This is a follow up to my previous post about The Pampered Chef, and the party food recipes.

The Honey-Apple Brie Bites were absolutely delicious, and so elegantly presented in prepared mini phyllo shells.  These ready made phyllo cups are readily available at any grocery store, and they come in three colors: natural, red, and green.  The chef selected the natural color, to complement the red apples she used in this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
• 2 medium red baking apples such as Jonathan, cored, and finely diced
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 4-in round Brie, or Camembert cheese with rind, cubed to ½ inch pieces
• 2 pkg prepared mini phyllo shells (30 shells total)

Directions:

1. Preheat the over to 400°F.
2. Set you phyllo cups on a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper.
3. Mix gently the apples, walnuts, zest and honey.
4. Place one cube of Brie in each phyllo cup.
5. Using a Small Scoop, cover the Brie with one scoop of the apple mixture.
6. Bake 6-8 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
7. Serve warm.  (They are still as delish cold).

Tip:  My friends mentioned that this recipe would be great for Rosh Hashanah, since apples and honey are being served in abundance during that holiday.  You will agree that these type of appetizers are great for any occasion.

All gadgets and cookware used, are offered by The Pampered Chef.

With the upcoming holidays like St. Nicholas Day,  Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year, there will be lots of parties to attend, and lots of party foods to prepare and sample.  I will contribute by posting some of my favorite recipes for these occasions.

At our latest family gathering at Thanksgiving, I prepared this fairly light caramel dip, and it was my daughter-in-law’s favorite dip.  I was so delighted, and decided to post it here for you to try and to enjoy.   It requires very few ingredients, and it is much lighter in flavor and texture, than the store bought caramel dip.  This recipe makes 2 cups of dip.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz.  cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• A pinch of ground cloves (optional)
• ½  cup Caramel Ice Cream Topping
• 2 red apples, cored and cut into thin wedges, or chunks
• 1 green apple, cored and cut into thin wedges, or chunks

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, honey, caramel topping, and 1 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon.
2. Beat until smooth.
3. Chill in the refrigerator.
4. Transfer into a serving bowl, sprinkle with ½ tsp. of cinnamon.
5. Place the bowl of dip on a platter, and arrange apple pieces around it.

Tip.   We found out that a very generous dipping with an apple chunk, tastes much better than just a light dipping.

Spear the apple piece with a toothpick, and submerge it in the dip…..yummy!!!!

I added a pinch (tip of 1/8  tsp. ) of ground cloves, to enhance the flavor and complement the cinnamon aroma.

photo credit: nayrb7

Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. Everyone is rushing around to get shopping done, attend parties, put final touches on holiday decorations, and plan holiday meals.

The Ukrainians have many rich traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas. Many of them have been modernized to accommodate everyone’s busy lifestyle, but others are still kept original, and passed on from generation to generation.

Christmas Holiday starts on Christmas Eve, and during that day there is a lot of cooking going on to prepare for a 12 course meatless dinner consisting of:

• Kutia – whole wheat dish
• Kolach (recipe) – special Christmas braided bread(resembling babka), which is served with a clove of fresh garlic and honey
• Borscht with vushka – Red Beet soup with mushrooms filled dumplings
• Kapusniak – Sour kraut soup
• Holubki – meatless stuffed cabbage
• Varenyky (Pierogies) filled with various fillings (potato and cheese, cabbage, fruit, cheese, etc)
• Several fish dishes
• Pickled herrings are a must
• Fresh Mushroom Sauce
• Pickled mushrooms
• Baked Beans with flax oil
• Kompot – mixed fruit tea type hot drink
• Large assortment of cookies, sheet cakes, torts, angel wings cookies (khrusty), and home made donuts, which are the best ever

While the cooks are preparing the meal, other family members, and especially the children, are kept busy by decorating the Christmas tree. The youngest children are patiently gazing out the window for the first star to appear, since this is a sign that dinner is ready to be served. Everyone is looking forward to this elaborate meal, since throughout the day only light snacking is allowed, or a total fast is observed. The dinner table is set with best linens and china, and a small sheaf of wheat tied with a festive ribbon, along with special bread “Kolach” shares the center stage on the table. There is an extra place setting on the table, in remembrance of the departed family members. A prayer is recited by the whole family, a special Christmas greeting is exchanged, and the dinner begins.

After dinner, everyone engages in caroling of Christmas carols, children have special poems to recite, or perform a small concert prepared ahead of time. Some presents are opened at this time, but most are left to be opened on Christmas Day. At midnight everyone attends a Devine Christmas Liturgy, which lasts about 2 hours, but is very beautiful and filled with caroling and chanting. Children bring a gift to church to place by the manger, to be distributed to the less fortunate children in the community. With the old tradition, there were no gift exchanges at Christmas, only candy and sweets, but St. Nicholas was bringing gifts on December 6^th, and placing them at night under the pillow, for all the “well behaved” children.

On Christmas Day the celebration continues. The children open the remainder of their gifts, and a lot of caroling, and visiting of family and friends, is taking place. There is no more fasting on this day, but rather a lot of meat dishes are being served, and delicious desserts are plentiful in every household. Carolers are going from house to house to carol for their friends and family, and are welcomed with snacks and sweets.

The Polish Christmas traditions are very similar to the Ukrainian ones, with the meatless Christmas Eve dinner, the midnight Liturgy “Pasterka”, and the caroling for friends and family. One of the differences is the use of an unleavened wafer with honey, to share at the dinner table, rather than the “kolach” bread that the Ukrainians use.

The Italians also begin their Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve with a large meatless dinner, and attend midnight Mass afterwards. The German children used to leave a wooden clog outside the door, for St. Nicholas to drop in presents.