Appetizers You Can Prepare in Advance of Christmas Dinner

Christmas brings numerous holiday celebrations for most people. It is wise to plan in advance. It is also advisable to prepare as much of the food ahead of time as you possibly can. Prior preparations will make for lower stress levels during the holiday celebrations. Whether you plan to entertain or provide food for another social outing-these recipes are worth sharing with your friends. Most of the preparation for these appetizers can be accomplished ahead of time.

Cheese Ball

8 oz. cream cheese

8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

3 T. salad dressing

½ c. finely chopped ham

2 t. Worcestershire sauce

¼ t. garlic powder

½ t. lemon juice

¼ t. red pepper

1 t. prepared horseradish *(optional)*

4 T. chopped green onions

¼ c. chopped nuts

Mix cheeses and dressing together in a bowl. Add next 6 ingredients and form into a ball. Chill overnight. Roll ball in green onions and chopped nuts before serving. Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.

BBQ'ed Smokies

2 c. barbecue sauce

¼ c. brown sugar

2 t. prepared mustard

2 t. Worcestershire sauce

1 dash of Tabasco

2-16 oz. packages of little smokies

Place smokies in a crockpot. Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl and pour over smokies. Turn crockpot on low and cook for at least 4 hours. Serve with toothpicks.

Note:You can also use pre-cooked meatballs in place of smokies.

Nacho Cheese Dip

8 oz. cream cheese

1 pkg. dry taco seasoning mix

¾ c. sour cream

1 can refried beans

½ jar mild salsa

1 c. shredded lettuce

1 ½ c. shredded cheddar cheese

1 large chopped tomato

3 T. chopped green peppers and/or black olives

Mix the first three ingredients. Spread mixture in a pan and chill for 3 hours. Combine next two ingredients and spread over the cheese mixture. An hour or two before serving--top the dip with the remaining ingredients. Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.

Wishing you the best this holiday season!