It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…everywhere I go! I hope it is where you are too! Today I am featuring the best appetizers and drink recipes to help you entertain like a pro this holy season.
Need some last minute gift ideas for entertainers or stocking stuffer inspiration for teens and college kids? Or maybe you’ve got college boys or college girls to buy for; I’ve got you covered.
Our boys come home this week! First semester of Junior and Freshman year in the books! So grateful to have them home for a few weeks this holiday season.
I know that this time is borrowed to some degree, and that soon they will have their own places, new jobs, and God willing families of their own, but until then, they are still my “boys” – even though they tower over me!
I love it when readers send me pictures of how they used a recipe or one of my freebies! This week Melissa sent me a picture of how she used my Free Delivery Drive Thank You Sign. Inspirational!!
Buckle your seat belt, and use that table of contents just below to pop around to where you want
Swoon Worthy Appetizers
Are you like me and could easily enjoy appetizers for dinner every night!? I love it, the variety, the choices, so many delicious dishes to choose from. Here are my favorite holiday appetizers that are not only easy, but, yes, swoon worthy!
Starting with this crowning jewel of the cocktail party world! This heavy appetizer is so easy, just 3 ingredients, 5 minutes and go! A great make-ahead appetizer, that uses canned or leftover cranberry sauce or a quick and easy recipe for Cranberry Orange Bourbon Sauce (um, yum!).
3 Ingredient Cranberry Meatballs
Best Crudite Dip Recipe for Veggie Platters
NEW! This is the best Crudite dip recipe you’ll ever make! Throw together the ingredients in minutes, then serve with crisp raw vegetables, chips, or crackers. The perfect recipe for parties and potlucks, the dip that will have everyone begging for the recipe.
Best Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
This Cranberry Cream Cheese dip is not only easy, is perfect for the holiday season. 4-ingredients to this cheesy, sweet-tart, salty and savory hot dip. Using homemade or leftover cranberry sauce, this cream cheese cranberry dip will be raved about at your next party.
Goat Cheese Log with Hot Honey, Fig and Pistachios
This goat cheese log is packed with a combination of tangy, salty, and sweet flavors. I love how the fig preserves, honey, and pistachios play against each other. It’s a fantastic starter for a fancy party or casual potluck!
Cowboy Crack Dip Recipe (Hot or Cold)
Not your average Philadelphia cream cheese dip recipe. Cowboy Crack Dip is cheesy, creamy, savory, and fresh — the perfect appetizer. This Crack Dip recipe is a classic appetizer ideal for your next party; like the big game, holiday get-togethers, a clear party favorite!
Crockpot Ranch Chicken
This mouthwatering Crockpot Ranch Chicken recipe is just too good to be just an appetizer! It’s absolutely overloaded with flavor, is so dreamy and creamy, and is a bit addictive, keeping you coming back for bite after bite. Just 4 main ingredients makes it truly a dump and go main dish or appetizer. And I've made this small batch, but it easily doubles for a crowd.
Easy Oven Baked Turkey and Cheese Sliders Recipe
One of the best thing about the holidays are the amazing leftovers and these Turkey and Cheese Sliders are one of our favorites! Leftover turkey, gooey, rich cheese makes the most amazing quick dinner, appetizer or lunch!
Hammy Sammies – Funeral Sliders
One of my most beloved recipes; these Ham and Cheese Sliders or as we like to call them Hammy Sammies, made with ham, cheese, Hawaiian King’s Rolls and a to-die-for brown sugar, Dijon, Worcestershire butter sauce!
Roast Beef Sliders
With layers of thinly sliced roast beef, melty cheese and caramelized onions, sandwiched between Hawaiian bread rolls. These Roast Beef Sliders will become your favorite appetizer, tailgating snack or easy dinner!
Philly Cheesesteak Sliders Recipe
A sensational twist on a much-loved classic, this Philly Cheesesteak Sliders recipe packs all the savory and cheesy flavors of a traditional Philly sandwich into just a couple of bites! Kick up your game day menu with these easy shaved steak sliders.
Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon & Dates
With tangy whipped goat cheese, savory bacon, and sweet dates, this is one goat cheese appetizer that absolutely can’t be beat. And with so much room to customize, you can make it entirely your own. Dip into this tantalizing first course with warm toasted bread and say hello to your go-to holiday appetizer from here on out!
3 Ingredient Sausage Dip
Seriously, the pictures do NOT do this justice and I need to re-shoot, but this 3 ingredient sausage cream cheese dip is wildly delicious and with just 3 steps, crazy easy! A fast and hearty appetizer great for game day parties! Plus you can make it on the stovetop, oven or crockpot.
Easy Pesto Appetizer Recipe with Burrata and Roasted Tomatoes
This Easy Pesto Appetizer Recipe with Burrata and Roasted Tomatoes is gorgeous, versatile and delicious! This recipe includes fresh roasted cherry tomatoes, delicate burrata cheese, and warm and crispy baguette crostini topped with a pop of green with fresh basil pesto.
Festive Drinks for Everyone
Whether you are looking for a winter warmer, a tasty cocktail, a bright and vibrant mocktail, I have you covered! With 10 delicious drinks for everyone on your list.
Easy Wassail Hot Cider Recipe
We’ll start with a brand new one, this flavorful and oh so delicious, warm and spicy Hot Mulled Cider Wassail recipe. Make it on the stovetop or in your crockpot!
Hot Non-Alcoholic Drinks
As your chestnuts are roasting on an open fire, maybe Jack Frost has been nipping at your toes AND your nose, warm up with any one of these delicious hot drinks!
White Hot Chocolate Recipe
A quick and easy recipe on how to make a Starbucks White Hot Chocolate recipe at home. Save time and money, by making this fast copycat white hot chocolate recipe in the comfort of your own home.
Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe for Two
A classic! A simple and delicious homemade hot chocolate with chocolate chips, this all-natural Hot Chocolate for two (or four or more) uses common pantry ingredients.
Homemade Eggnog Latte Recipe
Celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with my rich, creamy Copycat Starbucks Eggnog Latte recipe. This homemade eggnog latte is so simple to make and so festive to drink! Enjoy this warm eggnog coffee drink before a crisp morning walk, or as a special treat on a chilly afternoon.
Honey Citrus Mint Tea
When you are under the weather, there is nothing like herbal teas; those warm liquids soothe a sore throat. This copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball Tea Recipe is just what you need to warm your soul and soothe your throat, a super cold buster.
The Best Christmas Morning Chai Recipe
This holiday season enjoy this copycat Dutch Bros Christmas Morning Chai recipe. A chai latte that is spicy and flavorful chai tea mixed with half and half and swirled with white chocolate syrup. Delicious hot or cold.
Turmeric and Ginger Tea
Golden Milk or Turmeric Tea is a powerful, soothing, warm, immune boosting, antioxidant loaded, anti-inflammatory drink that also aids in sleep!
Homemade Chai Tea Latte
Using everyday ingredients, save money by creating your own all natural Chai Tea Latte, superior to a fancy coffee shop.
Classy Cocktails (Hot & Cold)
Enjoy these cocktails with festive flavors all through the winter months. Most of these cocktails you can also make into mocktails and I give the how-to in the recipe itself!
Spiced Holiday Sangria Recipe (hot or cold)
Browse through this bevy of drinks, try them all, but not at the same time! Starting with this beauty — a brand new spiced holiday sangria recipe, make chilled or as a hot mulled wine!
Pomegranate Cocktail Recipe
Pomegranate cocktail has pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice and a splash of chilled club soda to make it all sparkle! A vodka punch recipe that is easily adapted to be non-alcoholic!
Christmas Margarita Recipe (Hibiscus and Pomegranate)
A festive Christmas margarita recipe! Yes! This hibiscus pomegranate margarita recipe is a lovely twist on the classic margarita with a sweet and tangy combo using homemade syrup it is sure to become a favorite Christmas cocktail. Some might even call it the perfect mistletoe margarita!
Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini
This Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini is a sweet-tart; bright, delicious and festive holiday cocktail! With easy make-ahead cranberry simple syrup. So beautiful!
Tangerine and Thyme Gin & Tonic
A twist on the typical Gin & Tonic, incorporating seasonal fruits and thyme. Blood orange and tangerine enhance this bright and lively cocktail, perfect for a dinner party or a romantic dinner. One of my favorite holiday drinks!
Hibiscus Dark and Stormy Drink Recipe
This Hibiscus Dark and Stormy recipe is just the vibrant burst of tropical sunshine we need! Dark rum, spicy, floral hibiscus ginger beer and fresh lime juice is all it takes!
Cranberry Bourbon Sour Cocktail
Cranberry Bourbon Sour cocktail recipe, made with 4 simple ingredients. Smoky bourbon, fresh lemon juice, 100% tart cranberry juice, lightly sweetened with cane sugar simple syrup! A low sugar, all-natural drink, perfect for fall and winter celebrations. I love seasonal, simple, delicious bourbon cocktails; especially cocktails you can easily modify into mocktails! If you love
Hot Buttered Rum
Hot Buttered Rum is a soul warming winter cocktail! Rich and buttery, this delicious batter with butter, sugar, ice cream, nutmeg, and cinnamon is a classic American drink. This recipe makes a large amount of batter, kept in the freezer, so you can use all winter long!
Cold Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Because sometimes you don’t want to mess with it, or you still want to make a fun drink for kids or those who choose not to imbibe! Wait no longer and browse these beauties!
Easy Cranberry Spritzer (by the glass or pitcher)
A bright and delicious twist on the traditional Shirley Temple with an easy to make cranberry simple syrup – even more fun with served with a glass filled with freshly fallen snow!
Passion Tea Lemonade Recipe
Copycat Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade is so refreshing with passion fruit flavors. Today I’m showing you how to make one at home for a fraction of the cost. It is my favorite drink, full of refreshing tart flavor perfect for summertime. Ideal for summer, but super festive in the winter!
Easy Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade
There is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a tall glass of iced peach green tea lemonade. This copycat Starbucks version is a bit lighter, using all natural flavor, no sugar, fresh peach juice, light lemonade and Jade Citrus Mint Tea, a flavorful green tea.
Easy Blueberry Limeade Drink
Using a homemade blueberry syrup, make this easy, refreshing Blueberry Limeade drink, or use lemonade for a blueberry lemonade either way, this is a sweet and easy, non-alcoholic drink recipe. Great in the winter for it’s vibrant colors!
How to Make a Homemade Strawberry Refresher
The Strawberry Refresher is a light non-alcoholic drink made with summer fresh strawberry syrup, lime juice and your favorite mixer. Refreshing and delicious anytime of the year.
A Peek into my Week
Whew the weeks are flying by and I cannot believe this weekend is the last full weekend before Christmas! I’ve been working quite a bit so I can take a couple weeks off over the holiday, you might still see an email or two from me, but I will be taking some time to spend time with family and friends, do a little skiing (if we get some snow) and sleep in!
I did sneak in making another batch of my Crockpot Peanut Clusters this week to give to friends and neighbors. A very hands off recipe, makes loads and they freeze great! Don’t forget to print your FREE “We’re Nut’s About You” gift tags! << this link will take you straight to the download.
Weekly Inspiration
I loved this quote from one of my favorite Advent books, The Greatest Gift:
“The spirit of Christmas needs to be superseded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ is supernatural. The spirit of Christmas is a human product; the Spirit of Christ is a divine person. That makes all the difference in the world. ” (italics mine)
Stuart Briscoe (quoted in The Greatest Gift)
Have a beautiful, restful week my friend!
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Debbie
I LOVE today’s inspiration! I need to get that book. I did a Bible study many years ago called God’s Name, God’s Nature written by Jill.
Sounds amazing!! Thank you friend and merry Christmas!