I had a more serious prepping post for today, but since it’s the Christmas season I’ll save that for later and focus on happier stuff. 🙂  I haven’t done a food post in awhile, so I thought I’d share some of our very favorite appetizers and desserts, many of which we’ll be serving during the upcoming week and a half. Just click on the links at the top of the pics to get the recipes. Enjoy!
Peppermint Oreo Bark
Tanya over at Eat, Laugh, Purr is our go-to blog for delicious recipes. Tanya’s site has a great balance of healthy foods and delightful treats that are perfectly acceptable to indulge in on occasion. One of her recipes we’ll be having over Christmas is this Peppermint Oreo Bark. Easy and delicious, the combo of chocolate and peppermint fits in perfectly with the Christmas season.
Cream Cheese With Green Pepper Jelly
My sis-in-law makes this every year for Christmas and we’re SO glad she does. It’s super easy and yummy. Just buy some green pepper jelly at the store (or use the stuff you’ve canned) and pour it over a block of cream cheese. Serve with your favorite cracker. You don’t have to make it pretty like my sis-in-law does (celery for the stem and red pepper cut into pretty shapes for the decorations), but it sure does add to the fun if you do. 🙂
Cowboy Salsa
This one is easy, yummy AND healthy too!!! Â Make a lot as it will go quick. Feel free to add other stuff in as it suits your tastes.
Our Best Homemade Pizza
This is a great party activity for New Years Eve. Have everyone get involved and make your own custom-designed homemade pizza. The crust recipes we use are delish and easy to make, and the toppings can be anything from pepperoni to pineapple.
Almond Joy Cookies
One of Rick’s co-workers sent these home with him and can I just say “YUM!”? There are several different variations of this cookie online, but the one that we ate is from the recipe in the link below. It’s much easier than other versions, and tastes remarkably like an almond joy candy bar. The only variation we make from the recipe below is that we use milk chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet.
Jalapeno Popper Dip
I recently found this recipe from the Picky Pinchers blog and we tried it that very next night. This one got a “10” from the entire family. It’s spicy but not too spicy, so the kids loved it as well. The hot, creamy dip and crunchy top work well together. You can kick it up a notch by adding extra jalapenos. We served it with tortilla chips.
Tanya’s Famous Guacamole
Yep, we’re headed back to Eat, Laugh, Purr for this one. Guacamole is a superb dip because:
- It’s healthy. Those omega-3 fats do wonders for the body
- It can be paired with lots of stuff; tortilla chips, fresh veggies, used as a salad dressing – yes, a salad dressing!
My Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe gets rave reviews wherever I go, and someone always asks for it. If you’re looking to add a little “WOW!” to your chocolate chip cookies, try this recipe.
Puppy Chow
This is one of our go-to recipes on New Year’s Eve. The kids insist on it, and we only make it once a year. It’s easy and yummy.
Homemade Potato Chip/Veggie Dip
We came up with this dip recipe when we were first transitioning to having more whole foods in our household. Since traditional potato chip dips are filled with chemical flavors and preservatives, we wanted something that would allow us to occasionally indulge in “junk” food without the chemical ramifications. But we also wanted delicious flavor. This dip is tasty but good for you.
Homemade Potato Chip/Veggie Dip
Wishing you abundant blessings as you celebrate Christmas and New Year’s. Stay safe, and know that Jesus loves you more than you could ever imagine!
What are your favorite Christmas/New Year’s recipes? Share in the comments!
These look great. Bagna cà uda and Lebkuchen are two of my holiday favorites. Have a wonderful holiday Laurie and family!
I’m going to have to try the Bagna cauda soon!! Merry Christmas to you and yours, Brian!!
Do you ever post about your status updates on your debt journey anymore? That was why I liked your blog in the first place…
Husband has asked me to stop posting until we’re done paying off the debt. Privacy reasons/harassment/criticism/condemnation from IRL people. When it’s all gone, I’ll recap the whole, incredible story. Soon!! Thanks for reading, Tara!
Love guac! Have to try that recipe out. Merry Christmas Laurie (and family!)
Thanks, Aaron!!! You too! God bless you guys. 🙂
Ahhh, I remember puppy chow! I would eat my weight in that stuff every Christmas.
I really like to make homemade peanut butter balls. It’s basically just making homemade Reese’s cups but with more peanut butter. We would make them for Santa every year when I was a kid, and nowadays they still remind me of the holidays!
We have a peanut butter ball recipe but it’s a super healthy one with oats and honey. I’ll have to try yours – we’re big Reese’s fans over here. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
All really good options, especially the peppermint bark and puppy chow.
My wife likes to make chocolate covered peanut butter balls and magic cookie bars.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without hand decorated cutout sugar cookies, but, we don’t share those with family.
Funny. 🙂 Would love to hear more about those chocolate covered peanut butter balls and magic cookie bars!!!
Looks delicious, Laurie. I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Gary, and you as well!
Yummy! I’d include the Tanya’s Famous Guacamole in my list. Thanks Laurie.
Guacamole is the best! Merry Christmas to you, Jayson!
These look fantastic! My husband’s getting into cooking more and I don’t think we’ve ever made our own pizza. I did it once back when I was just a wee kid with a boxed Jiffy pizza crust mix and it was horrible. Maybe I need to try it again with my husband?
LOL, we just saw a commercial for the Chef Boyardee boxed stuff when we were watching an old TV game show. We always had that stuff and it was horrible too!! You should go for the home made stuff – the REAL home made stuff. It’s delicious, and no chemicals!! Thanks for stopping by, Lindsay!
I LOVE green pepper jelly! I haven’t had it in years, but it really is great with cream cheese (I don’t know why I didn’t think to can it over the summer with my huge pepper harvest!?).
Warm wishes for Christmas, Laurie! I hope you and your family have a wonderful, blessed holiday! 🙂
Next year, Amanda!! I’m going to make it too, I think. SIL always makes it but I never think too until she brings hers to the holidays. Thanks, and same to you, Amanda!! God bless you guys!