Sunday, June 26, 2011

Party Recipes Sure to Bring Delight

By Anya Shiela Richards


The winter makes it almost impossible to lounge outside. Sure, the odd snowball fights and the novelty of the first snowfall of the season gives great joy, but apart from these things, you just want to curl up inside near the fireplace with a warm cup of chocolate when the temperature drops. Gatherings during the holidays almost always involves warm, hearty food with family and friends. Even with non-Christians, they are thankful for the occasion because Christmas gives them a chance to get a much-needed break from work to be with their loved ones.

In planning the menu for this year's celebrations, it is good to always include foods that remind people of the joyous occasion. Maybe a nice roast turkey or a big hunk of ham, with side dishes and nice desserts. For a real feel for the occasion, eggnog is still optional but is very much recommended.

But the workweek stops only on Christmas day itself, so you don't have the luxury of time. You have to go for recipes that are simple, easy, practical, and also yummy. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Cupcakes: simple, delicious, and depending on how you decorate it, perfect for the occasion. Just mix together some all-purpose flour, sugar, eggs, butter, a few drops of vanilla essence, and a pinch of salt for a basic cake batter. You can then add cocoa or other flavorings for variety. Pour this on molds lined with paper and you're ready to bake. Place it in the oven and bake for a few minutes. It's as easy as that! The real challenge is finding the right cupcake frosting recipes that will make your holiday creations stand out. One great idea that fits the occasion is a snowman cupcake. Just take a regular cupcake and cover it with white frosting. This will be the snow where you place two white marshmallows that will be the snowman's body and head. You can be as creative as you want in making its face, arms, hat and scarf. Raisins, chocolate chips, edible gels, fudge, and dried fruits all make for good decorations. You can be as creative as you dare to be when you can just eat your mistakes and start over.

Rum balls: These are also a good treat but are second only to cupcakes for Christmas. However, this is no reason to not serve them alongside the main attraction. Just take some crushed Marie biscuits and roll them with a sauce made from chocolate, sugar, and melted butter with a few drops of rum essence for a little added kick. The sauce will make the crumbs stick so that you end up with balls. Roll these in more sugar or grated coconuts.

Easy cheesecake: This is one of the easiest desserts to make, and it tastes absolutely great. All you need are graham cookies or marie biscuits, white farmer cheese, vanilla or chocolate dessert, sugar, milk, vanilla essence, and cocoa powder. Take a baking tray and put down a layer of cookies. Then make up the rest of the ingredients into a soft batter and cover the biscuits. Put another layer of biscuits on top, and then another layer of batter. Refrigerate several hours before serving. You can make this either in a vanilla or chocolate flavor, according to taste.




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