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Holiday Ideas and Recipes

Holiday’s are the best time to reflect and be thankful for the many blessings and experiences we encountered over the past year. Another favorite holiday tradition is trying new recipes and DYI projects. Here are a few of our favorites this year.

Cheese Ball Bites

Our favorite word to hear in front of cheese is “loaded.”

Yields: 18     Prep Time: 15 Minutes      Total Time: 1 Hour 15 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
8 slices bacon
1 1/2 oz. (8-oz.) blocks cream cheese, softened
1 c. shredded cheddar
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/3 c. freshly chopped chives
1/3 c. finely chopped pecans
18 pretzels sticks

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large nonstick skillet, cook bacon until crispy, 8 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate, then finely chop. Set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and paprika and season with salt and pepper. Use a cookie scoop to form mixture into 18 small balls and transfer to a parchment–lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.
3. In a shallow bowl, stir together bacon, chives, and pecans.
4. Roll balls in bacon-chive-pecan mixture, insert a pretzel stick into each, and let come to room temperature 15 minutes before serving. (If not serving right away, loosely cover with plastic wrap and return to fridge.)

Make sure to add the pretzels just before serving. Otherwise they get soggy! Enjoy!!

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Fried Mashed Potato Balls

This easy recipe turns those sad leftover mashed potatoes into something MAGICAL. If you’ve got more leftovers on your hands, you gotta check out these recipes to revive your Thanksgiving remnants. I’m especially fond of these insane Friendsgiving Nachos.

Yields: 5 Servings     Prep Time: 15 minutes     Total Time: 25 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
3 c. leftover mashed potatoes
3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2/3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbsp. thinly sliced chives
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 egg, beaten
1 1/3 c. panko bread crumbs
Vegetable oil, for frying

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, combine mashed potatoes with cooked bacon, cheddar, chives, and garlic powder, and season with salt and pepper. Stir until all ingredients are incorporated.
2. Place eggs and panko in separate shallow bowls. Use a small cookie scoop to scoop 1” to 2” balls of mashed potato mixture. Roll into a ball in your hands, then dredge first in egg and then in panko. Repeat until all mashed potatoes are used.
3. Heat 3” of oil in a large cast iron skillet until candy thermometer reads 375°. Fry potato balls in batches until golden on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. 4. 4. Drain on a paper towel lined plate and season immediately with more salt.

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Here are a couple of great Mimosas’s that will make you holiday party even more festive!!

Christmosas

The only thing you need in your hand while you open presents.

Yields: 8 Servings     Prep Time: 20 Minutes     Total Time: 20 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
2 Granny Smith apples, chopped
1 c. whole fresh cranberries
1 c. green grapes, halved
1 c. pomegranate seeds
1 c. sparkling grape juice
1 (750-ml.) bottle Champagne, Prosecco, or Cava

DIRECTIONS
In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine apples, cranberries, grapes, and pomegranate seeds. Pour over sparkling grape juice and Champagne and stir well to serve.

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Peppermint Bark Mimosas

These mimosas are just the thing to get you in the holiday spirit! Wanna double up on holiday cheer? Serve with our classic gingerbread for full-on holiday vibes.

Yields: 6 Servings     Prep Time: 5 Minutes     Total Time: 5 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
1/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips, melted
3 candy canes, crushed
6 oz. peppermint schnapps, divided
1 bottle champagne or prosecco
6 candy canes, whole

DIRECTIONS
1. Pour melted chocolate onto a small plate. Pour crushed candy canes onto a separate plate. Dip rims of champagne flutes first in chocolate, then in crushed candy canes to coat.
2. Add an ounce of peppermint schnapps to each glass, then top with champagne or prosecco. Garnish with full candy canes before serving.

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We all love to give DYI a try and what better time to do that than at the holidays. Everyone loves a gift that was made by hand, especially by you! Here are a couple of great ideas to share your creativeness.

Mason Jar Food Gifts That Are Easy But Thoughtful

No one will be mad about receiving an edible gift this holiday season. Homemade eats (or drinks!) are thoughtful and take time to prepare, so even if they’re low-budget, they are a nice way to show someone you care. These mason jar picks will be a winner for your friends, family, and co-workers, promise!

Blood Mary Pickles

These lil guys can get spicy! If you like it hot, add the full amount of horseradish and as much hot sauce as you’d like. If you prefer a milder pickle, reduce the horseradish by half and maybe leave out the hot sauce.

Yields: 3 Servings     Prep Time: 5 Minutes     Total Time: 35 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
3 small cucumbers, such as Persians, ends trimmed and quartered lengthwise
3 lemon rounds
1/3 c. tomato juice
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. prepared horseradish
1/2 tsp. black peppercorns
1/2 tsp. salt
1 garlic clove, cut into thirds
Dash of hot sauce
1/4 c. vodka

DIRECTIONS
1. Pack cucumbers, lemon rounds, and garlic into a 16-oz. glass jar.
2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine tomato juice, lemon juice, horseradish, peppercorns, salt, and hot sauce. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in vodka.
3. Pour over cucumbers. Let cool completely, then seal with lid and refrigerate until cold.

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Candy Cane Vodka

Give your vodka a holiday twist!

Yields: 1     Prep Time: 5 Minutes     Total Time: 3 Hours 5 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
5 candy canes, broken into small pieces
2 c. plain vodka
hot chocolate, for serving (optional)
Whipped cream, for serving (optional)
crushed candy canes, for serving (optional)

DIRECTIONS
1. Combine candy canes and vodka in a mason jar and shake. Chill in the refrigerator until the vodka is bright red and the candy have dissolved, about 4-5 hours.
2. Serve cold, as a shot, or stirred into hot chocolate. If the latter, garnish with whipped cream and crushed candy canes.

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Avocado Pickles

Yep, you heard us right.

Yields: 4     Prep Time: 15 Minutes     Total Time: 3 Hours 15 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
1 c. distilled white vinegar
1 c. water
1/3 c. sugar
1 tbsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
5 sprigs cilantro
2 underripe avocados, peeled and thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS
1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine vinegar, water, sugar and salt and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. When the sugar and salt have dissolved, set aside to cool.
2. In a mason jar, place red pepper flakes, garlic, cilantro, and avocado slices. Pour cooled pickling mixture into the jar and seal tightly with a lid.
3. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.

 

We hope that enjoy making some of these great items, we know it will be a hit at all of your holiday parties.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the entire Coastal Tides Realty team!!

 

Source: All recipes are from Delish, https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/christmas

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