recipes for parties: make, take or give away
Life is hard; food doesn't have to be #155 [vol4, 12.1]
Tis the season for parties. Below are recipes for parties (to make, take or give away!) and something to listen to on a road trip to the party.
Cranberry Punch
At Thanksgiving we set up a self-serve drink station. I made a punch concentrate with hand made note card explaining how to make the drink. It’s not rocket science, but everyone enjoyed crafting their own drink from a simple concentrate.
Cranberry Concentrate Ingredients
12 oz cranberries
4 c water
1 t cinnamon or 2 sticks
12 whole cloves
Simmer until fruit is tender then strain.
To the red liquid, add
1 c sugar
half can pineapple juice concentrate.
Craft Your Drink
Fill half the cup with cranberry concentrate then fill with Sprite or bubbly. Ice is optional. Garnish with cranberries, orange slices or fresh mint.
I spent way too long making an Instagram reel showing how to make it.
Notes
You can use the leftover cranberry pulp after straining (be sure to pick out whole cloves!) by folding it into muffin or scone batter.
Simmer in apple juice instead of water and reduce sugar.
Try orange juice concentrate instead of pineapple.
Use sparkling apple juice instead of Sprite.
Garnish with iced cranberries, orange slices or sprigs of mint.
Appetizers
Make Ahead Spinach Balls - with parmesan, eggs and store bought stuffing you might not even taste the spinach.
Reuben Dip
1/2 pound corned beef, thin or shredded at grocery then diced
1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sauerkraut, drained well
1/2 cup sour cream
1 T ketchup
2 t spicy brown mustard
Rye crackers or rye bread
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium size bowl mix all ingredients. Spoon into a pie plate or casserole dish.
3. Bake for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve warm with crackers or bread.
Optional: drizzle thousand island dressing on top for a bit of extra sweetness.
Double this for a party!
Gift Ideas
Redeemed Reader - Book Reviews and Resources for Christian Parents. My 13yo daughter asked us to surprise her with some new fiction. The website gives suggested reads by age or read alouds. We love new ideas of books to borrow from the library.
Window Bird Feeder - I’ve given 2 to my parents and have one myself. Hours of entertainment.
Clean skin care or makeup - Beautycounter has 30% off select holiday sets until Sunday.
Have you seen these table top fire pits that burn rubbing alcohol? I bought some on Black Friday.
Homemade consumable gifts might be my favorite. Below are two easy crowd pleasing ideas. Add a fun or quirky bow to a glass jar and you’ve got smiles.
Easy Homemade Chocolate Syrup
1 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 c sugar
1/4 t sea salt
1 c water
3 t vanilla extract
Whisk cocoa, sugar and salt in a pot till combined. Add water and whisk till well blended. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove syrup from heat, let it cool for a bit and then add the vanilla. Store in a glass jar in the fridge. Use a scoop in a glass of milk or drizzle over ice cream.
Easy Caramel Sauce
I make it in an unorthodox way. Most recipes are fussy about temperatures and boiling times, etc. I just want this to be a smooth delicious drizzle, so I don't take temperatures.
In a saucepan, stir 1 cup packed brown cane sugar (light or dark, just make sure it's cane sugar, otherwise you're eating GMOs). Add 1-2 T water, generous pinch of salt and gentle heat then stir till melted.
Add a stick of butter, let melt. Add a cup of cream. Store in glass. Easily doubled.
Road Trip Listening
Here’s something for the family to listen to on a road trip (or just while folding laundry) - a podcast called How to Take Over the World. Spotify or Apple.
The description says:
Anyone who has achieved greatness has, in part, patterned themselves after those who came before. Napoleon learned from Charlemagne, Charlemagne learned from Caesar, and Caesar learned from Alexander the Great. This podcast analyzes the lives of some of the greatest men and women to ever live. By examining their strategies, tactics, mindset, and work habits, How to Take Over the World helps you understand the great ones, so that you can follow in their footsteps.
In my 7th / 8th grade world history class students are in the middle ages learning about one of the richest men in history: Mansa Musa. Learn about him on Spotify or Apple.
Also, learn why Joan of Arc is a French national hero + symbol of national pride Spotify: part 1 , part 2 or Apple: part 1 and part 2. Eric Metaxes also wrote about her in his book 7 Women (recommended).
Others highlighted on the above mentioned podcast: Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Leonardo di Vinci, Oppenheimer, Wright brothers, Walt Disney, Frederick Douglass and so many more.
Last week I wrote about Supporting the Body in Sickness… and then my mom came down with a something. I hope you are staying well!
What are you making these days?
Life is hard; food doesn’t have to be.
Julie
PS - Have you made these easy, chewy, buttery gingerbread cookies? Please do.
The gingerbread cookie recipe looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it.