Holiday Appetizers

Spinach Spread

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

½ cup mayonnaise

½ (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

½ can water chestnuts, drained and chopped

2 Tbsp. bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 green onion, chopped

1 tsp. dill weed

1 small garlic clove, minced

1/4 tsp. seasoned salt

dash pepper

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and mayonnaise.  Stir in the remaining ingredients.  Spoon into a bowl.  Microwave until heated through.  

Serve with bread, crackers, or raw vegetables.

Sweet Sausage Rolls

1 tube crescent rolls

24 miniature smoked sausage

½ cup butter, melted

3 Tbsp. honey

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

Unroll crescent dough and separate into triangles; cut each into three small triangles.  Place a sausage on each and roll up.  Combine the melted butter, honey and brown sugar in a 9x13 baking dish.  Roll rolled up sausages in butter mixture and arrange seam side down.  Bake uncovered at 400 for 15-20 minutes.

Holiday Chex Mix

6 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup

Combine in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil and continue cooking for 3 minutes.
Add 1/2 tsp. vanilla.

In a large bowl mix:
5 cups rice Chex cereal
1/2 small package coconut
1/2 cup honey roast peanuts
1/2 package slivered almonds

Pour syrup over the cereal mixture and mix well.

Stir in red and green M&M's.

Hot Wassail

1 1/4 cups sugar
2 cups water
2 cinnamon sticks
5 whole cloves
Ginger root, pealed and cut into chunks
4 Allspice berries
2 cups orange juice
4 cups apple juice
1 cup lemon juice

Combine sugar, water and spices; bring to boil, then reduce het and simmer for 5 minutes.  Add juices and heat.  Remove spices before serving.