This past weekend, dear friends of ours invited us to a “12 Appetizers of Christmas” party. Each of the families that were invited brought an appetizer to share. Guests brought sweet and savory dishes that made for a delicious and very celebratory feast. Below, you’ll find a few simple recipes from our Mast Store family that you might want to share at your next family gathering or party with friends this holiday season.

Bacon & Cream Cheese Spread
Deb, our community outreach director at Mast Store, shares a recipe that requires only two ingredients, but is full of flavor.

You’ll need:
1 jar Mast Store Provisioners Bacon Jam
2 8 oz. blocks cream cheese, softened

“Just whip the ingredients together and serve with wheat crackers or veggies. For stronger flavor, simply reduce the amount of cream cheese,” Deb advises. “It’s so simple, but so delicious!”
 

Fruit Grinch Kabobs
These kabobs are super cute and a big hit with children. In fact, they’re so easy to make that even preschoolers can help create these healthy, sweet treats. When put together, the kabob resembles the infamous Grinch from the perennial holiday favorite: Dr. Seuss’s “The Grinch That Stole Christmas.” School teachers will also appreciate this healthy snack at their classroom holiday parties.

You’ll need:
mini marshmallows
green grapes
bananas, peeled and sliced
strawberries with tops off
toothpicks

To make:
Wash and cut the fruit. Assemble one of each on a toothpick in this order (from the top, down): Mini marshmallow, strawberry, banana, and a green grape at the bottom.  Arrange on a festive plate and eat!

Sweet & Cheesy Pastries
Teresa, our food and books buyer for Mast Store Home, shares, “I do two things pretty often that are super easy. Either using mini phyllo pastry cups or crescent rolls:  Stuff them with brie, mascarpone, or goat cheese, and then add any of Mast Store Provisioners’ pepper jellies. Or, you can drizzle with any of our honeys. The Mast Store Provisioners Raspberry Honey Mustard Dip is another great option! Heat according to pastry or crescent roll directions and serve.

Winkler Gingerbread Muffins from Old Mill of Guilford
Sheri, our editor, storyteller, and historical archivist at Mast Store, offers one of her favorite appetizers: “The Winkler Gingerbread from Old Mill of Guilford is fabulous to make in small muffin tins. Then ice them with your favorite icing like buttercream. Yum!!”

You’ll need:
2 1/2 cups Winkler Gingerbread Mix (half the contents of the beg)
1/2 cup margarine or butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups boiling water
 
To make:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the muffin tin. Beat eggs and butter. Next, add dry mix, add boiling water, and stir until well blended. Pour the batter into the muffin tin and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. After they’ve cooled, top with your favorite icing, and enjoy.
 

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapenos
(Yes, another recipe featuring bacon. Many of us believe that bacon is nature’s most perfect food.) Alaina, our content developer in the Mast Store marketing department, shares, “This is my new favorite go-to holiday party appetizer. If you choose to scoop the seeds out of the jalapenos, this dish won’t be too spicy. It’s rich, delicious, and has a nice kick of heat. For the vegetarians in your life, skip the bacon. For kids, replace the jalapenos with baby bell peppers for a spice-free dish.”

You’ll need:
24 jalapenos (or baby bell peppers) sliced lengthwise with seeds removed
1 cup cream cheese
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
¼ cup chives
12 thin cut slices of bacon

To make:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Prepare the filling by mixing the cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and chives in a bowl. Next, slice your strips of bacon in half lengthwise. Stuff your peppers with the cheese filling, wrap the bacon around the pepper from end to end, and stick a toothpick in the pepper if the ingredients are spilling over. (If the filling is cool enough, the uncooked bacon strip will stick to the mixture easily.) Last, bake in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy.

For more holiday appetizer ideas and specialty foods, check out our wide array of tasty treats at MastStore.com. Happy celebrating… and eating!