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.

Have you ever attended The Pampered Chef cooking show/party?  Last weekend my daughter hosted such a party, and we all had so much fun.  Chef Taryn demonstrated few of her favorite party food recipes, and allowed me to take some pictures, and to post the recipes.

If you are familiar with The Pampered Chef, you already know that besides their special cookbooks, they have an interesting selection of kitchen gadgets, utensils, and cookware.  Some of the items they sell are really very useful, and a must for every cook/chef in their kitchen.  I will write a review about the items I selected, once these are delivered to me, and I get a chance to test them out.

Here is one of the recipes from The Pampered Chef party.  If you are looking for a quick and simple idea for a party food that is filling, appetizing, and great tasting, you will love this Turkey (or Beef) Taco Ring.  It looks great, and your guests will think that you slaved over it for hours, but it only takes about 15 minutes to prepare and 25-30 minutes to bake.  You can’t beat that!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ lbs lean ground turkey (or beef)
• 1 package (1.25 oz), Taco Seasoning Mix
• 1 ¾ cups Cheddar Cheese, shredded
• 2 Tbs water
• 1 eggs white, lightly beaten
• 2 (8oz) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
• Toppings: salsa, sour cream, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, green onions

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Cook ground turkey in a large skillet over medium heat for 10–12 minutes, or until no longer pink.
3. Break meat into crumbles.
4. Drain excess fat.
5. Stir in Taco Mix, 1 ½ cups of the cheese, and water.
6. Set aside.
7. Unroll the crescent rolls dough, and separate into 16 triangles.
8. Arrange on a Large Round Stone, and arrange triangles, slightly overlapping, in a circle, with the points or the triangles pointing outwards (looks like a bursting sun).
9. With your hands, press the overlapping ends together, to form a base of the ring.
10. Using a large ice cream scooper, scoop filling evenly over the ring base, in a circle, placing one scoop at the base of each triangle.
11. Bring the points of the triangles up, over the filling, and tuck them under the dough at the base of the ring.
12. Filling will show in between the triangle pieces.
13. Brush the top of the ring with an egg white.
14. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
15. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
16. Transfer to a serving platter, fill the middle of the ring with the toppings (lettuce, tomatoes, onions), accompanied by salsa and sour cream.
17. Cut into serving pieces, leaving them in the ring shape.

Tip: You can also make this recipe with chopped ham and broccoli, instead of the taco turkey mixture.

I do not have the Large Round Pizza Stone, yet, so I use a round pizza pan and grease it well.

Some people love to entertain and try new recipes.  My daughter is one of those people.  She and her family are surrounded by the best neighbors in the world….really, I am not kidding.  They all get along so well, and there is always some sort of a party going on.  They all have such great ideas for parties, which brings up all sorts of new recipes to taste and to experiment with.  I also benefit from these events, as I volunteer to babysit my granddaughter,  and sample these wonderful foods.

Today I will share a recipe for a really scrumptious Jalapeno Corn Dip, which I love just as much as the popular Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip,  I posted previously.  I bet you will love it as well, and everyone will ask you for the recipe!!!.  All you have to do is to tell them to visit my site, and spare yourself the trouble of writing it out…..thanks.

Ingredients:

• 16 oz. frozen white shoe peg corn, thawed
• 4 oz. sweet butter (1 stick)
• 16 oz. low fat cream cheese (2, 8 oz. packages)
• 6 oz. Jalapeno Pepper slices, chopped (or more for extra spicy)
• Salt and Cayenne Pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in a pan on a stove top.
2. Add corn, and mix well.
3. Add cream cheese to mixture, and stir until melted and creamy.
4. Season to taste with salt and cayenne pepper.
5. Serve with Tortilla chips, or corn scoops.

TIP: This dip is best served warm, and a small, 1-2 qt.  crock pot,  is very handy to keep it warm.

This cute, compact  crock pot is also a great gift idea for the party lover on your list.

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.