1 jar chili sauce
1 8 oz. can jellied cranberry sauce

Heat chili and cranberry sauces in large saucepan.  Add meatballs and heat through.  If you cannot find small meatballs, you can use the large ones, and quarter them when  heated through. Serve warm.


Mushroom Puffs
2 containers of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
1 8 oz. container cream cheese
1 8 oz. can sliced mushrooms

Unwrap crescent rolls and press seams together to make a rectangle.  Spread with cream cheese and add mushrooms.  Roll into a log and slice into 1/2 " thick slices.  Bake at 350 for 20 min. until golden brown. 

This recipe can be modified based on your preference.  Substitute mushrooms for spinach, crab meat, etc.


So, there you have it.  Three easy, yet elegant appetizer ideas for your New Year's party, or just to enjoy prior to dinner.... food for thought.