The recipes in this article are good anytime but seem especially suited to the holiday season. Even though my grandson loves eggnog anytime of the year, we still consider it a Christmas treat. The Mock Champagne Punch is a great recipe for families like mine who do not drink alcohol or for the youngsters in families who do. And what are the holidays without a good cheese ball? Enjoy these recipes for Old Fashion Egg Nog, Mock Champagne Punch, and/or my Pineapple Cheese Ball this year!
OLD FASHION EGGNOG
6 beaten egg yolks
2 1/4 cups milk
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
Ground nutmeg
In a large heavy-duty saucepan combine the egg yolks, milk, 1/3 cup of sugar. Cook the mixture over medium heat, while stirring, until the mixture coats a metal spoon. Remove mixture from the heat. Cool quickly by placing in a sink (or a pan) of ice water while stirring for a couple of minutes. Stir in the vanilla. Refrigerate at least 4 hours but up to 24 hours.
To serve:
In a mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream with the 2 tablespoons of sugar until soft peaks (tops fold over when beaters are removed) form. Transfer the chilled eggnog to a large punch bowl. Gently fold in the whipped cream and sprinkle with ground nutmeg.
In a mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream with the 2 tablespoons of sugar until soft peaks (tops fold over when beaters are removed) form. Transfer the chilled eggnog to a large punch bowl. Gently fold in the whipped cream and sprinkle with ground nutmeg.
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
MOCK CHAMPAGNE PUNCH
1 bottle (32-oz) ginger ale, chilled
1 bottle white grape juice, chilled
Combine the ginger ale and grape juice just before serving time. Frozen ice rings made with this mixture with fresh berries inside look very pretty in punch bowl.
For large crowds, 18 jars of each will serve approximately 300 people.
This punch is not sweet and goes with any party food.
PINEAPPLE PECAN CHEESE BALL
One of my favorite things, especially at holiday time, is a cheese ball. I love this one and have used it since my early married days. It is just not New Year's Eve without my cheese ball!
2 (8-oz) pkgs cream cheese (In my later years I have started using the light cream cheese!) slightly softened
1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper (for Christmas I like to mix red and green bell peppers)
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
1 small can pineapple, very well drained (I push the lid down into the pineapple to 'squeeze' dry.)
1 cup chopped pecans for rolling
1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper (for Christmas I like to mix red and green bell peppers)
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
1 small can pineapple, very well drained (I push the lid down into the pineapple to 'squeeze' dry.)
1 cup chopped pecans for rolling
In a mixing bowl mix the cream cheese, with the bell pepper/s, green onion, and pineapple. When well mixed, refrigerate from 30 minutes up to 3 days to chill.
To serve, remove from refrigerator and roll thoroughly in the pecans. Place on a pretty platter and surround with an assortment of crackers. (Now that I am diabetic, I use only whole-grain crackers. Don't wait until you are diabetic. Add whole-grain crackers to your platter now!)
Enjoy!
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