Holiday Appetizers

Marinated Shrimp Scampi 

Recipe makes 10 servings and is adapted from publication Easy Holiday Cooking 

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup olive oil or Lemon Olive Oil
• ¼ cup dry white wine 
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced 
• 2 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel 
• ¼ tsp. salt 
• ¼ tsp. tsp. crushed red pepper flakes 
• 2 pounds fresh or frozen extra-jumbo shrimp in shells (32-40) 
• Lemon wedges 
• 6 inch wooden skewers (submerge in water 1 hour to prevent burning) 

Directions:

• For marinade, in a small bowl combine all ingredients except shrimp. Whisk to mix well, cover and chill for a few hours. 
• Thaw shrimp if frozen, peel and devein leaving tails intact. Rinse shrimp and pat dry with a paper towel. 
• Place shrimp in a reusable plastic bag set in a shallow bowl. Pour marinade over shrimp, seal bag, turn to coat shrimp. Marinate in refrigerator one hour. 
• Preheat boiler. Remove shrimp from marinade and reserve sauce. Arrange 3 shrimp on a skewer and place on the unheated rack of a boiler pan. Broil 4-5 inches from heat for 2 minutes. Turn shrimp over and brush with reserved marinade; discard leftover marinade. Broil 2-4 minutes more or until shrimp are opaque. 
• Skewer 3 shrimp with a lemon wedge and serve over a martini glass. 

Cranberry Pomegranate Sparkler

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of Prosecco, white wine or red wine
• 3 cups pomegranate-cranberry juice 
• 1-12 oz. can Sprite or 7-up
• 1 lime and lemon, sliced
• 1 orange quartered, sliced
• 1 cup frozen cranberries (leave in freezer until needed)

Directions:

• Combine pomegranate –cranberry juice, Sprite or 7-up, lime, lemon and orange slices in a large glass pitcher. Refrigerate 6 hours. Right before serving stir in wine and mix well. 
• To serve fill glasses and add in a few frozen cranberries. 
  

Cook's notes: A different arrangement of appetizers which include the following recipes below and two desserts (recipes posted another day).
Pomegranate-Brie Fillo Cups
Ingredients:

• 1 box (15) Fillo shells (Athens brand) 
• Fig jam 
• Brie cheese 
• Toasted pecans or walnuts 
• Pomegranate seeds 

Directions:

• Place shells on a baking sheet and crisp for 3 minutes at 350 degrees. 
• Fill each shell with a ¼ inch cube of brie and ½ tsp, fig jam.
• Return filled shells to oven and cook 6-8 minutes more. To serve top with toasted nuts and pomegranate seeds to serve. 

Bonus idea:
Mini Quiches- Favors- Three Cheeses and Florentine found at Costco and bake according to manufactures’ directions.