Another year is passing us by, and a new one is just around the corner.

There is no better way to farewell an old year, and welcome in the NEW YEAR, than to do it with food and friends.

If you are planning such a fun gathering, and searching for some tasty appetizers, you stumbled upon the perfect site to get this information.

Since I am still dealing with leftovers from Christmas, I will not be posting new recipes this week, but will provide you with links to yummy recipes already posted.

Selection A:

• Tzatziki Dip
• Rye Bread Dip
• Hummus
• Chick Peas Vinaigrette
• Veggie Platter
• Ham Canapes

Selection B:

• Jalapeno Corn Dip
• Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Seven Layer Guacamole Dip
• Swedish Meatballs
• Texas Caviar
• Caramel Apple Dip
• Mrs. Z’s Deviled Eggs
• Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomatoe Cheese Spread
• Honey Apple Brie Bites
• Turkey Taco Ring

Selection C:

If you are looking for a more substantial food selection, in addition to the appetizers, you may want to check these out:

• City Chicken
• Chicken Paprikash
• Chicken/Turkey Tetrazzini
• Calico Beans
• Homemade varenyky/perogy
• Cabbage Rolls (vegetarian, or with meat)

I believe this list should be very helpful for you, and by next year, I should have more recipes for you to try.

Enjoy your party.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Rosh Hashanah, means “Head of the Year”, in Hebrew, hence a New Year celebration.

This year Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Wednesday, September 8th, and is celebrated through Thursday and Friday.  It is a religious holiday, thus  regular services at the synagogue, plus the use of apples dipped in honey as part of the meal, to start the new year on a sweet note.

I would like to extend my warm wishes of happiness, health and prosperity to all my friends who celebrate this holiday.

I already posted my favorite Caramel Apple Dip recipe, which is perfect for Rosh Hashanah, since it contains apples and honey, and it is quite delicious.

Today I will post my recipe for a Jewish Apple Cake, which was given to me by a friend of mine a couple of decades ago.  I am not sure why the word “Jewish” is in the name of this recipe, so if anyone is familiar with how it got the  name, please share it will all of us.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2  1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 cups sifted, all purpose flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 6-8 medium size apples (I use Granny Smith), peeled and sliced
• 3 tsp cinnamon
• 3 Tbs sugar (to sweeten apples)
• 1 tsp lemon extract, or lemon juice
• Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting the top of the cake)

Directions:

1. Wash and peel apples.
2. Into a large bowl, slice apples to thin slices (use slice section of a grader, or food processor),
3. Add cinnamon, 3 Tbs sugar, and lemon extract/juice.
4. Fold in well, to coat the apples.
5. Set aside.
6. In a large mixing bowl,using a mixer, mix 2 cups sugar with 4 eggs, until thickened and light creamy yellow color.
7. Mix in oil, orange juice, salt, and vanilla extract.
8. Mix flour with baking powder.
9. Slowly keep on adding to the creamed eggs, and keep on mixing until all flour is used up.
10. Grease (I used Crisco shortening) well a 9×12 cake pan, or bundt cake form, and flour generously to prevent the batter from sticking:

11.  Pour 1/2 of the batter into the pan.

12.  Cover with apples, and smooth the top to keep it evenly spread out.

13.  Pour in the second half of the batter, over the apples.

14.  Bake at 350 degrees F, for 60 minutes (if the top start browning too much, cover loosely with aluminum foil.

15.  Cool in a cake pan for 10 minutes, then remove onto a cooling rack until cooled completely.

16.  Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top of the cake, or sugar glaze, or caramel glaze , if that is what you like.

17.  Cut to serving pieces, and enjoy!

TIP: If you like some crunchiness in this cake, you may add 1 cup of raisins to the apples, and 1/2

cup of walnuts to the batter.

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:

1. 8 oz.  cream cheese, softened
2. ¼ cup honey
3. 2 tsp. cinnamon
4. A pinch of ground cloves (optional)
5. ½  cup Caramel Ice Cream Topping
6. 2 red apples, cored and cut into thin wedges, or chunks
7. 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.

Christmas celebration on December 24-25, and New Year on December 31-January1,(Gregorian calendar), are well known dates to the majority of the population, however, per Julian calendar, Christmas is celebrated on January 6-7, some call it Orthodox Christmas, and the New Year is celebrated on January 13-14. Ukrainian’s call this New Year “Malanka”, the day of St. Melania, or “Generous Eve” (Shchedryi Vechir).

On New Year’s Eve carolers would dress up in various outfits, visit their family and friends, and put on satirical type of skits accompanied by appropriate songs, as well as sing Christmas carols and Shchedrivky (songs of good wishes for the New Year).  New Year’s Eve dinner would be similar to Christmas Eve dinner, but less elaborate.   A lot of fortune telling took place on New Year’s Eve.

However the turning out of events on New Year’s Day was considered a harbinger of the upcoming year.  It was believed that if your New Year Day was great, then the whole year would be as great;  if things were not going too well, then the whole year would be pretty turbulent as well. People would avoid taking naps on New Year’s Day, because this would mean that they would be very lazy during the year.

Early morning on New Year’s Day, young boys would visit the homes of their grandparents, family and friends, and scatter few grains of wheat, or oats, over their floor, as a symbol of good luck and prosperity for the New Year.  They would also recite special verses, express holiday greetings, and well wishes.  As a reward for their visit, they were always treated with sweets and money, since it was considered an honor to be visited, and greeted, by these young “grain sowers”.

Photo of Carolers from Welcome To Ukraine