Reindeer Bar It's A Wrap

Reindeer Bar- It's A Wrap

If going for a theme for your Reindeer Bar check out Party City store for items like one pictured above-Director's Clapboard

Cook's Notes: It's A Wrap a popular venue to add to your holiday entertaining-wraps with assorted fillings set up for guests to make their own sandwiches or you can prepare the wraps ahead of  time. Just wrap with plastic wrap, refrigerate and cut into small bites right before serving. For a healthier twist wraps can be prepared with butter lettuce leaves. 

Vietnamese Pork lettuce Wraps
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2018/07/honey-garlic-beef-lettuce-wraps.html

https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/10/lettuce-wraps.html

Some other favorite wraps previously posted on Ever Ready include:

Spinach and Black Bean Wrap (Burrito) 
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/04/william-shakespeare-and-spinach-and.html

Greek Grilled Chicken Hummus Wrap 
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2017/01/chickpeas.html

Reuben or Roast Beef Pinwheels
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-wee-bit-of-green.html

"Christmas Sparrow"
by Billy Collins

The first thing I heard this morning
was a rapid flapping sound, soft, insistent—

wings against glass as it turned out
downstairs when I saw the small bird
rioting in the frame of a high window,
trying to hurl itself through
the enigma of glass into the spacious light.

Then a noise in the throat of the cat
who was hunkered on the rug
told me how the bird had gotten inside,
carried in the cold night
through the flap of a basement door,
and later released from the soft grip of teeth.

On a chair, I trapped its pulsations
in a shirt and got it to the door,
so weightless it seemed
to have vanished into the nest of cloth.

But outside, when I uncupped my hands,
it burst into its element,
dipping over the dormant garden
in a spasm of wingbeats
then disappeared over a row of tall hemlocks.

For the rest of the day,
I could feel its wild thrumming
against my palms as I wondered about
the hours it must have spent
pent in the shadows of that room,
hidden in the spiky branches
of our decorated tree, breathing there
among the metallic angels, ceramic apples, stars of yarn,
its eyes open, like mine as I lie in bed tonight
picturing this rare, lucky sparrow
tucked into a holly bush now,
a light snow tumbling through the windless dark.

"Christmas Sparrow" by Billy Collins, from Aimless Love. © Random House 2013.

Reindeer Bar Appetizers Part Two

Reindeer Appetizer Bar Part Two

White Wine Holiday Sangria Recipe with Rosemary Cranberry Sprigs

Cook's Notes: White wine holiday sangria with rosemary and cranberries is crisp and refreshing. It's the perfect holiday cocktail for Christmas Parties with family and friends!
Recipe from playdatesparties.com

Ingredients

• For sangria:
• 2 honey crisp apples
• 1-2 oranges
• 1 cup frozen cranberries
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 1 bottle white wine Recommend Sauvignon Blanc or Rioja
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup cranberry juice
• 2 TB. white sugar
• 2 TB. Grand Marnier
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 8 oz club soda
• For Garnish:
• 4-5 large fresh rosemary sprigs
• 1-2 cups white sugar
• Fresh cranberries

Directions: 

Sangria:

• Cut apples into 2-inch chunks, and slice oranges into half-moons.
• Combine fruit with remaining ingredients, stirring well.

Garnish:

• Spread sugar over the bottom of a sheet pan or jellyroll pan with a lip.
• Lightly dampen fresh, clean rosemary sprigs with water or juice and gently roll in the sugar.
• Allow to dry at room temperature until a crust forms over the rosemary leaves.
• Break rosemary into 3-4 inch sprigs and remove a few leaves from the sturdiest end.
• Gently push the sturdy end of the rosemary stem through one or two fresh cranberries.

Previously posted mini bites recipes from Ever Ready

Pecan Bites
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-time-of-rememberance-and-more-holiday.html

Mediool Dates Wrapped in Smokey Bacon 
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2016/11/medjool-dates-and-smokey-bacon-sweet.html

White Chocolate Lemon Cheesecake Tartlets

White Chocolate Mousse

Key Lime Mousse Shooters
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2016/11/mini-bites-tempting-holiday-desserts.html

Buttermilk Glazed Mini Fig Cakes
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-magical-ingredient-buttermilk.html

Maple Dijon Sausage Bites
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/search?q=sunset+cruise

UP NEXT Reindeer Bar Last Call-It's A Wrap

Reindeer Appetizer Bar Part One

Reindeer Potluck Appetizer Bar 

When one small bite will do

Cook's Notes: A recipe for success-provide the refreshments and invite guest to bring an appetizer to share. Sharing the holiday spirit with others makes for a fun evening.    

Cream Cheese and Bacon Cucumber Bites 

Ingredients:

• 2 large English cucumbers
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened (I always use a 1/3 less fat)
• 1 cup Italian mix shredded cheese
• 2 crushed garlic cloves or 2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons chopped chives
• 1-2 TB. dry Ranch seasoning
• 1/2 cup bacon crumbles or use prepared dry bacon crumbles

Directions:

• Wash the cucumbers very well and peel them in a zebra pattern. Cut the cucumbers into about 1-inch thick rounds. 
• Using a small spoon, scoop out some of the cucumber pulp to form little cups. 
• Combine cream cheese, shredded cheese, garlic, chives, ranch seasoning in a mixing bowl. Mix very well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. 
• Spoon the cheese mixture into the cucumber cups. Top off with some bacon crumbs. Refrigerate until serving. 
  

Hot Artichoke and Crab Dip

Cook's Notes: A real crowd pleaser of a dip- it's warm, gooey, cheesy and oh so good! 

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered, patted dry with a paper towel 
• 12 ounces lump crab meat
• 1 cup shredded fontina or cheddar cheese, divided
• 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-inch baking dish.
• In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise and sour cream. Stir in artichoke hearts, crab meat, 1/2 cup fontina, white cheddar or cheddar cheese and pepper jack cheese, green onions and Worcestershire; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Spread crab mixture into the prepared baking dish; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup fontina cheese.
• Place into oven and bake until bubbly and golden, about 20-25 minutes.
• Dipping Ideas
  Crostini
  Tortilla chips
  Crackers
  Baguette ripped into pieces
  Bell pepper slices
  Carrots
  Make a crudités platter with this dip in the middle 

Another Optional Crab and Artichoke Dip with a Southwestern Flair

Ingredients:

• 8 oz bag grated mozzarella cheese
• 8 oz bag grated Parmesan  cheese
• 14 oz can artichokes, drained and chopped
• 1 cup real mayo
• 4 oz. can drained jalapeños
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 8 oz crabmeat chopped

Directions: 

• Mix it all together and put in a lightly greased pie plate.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Oreo Truffle Cookies

Cook's Notes: Oreo Truffle Cookies has only three ingredients:
1 package regular Oreo cookies
1 package full fat cream cheese (8 oz.)
2 packages (total 16 oz.) melting dark chocolate, white chocolate or both

Compared to other cookies on a plate below which took way more time with a lot more  ingredients this cookie was the most popular with the crowd. What a surprise!

Cooking Tips: 

• Using top grade Ghirardelli melting chocolate makes a huge difference in the taste. But it does set quickly so only do two cookie balls at a time and then add your decorative toppings. I did one whole tray not knowing this and by the time I went to add topping decorations they did not stick!! Lesson learned.
• Oreos – don’t use double stuff or flavored Oreos, just the standard work best here.
• Cream cheese – avoid using low fat. Standard full fat cream cheese will give the best flavor and consistency. Make sure cream cheese is softened.
• Paper liners found in baking aisle near cupcake liners.

Directions:

• Prepare a baking sheet: Line an 18 by 13-inch baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper.
• Crush Oreos: You will use a total of 36 Oreos. Do 12 cookies at a time in the food processor (use entire cookie, don’t remove cream filling) and pulse to fine crumbs. Alternatively this can be done by hand by placing Oreos in a gallon size resealable  Chill in freezer 20 minutes for easier handling. 
• Shape mixture into balls about 1 large tablespoon at a time. Form into balls and place on lined baking sheet. 
• In a bowl melt chocolate in microwave.  Do 2 cookie balls at a time covering completely in chocolate and decorate with toppings.  
• Place cookie balls in small paper liners. Refrigerate until serving. 
• Suggested toppings: Crushed peppermint candies, crushed cookie crumbs, sprinkles

Note: White melting chocolate is another option 

This photo plate of Oreo Truffles is from CookingClassy.com   and recipe above makes about 30 Oreo Truffles.

UP NEXT
Appetizer Bar Part Two

Reindeer Cookie Bar

Reindeer Cookie Bar

A fun holiday activity that inspires creativity.  

Cook's Notes: You will need baked sugar cookies in assorted shapes,  tubs of frosting (grocery store baking aisle), sprinkles, icing and other edible decorative materials. Larger grocery stores may carry baked plain sugar cookies for purchase as a time saver. 

 Paper cupcake liners in muffin tins work well.

You can make your own sugar cookies too and this one below is a favorite.  

Sugar Cookie
Recipe adapted from Southern Living and makes 22 cookies using a small 3 inch cookie cutter.
Ingredients:

• 1 cup of softened butter (2 sticks)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 large egg
• 2-1/4 cups flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking powder

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone pad.
• Beat softened butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy, add in egg beat until well blended.
• Combine flour, salt and baking powder and add to butter mixture, beating just until blended.
• Refrigerate dough 1 hour or in freezer 30 minutes.
• Work with enough dough to roll out for 2-3 cookies at a time.
• Place cookies two inches apart on baking sheet.
• Bake 8 minutes or until edges lightly browned.
• Cool on baking sheet 3 minutes and transfer to a wire baking rack to cool.

Icing 

Ingredients:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 TB.butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1-1/2 TB Amaretto or 1/4 tsp. almond extract
• Milk  

Directions:

• Beat ingredients until smooth adding in tablespoons of milk until right consistency.

Another cookie idea that kids will love decorating their own reindeer.

Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies
Recipe makes  about 30 cookies. 
INGREDIENTS:

• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1- 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1- 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Chocolate-covered mini pretzels
• Mini brown M&Ms and regular-sized red M&Ms

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 375° degrees
• Combine brown sugar, peanut butter, butter, milk, and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add egg; beat until just blended.
• In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended.
• Form dough into 1-inch balls. To make reindeer-shaped cookies, pinch the bottom of the ball slightly to form a point, then gently flatten with your hand. Space cookies about 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes, until set or just beginning to brown.
• Remove from oven and immediately (and gently) press two mini pretzels into the tops of the cookies for the reindeer’s antlers. Press two mini brown M&M's in for the eyes and one red M&M for the nose.
• Allow to cool 2 minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire rack or paper towel to cool completely.

Reindeer Bar Return

Snow Toward Evening
by Melville Cane

Suddenly the sky turned gray.
The day
which had been bitter and chill,
grew soft and still.
Quietly
from some invisible blossoming tree
millions of petals cool and white
drifted and blew,
lifted and flew,
fell with the falling night.

(This snowfall pictured above quietly crept in last night at the lake) 

From fruitcake cookies to chocolate saltine toffee, these are the most uniquely popular holiday treats in each state. Check out these two links and see what you think for your state's choice and recipes abound on these sites.

https://www.yummly.com/dish/821836/the-united-states-of-holiday-cookies

https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/christmas/most-popular-christmas-cookies-general-mills

REINDEER BAR RETURNS

The popular Reindeer Bar made its first appearance on Ever Ready in 2014 offering food and drink ideas for the holiday season. It's first featured food idea was a Laughing Cow cheese product turned into reindeer food. 
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2014/12/reindeer-bar.html

The following years have featured other Reindeer Bar ideas which included a Taco Bar 
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/12/return-of-reindeer-food-bar.html

Grinch Drink Bar 

Cookie and Milk Toasting Bar
https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2018/12/new-years-eve-holiday-central-part-one.html

Remember last year when the Taco Bar Party idea spilled over into January to celebrate a friend's birthday with a cupcake bar? 

https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2019/01/taco-bar-party.html

 And don't forget even the Grinch made an appearance at the Holiday Healthy Bar Options 
 https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/12/healthy-options-to-holiday-eating.html

It's time for the 2019 return of The Reindeer Bar starting tomorrow with some new and fresh ideas. A blog not to miss!!

Asian Spice Pork with Noodles and Bok Choy

 Bok choy, also known as pak choy or pok choi, is a type of Chinese cabbage, that has smooth, wide, flat leaf blades at one end with the other end forming a cluster similar to that of celery. All parts are edible and it can be eaten cooked or raw.
Bok Choy is high in nutrients and low in carbohydrates. As such, it is an excellent option when trying to eat more healthy, low-calorie foods.
1 cup raw bok choy- 1.5 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, only 9 calories.

It goes with just about everything!
Add some shrimp to it for a low carb, high protein meal.
Serve it as a side dish with your favorite chicken or steak and a side of rice.
Add onions, carrots, bell pepper, and broccoli for a veggie-packed stir-fry the whole family will love.
Toss with ramen and drizzle with chili sauce for a meal guaranteed to taste better than take-out.

I found this short video helpful on how to cook Bok choy
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jcvMygPiRU

ngredients:

Asian Spice Pork with Noodles and Bok Choy

Cook;s Notes: Recipe serves 4 and adapted from eatingwell Chicken can be substituted for the pork. Prep is a must for the recipe. Peppers, carrots, onions, ginger can be chopped early in day and refrigerated until needed. 

Ingredients:

• 7 oz. thin rice noodles, rice sticks or udon noodles
• 2 TB. sesame oil, divided  
• 1 head bok choy about 1 pound chopped greens and whites separated about 2 cups green and 1-1/2 cups whites
• 1/3 cup diced scallions, greens and whites
• 1 cup sweet mini red and yellow peppers, diced in strips 
• 1 cup carrots, sliced thin
• 1 TB. fresh ginger, minced
• 1 pound ground pork or boneless pork tenderloin, thinly sliced 
• 1 TB. soy sauce   
• 2 TB. sweet chili garlic sauce 
• 3 TB. Hoisin sauce
• 1/2 cup chicken broth, low sodium 
• 1 TB. cornstarch
• 1 tsp. sugar
• Optional garnish; cashews and crushed red pepper flakes

Directions:

• Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside. 
• Chop end part off of bok choy and discard. Chop white and green leafy parts separately. 
  
• In a wok or a large fry pan heat 1 TB. sesame oil.
• Add bok choy whites and stir over high heat 3 minute. Remove and place in a bowl. Add bok choy greens and cook until wilted about 3 minute and add to cooked whites in a bowl.
• Add remaining sesame oil and on medium low heat stir fry pork, scallions, minced ginger, carrots and peppers then cook on low covered about 5 minutes until pork is cooked and carrots are al dente.  
• In a small bowl add broth and cornstarch, mix well. Add in soy sauce, Hoisin sauce  chili sauce and sugar. mix well. Add to meat mixture and cook until thickened. Add in sauteed bok choy whites and greens, cook 2 minutes longer.  Noodles can be added at this step. 
  
• Garnish pork dish with cashews and red pepper flakes if desired. 

Holiday Countdown Continues

TABLESCAPES
Need a quick and easy festive party favor for your holiday tablescape? You only need 3 things for this one

• Hershey Kisses Santa Hats
• M&M's Green and Red
• Plastic cups (like shot glasses) found at grocery store  

I made them as party favors to bring to a holiday party. Who could resist a little chocolate  on your plate!!!

Imagine getting a holiday cupcake with no calories!
Sock Cupcake

See how festive this looks-too bad it's inedible. I was recently at a brunch where the guests all received their own cute cupcake. You too can recreate this treat with the following simple deconstruct directions.
You will need the following ingredients (most found at Michaels or Dollar Tree).

• Clear plastic bag
• ribbon
• large sturdy cupcake holders (this Santa suit like is a cupcake holder from Michaels) 
• electrical tape (belt and buckle)
• 1 pair of ankle socks
• 1 lip gloss with a red top

Deconstructed sock cupcake 

The bottom of the cupcake holder was cut out though I have seen others where the bottom was kept intact. 

The Santa belt and buckle were made with electrical tape. 

Directions:
Roll the socks together and fit snugly into the cup.
Add lip gloss in the middle.
Place sock cupcake in a plastic bag and tie with a ribbon.
Other holiday options include:
Valentine's Day using a glittery red cupcake holder, glue hearts on the cupcake holder.
St. Patrick's Day using glittery green cupcake holder, glue shamrocks on cupcake holder.
Shower prizes