How to Festive Up Your Gatherings with Drinks and Appetizers

I learned a lot in my cooking classes, and making drinks and appetizers was part of my lessons. Anytime is a good time to have drinks and snacks ready for visitors. I don't serve alcoholic drinks anymore. I prefer non-alcoholic beverages. Whatever you prefer. it is a must to have something to drink ready for guests at planned events, and it's good manners and a show of hospitality to offer a beverage to people who drop by to say hello.

One or the other of my children usually bring drinks over for family gatherings, and when I provide the beverage, I like to make punch. 

Easy Fruit Punch Anytime Drink

Ingredients
1 (46 oz) can red punch (recommended: Hawaiian Punch)
1 (46 oz) can apple juice
1 (48 oz) bottle cranberry juice
1 (2-liter) bottle ginger ale
Ice cubes
   
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl. Add the ice and stir.

My grand daughter, Stevie, has a favorite, and I make this (different recipe) for her, and everyone drinks it down at Christmas until it's gone gone gone. Always a good sign:-)

A little appetizer might be in order, too, especially if dinner is not going to be served right away. I like the idea of preparing crostini with different toppings.  My honey really loves these as a snack when he gets home from work. I just brush a few slices of crusty Italian bread with EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) mixed with herbs, bits of fresh tomatoes and cheese. You can also top them with ham, olives, onion, nuts, raisins, or whatever your family enjoys. It's quick to make under the broiler.

It is almost like Bruschetta and a nice not-too-filling hors d'oeuvre, snack or appetizer.

[A crostini is a canape made of thin pieces of toast, which are like an oversized crouton. Bruschetta is a little bigger portion, an Italian appetizer made of toasted bread slices drizzled with olive oil and topped with tomatoes and basil.]

Another appetizer that the whole family loves is my ham rolls. I take a slice of deli ham, place a thin slice of cream cheese (in a size like a fat toothpick) on the short side of the ham. Then I put the top of a whole green onion (cut short to fit) on top of the cream cheese. I roll up the ham. It makes a "roll" with the cream cheese filling and fresh chive green onion. This is a quickly-gone appetizer. I sometimes cut the "rolls" in pin wheels for a smaller serving, and I sometimes put them on the table as a "side salad" which works nicely, too.

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