MEXICAN PARTY DIP

MEXICAN PARTY DIP

1 can refried beans
1 carton sour cream
1 carton avocado flavored party dip
2 med. tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
1 pkg. powdered taco seasoning
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 to 2 c. grated Cheddar cheese
1 to 2 c. grated Monterrey Jack cheese (optional)
1 can pitted olives, sliced or chopped

This dip should be "built" around a party theme. For example, if for Valentine's party, then arrange ingredients on a tray in a heart shape. Start with refried beans (always use beans as first layer because they are impossible to "spread" on top of other ingredients). Mix the taco seasoning with the beans or avocado dip. Add other layers, so that second layer from top is the sour cream. Add red food color to the sour cream before spreading on that layer. Then sprinkle tomatoes on as top layer. You should have a spicy red heart, ready to serve with tortilla chips.

At Halloween, shape and layer ingredients like a Jack-O-Lantern. The grated Cheddar cheese makes an excellent top layer, and use some of the black olives to make eyes, nose and toothy grin.

At Christmas, shape like a Christmas tree. For top layer, mix the avocado dip and sour cream and add green food coloring. Sprinkle some of the green onion "tops" on the tree and "decorate" with black olive ornaments.

LITTLE PARTY PIZZAS

LITTLE PARTY PIZZAS

1/2 lb. mild sausage
1/2 lb. hot sausage
1 lb. processed cheese loaf (Velveeta)
1/2 tsp. oregano
1 or 2 loaves of rye party bread

Cook sausage and cheese in a large skillet until sausage is brown and cheese is melted. Remove from heat; add oregano and set aside to cool. Do not drain grease. Spread the sausage mixture on the party bread and put on a cookie sheet in the freezer. After pizzas are frozen, put in plastic bags to use as needed. Bake on cookie sheets at 400 degrees for about 5 to 10 minutes or until cheese browns.

HAM PARTY BISCUITS

HAM PARTY BISCUITS

1/2 c. soft butter
3 tbsp. mustard
1 lg. onion, grated
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 lb. boiled ham, diced
1/2 lb. Swiss cheese, diced
4 pkgs. party rolls

Mix together butter, mustard, onion, Worcestershire sauce. Add ham and cheese. Fill sliced party rolls with mixture. Heat for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Can be frozen and served later.

HAM AND CHEESE PARTY ROLLS

HAM AND CHEESE PARTY ROLLS

2 pkgs. party rolls
Boiled ham
Swiss cheese

Split party rolls horizontally. Set aside top half. Layer ham and cheese on bottom half. Replace top.

Pour over top the following mixture:

1 stick butter (melted)
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. prepared mustard
1 tbsp. minced onion
1 tbsp. poppy seed (optional)

Heat 25 minutes in 350 degree oven. Cover tightly with foil. (May be frozen before cooking.)

HAM AND CHEESE PARTY ROLLS

HAM AND CHEESE PARTY ROLLS

1 pkg. Pepperidge Farm party rolls
1/2 lb. ham
1/2 lb. Swiss cheese
1 stick butter, melted
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp. Frenchs' yellow mustard
2 tbsp. dried onion flakes
2 tsp. poppy seed, optional

Slice tops off party rolls and place in baking dish. Top with ham and cheese, then spoon on half of butter mixture. Put tops on rolls and spoon other half of butter mixture on them. Cover tightly and refrigerate several hours or overnight. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees until cheese melts. (about 20 minutes). I usually double recipe since rolls are small.

EASY PARTY PIZZA APPETIZERS

EASY PARTY PIZZA APPETIZERS

1 loaf party rye
1 jar Cheez Whiz
Pepperoni slices

Spread party rye with Cheez Whiz. Top with one slice of pepperoni. Put on cookie sheet and place under broiler until bubbly and slightly browned.

CUCUMBER ON PARTY RYE

CUCUMBER ON PARTY RYE

1 loaf Party Rye bread
1 pkg. cream cheese
1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch buttermilk salad dressing mix
Dill weed

Soften cream cheese. Stir in dressing mix. Spread on party rye. Sprinkle with dill weed. Refrigerate. Very good on hot summer evenings.

BITE - SIZE PARTY PIZZA

BITE - SIZE PARTY PIZZA

1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork sausage
1 (12 oz.) bottle catsup
2 loaves mini party rye bread
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. oregano
1 lb. Velveeta cheese

Fry meat and drain. Add spices and catsup. Cube Velveeta and stir into meat mixture until melted. Spread this on slices of party rye. Can be served immediately or frozen on cookie sheets until set and transferred into plastic bags to freeze. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Do not add salt!

BACON BITS AND CHEESE ON PARTY RYE

BACON BITS AND CHEESE ON PARTY RYE

1 loaf of party rye
8 oz. pkg. of grated cheese
1 can of black olives (chopped)
1 c. of mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. red pepper
2 tbsp. grated onion

Mix all ingredients and spread on party rye. Sprinkle with bacon bits. Cook at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese bubbles.

SWEET - SOUR PARTY MEATBALLS

SWEET - SOUR PARTY MEATBALLS

MEATBALLS:

2 lbs. ground beef
Cracker crumbs
1 sm. onion, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. pepper

SWEET - SOUR SAUCE:

1 (15 oz.) can whole tomatoes, cut up
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. cider vinegar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 sm. onion, minced
8 to 10 ginger snaps, crushed
Dash of Worcestershire sauce

Mix meatball ingredients together. Form walnut size balls on cookie sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 7 minutes.

Combine all sweet-sour ingredients in large saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat, simmer until ginger snaps are dissolved. Add meatballs and heat through.

NOTE: Meatballs can be made, baked and frozen, ready to thaw and stir into sauce.

PARTY QUICHE

PARTY QUICHE

Pastry to fill greased quiche pan, pie plates or miniature muffin tins
1 pkg. cream of leek soup mix (Knorr's)
2 c. milk
1 c. cream
4 lg. eggs
1/2 lb. Swiss cheese (grated 2-4 oz. pkg.)
1 tsp. dry mustard

Gradually add milk to soup mix, stirring until smooth. Bring to boiling point. Cool slightly. Stir in cream. Beat eggs with remaining ingredients and add to soup, stirring constantly. Spoon into pastry lined container. For small quiche, bake 5 minutes at 425 degrees; 20 minutes at 375 degrees. For larger, 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until knife comes out clean. I use 29 inch pie plates and divide filling.

PARTY MINI - CHEESECAKES

PARTY MINI - CHEESECAKES

16 oz. softened cream cheese
1 tbsp. lemon juice
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Beat all ingredients until fluffy.

In 2 dozen muffin pans, place cup-cake liners (silver ones are very festive). Drop a vanilla wafer into each lined pan, then fill 2/3 way full with cheesecake mixture.

Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Allow mini cakes to cool (will flatten, after puffing up during cooking), with cherry or blueberry canned pie filling.

MY FAVORITE PARTY SANDWICH

MY FAVORITE PARTY SANDWICH

1 loaf bread (with crusts removed and cut in halves)
1 can crushed pineapple
2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 c. chopped nuts
Mayonnaise

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Use enough mayonnaise so that the mixture will be soft and easily spread on the bread, but not soggy.

ITALIAN PARTY FLANK STEAK

ITALIAN PARTY FLANK STEAK

MARINADE:

1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. red-wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp. chopped parsley
1/4 tsp. coarse black pepper

1 flank steak (3/4" thick, about 1 1/4 lbs.), butterflied
2 red bell peppers
3 tbsp. chopped parsley
6 to 8 slices of Prosciutto or other cured ham
24 med.-sized fresh basil leaves
2 tbsp. grated Parmesan
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 bunch watercress for garnish

Combine marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add butterflied steak and marinate for 2 hours at room temperature.

Preheat broiler. Halve peppers lengthwise; remove seeds. Place, skin-side up on broiler try, 4 inches from heat. Broil until skins are charred black. Seal peppers in a plastic bag for 15 minutes to steam. Slip off skin.

After 2 hours, remove steaks from marinade and scrap on any excess, lay meat opened on a long piece of aluminum foil on a flat surface. Reserve marinade. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place the 4 pepper halves on top of streak to cover it. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of parsley. Cover with Prosciutto slices. Arrange basil leaves in a single layer over complete surface of Prosciutto. Sprinkle the surface with grated Parmesan, the remaining 2 tablespoons parsley and black pepper.

With the long side of the layered steak facing you, lift if from the foil and roll it tightly away from you. It should look like a jelly roll.

With 6 pieces of kitchen string, 8 inches long, tie the steak at 2 to 3 inch intervals. Slip the strings until and around the roll.

Place steak in shallow baking dish and pour marinade over the top. Bake for 30 minutes, basting twice. Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing.

Carefully cut into 1/2 inch slices, discarding string. Arrange on a serving platter garnished with watercress.

Serves 8.

To butterfly flank steak: With long end of the steak facing you, run a thin sharp knife through the middle thickness of meat, leaving about 1/2 inch at the long opposite end to make a "hinge". Flip the meat open to resemble a butterfly.

GLAZED PARTY CHEX MIX

GLAZED PARTY CHEX MIX

2 c. each of Rice, Wheat, and Corn Chex
1/2 bag (stick) Keebler butter stock pretzels (break each stick in half)
1 c. pecan halves
1 c. Cheerios

Mix dry ingredients together in buttered roaster.

Take 1 cup butter and 1 cup brown sugar; melt slowly and mix together thoroughly.

Butter roaster before starting. After pouring dry mix in roaster, drizzle melted sauce over all and mix thoroughly. Bake in 350 degree oven for 8 minutes. Stir and re-bake for 8 minutes more.

Spread newspaper on table, and either wax paper or foil on top of it. Dump out.

CHEX HOT & SPICY PARTY MIX

CHEX HOT & SPICY PARTY MIX

1/2 c. butter
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. chili powder
4 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. hot pepper sauce
2 c. Rice Chex cereal
2 c. Bran Chex cereal
1 c. salted nuts
2 c. Wheat Chex cereal

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Heat butter in large shallow roasting pan in oven until melted. Remove, stir in seasonings. Add Chex and nuts. Mix until all pieces are coated. Heat in oven 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on absorbent paper to cool.

PARTY SANDWICH LOAF

PARTY SANDWICH LOAF

1 loaf unsliced white bread
Butter
1 can deviled ham
1/4 c. sweet pickle relish
1 med. jar Cheez Whiz
1 recipe egg salad made with 4 eggs
Softened cream cheese
Milk
Food coloring

Slice bread LENGTHWISE into 4 slices. Butter slices, combine the deviled ham and pickle relish and spread on one slice of the bread. Top with second slice of bread - buttered side down and spread with Cheez Whiz. Top with third slice of bread-buttered side down, and spread with egg salad. Top with remaining slice-buttered side down. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

When ready to serve blend room temperature cream cheese with small amount of milk to spreading consistency, tint with food coloring and frost sandwich loaf. Refrigerate and slice thin to serve.

Transfer the frosted loaf to a pretty party tray and decorate with grape cluster, fresh flowers, parsley, vegetable cut outs, etc.

CUCUMBER PARTY SANDWICHES

CUCUMBER PARTY SANDWICHES

1 (8 oz.) pkg. softened cream cheese
1 stick butter, softened
1 pkg. Good Seasons mild Italian dressing (dry)
1 (8 oz.) loaf party rye bread
2 cucumbers, unpeeled & thinly sliced
Dill weed for garnish

Combine cream cheese, butter and dressing mix. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Spread on each slice of bread, top with cucumber slice and sprinkle with dill. Serve immediately.

Makes about 3 dozen.

NOTE: Especially good in summer when cucumbers are best.

BEACH PARTY PICKLED EGGS AND BOILED

BEACH PARTY PICKLED EGGS AND BOILED
PEANUTS

We don't particularly think these recipes compliment each other, but after consuming a quantity of beer, most people enjoy both.

DESERT PARTY PICKLED EGGS:

3 c. white vinegar
1/4 c. sugar
2 tbsp. pickling spice
3 tsp. salt
1 bay leaf
16 oz. jar Hot chili peppers
18 shelled hard boiled eggs

Cook first 5 ingredients in medium saucepan over high heat until sugar completely dissolves. Add juice and a few peppers. Put eggs in a 2 quart jar and cover with pickling mixture and store 1 to 2 days in refrigerator before serving. Let warm to room temperature and serve with plenty of salt, black pepper and red hot sauce.

DESERT PARTY BOILED GOOBERS
1 to 2 lbs. raw peanuts in shell
1 c. salt

Place peanuts and salt in large stock pot and add enough water so that all peanuts are floating. Bring to a boil, turn off flame and let stand overnight. Next morning, bring water and peanuts back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 3 to 5 hours, checking frequently for desired doneness.

MOM'S SPECIAL PARTY DRINK

MOM'S SPECIAL PARTY DRINK

4 liters of ginger ale or lemon/lime soft drink
1 quart of lemon/lime sherbet
lemons and limes (optional)

Chill soft drink overnight. Mix ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. Add fresh slices of lime and/or lemons, and a few drops of fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice, if desired.

Serve over ice with a sliced of lime or lemon over the glass rim.

About 20 large servings.