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\nThe holiday season is officially underway here in the Windy City, and residents of our Chicago apartments are busy putting up decorations and planning get-togethers. This time of year, it seems, our calendars are jam-packed with holiday-related activities. If you're planning — or contributing to — the menu for an upcoming party, have some fun with these quick and easy snack recipes.<\/p>\n
Peanut Butter Truffles<\/h2>\n\n- 2 1\/2 cups softened confectioners' sugar<\/li>\n
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter<\/li>\n
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted<\/li>\n
- 1\/2 teaspoon vanilla extract<\/li>\n
- 1\/2 teaspoon kosher salt<\/li>\n
- Truffle accompaniments: sprinkles, crushed nuts, coconut, mini-chocolate chips or candies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Beat ingredients together with an electric mixer until well-combined. Form the mixture into teaspoon-size balls and place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Roll truffles in accompaniments. Chill until firm.<\/p>\n
Corn Dip<\/h2>\n\n- Cooking spray<\/li>\n
- Two 11-ounce cans Mexican corn, drained<\/li>\n
- Two 4.5-ounce cans green chiles, drained<\/li>\n
- 2 cups grated Monterey jack cheese<\/li>\n
- 2\/3 cup grated Parmesan<\/li>\n
- 1 cup mayonnaise<\/li>\n
- Corn chips<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish. In a medium bowl, combine the ingredients. Spread the mixture into a baking dish. Bake uncovered, until mixture bubbles around the edges (30-40 minutes). Serve warm with corn chips.<\/p>\n
Holiday Roll-ups<\/h2>\n\n- 2 packages softened cream cheese<\/li>\n
- 1 package ranch dressing mix<\/li>\n
- Ground black pepper<\/li>\n
- 5 flour tortillas<\/li>\n
- 1\/2 finely diced green bell pepper<\/li>\n
- 1\/2 finely diced red bell pepper<\/li>\n
- 2 sliced green onions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Thoroughly combine ranch dressing mix, cream cheese and black pepper. Spread mixture on the tortillas, sprinkle the vegetables over them and roll up tightly. Wrap the roll-ups in plastic and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.<\/p>\n
Christmas Tree Melts<\/h2>\n
(These make great cake or cupcake-toppers.)<\/p>\n
\n- Pretzel sticks<\/li>\n
- 1 cup green candy melts<\/li>\n
- Rainbow nonpareils<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Arrange pretzel sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Microwave green candy melts at 30-second intervals until completely melted, then transfer to a piping bag. Draw zigzagging lines to create a Christmas tree shape over the top half of each pretzel stick. Sprinkle with nonpareils. Let stand 10 minutes to set. Make a few extras in case some break.<\/p>\n
Beat ingredients together with an electric mixer until well-combined. Form the mixture into teaspoon-size balls and place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Roll truffles in accompaniments. Chill until firm.<\/p>\n
Corn Dip<\/h2>\n\n- Cooking spray<\/li>\n
- Two 11-ounce cans Mexican corn, drained<\/li>\n
- Two 4.5-ounce cans green chiles, drained<\/li>\n
- 2 cups grated Monterey jack cheese<\/li>\n
- 2\/3 cup grated Parmesan<\/li>\n
- 1 cup mayonnaise<\/li>\n
- Corn chips<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish. In a medium bowl, combine the ingredients. Spread the mixture into a baking dish. Bake uncovered, until mixture bubbles around the edges (30-40 minutes). Serve warm with corn chips.<\/p>\n
Holiday Roll-ups<\/h2>\n\n- 2 packages softened cream cheese<\/li>\n
- 1 package ranch dressing mix<\/li>\n
- Ground black pepper<\/li>\n
- 5 flour tortillas<\/li>\n
- 1\/2 finely diced green bell pepper<\/li>\n
- 1\/2 finely diced red bell pepper<\/li>\n
- 2 sliced green onions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Thoroughly combine ranch dressing mix, cream cheese and black pepper. Spread mixture on the tortillas, sprinkle the vegetables over them and roll up tightly. Wrap the roll-ups in plastic and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.<\/p>\n
Christmas Tree Melts<\/h2>\n
(These make great cake or cupcake-toppers.)<\/p>\n
\n- Pretzel sticks<\/li>\n
- 1 cup green candy melts<\/li>\n
- Rainbow nonpareils<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Arrange pretzel sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Microwave green candy melts at 30-second intervals until completely melted, then transfer to a piping bag. Draw zigzagging lines to create a Christmas tree shape over the top half of each pretzel stick. Sprinkle with nonpareils. Let stand 10 minutes to set. Make a few extras in case some break.<\/p>\n
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish. In a medium bowl, combine the ingredients. Spread the mixture into a baking dish. Bake uncovered, until mixture bubbles around the edges (30-40 minutes). Serve warm with corn chips.<\/p>\n
Holiday Roll-ups<\/h2>\n\n- 2 packages softened cream cheese<\/li>\n
- 1 package ranch dressing mix<\/li>\n
- Ground black pepper<\/li>\n
- 5 flour tortillas<\/li>\n
- 1\/2 finely diced green bell pepper<\/li>\n
- 1\/2 finely diced red bell pepper<\/li>\n
- 2 sliced green onions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Thoroughly combine ranch dressing mix, cream cheese and black pepper. Spread mixture on the tortillas, sprinkle the vegetables over them and roll up tightly. Wrap the roll-ups in plastic and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.<\/p>\n
Christmas Tree Melts<\/h2>\n
(These make great cake or cupcake-toppers.)<\/p>\n
\n- Pretzel sticks<\/li>\n
- 1 cup green candy melts<\/li>\n
- Rainbow nonpareils<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Arrange pretzel sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Microwave green candy melts at 30-second intervals until completely melted, then transfer to a piping bag. Draw zigzagging lines to create a Christmas tree shape over the top half of each pretzel stick. Sprinkle with nonpareils. Let stand 10 minutes to set. Make a few extras in case some break.<\/p>\n
Thoroughly combine ranch dressing mix, cream cheese and black pepper. Spread mixture on the tortillas, sprinkle the vegetables over them and roll up tightly. Wrap the roll-ups in plastic and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.<\/p>\n
Christmas Tree Melts<\/h2>\n
(These make great cake or cupcake-toppers.)<\/p>\n
- \n
- Pretzel sticks<\/li>\n
- 1 cup green candy melts<\/li>\n
- Rainbow nonpareils<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Arrange pretzel sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Microwave green candy melts at 30-second intervals until completely melted, then transfer to a piping bag. Draw zigzagging lines to create a Christmas tree shape over the top half of each pretzel stick. Sprinkle with nonpareils. Let stand 10 minutes to set. Make a few extras in case some break.<\/p>\n