Parties, Presents, and Pastries!

Do you ever struggle to come up with a creative idea for food to take to a party? 

It seems like no matter what dinner or party I go to, there are people on both sides of the clean, healthy food issue...those who won't eat anything but clean and those who couldn't care less what they eat as long as it tastes good - and usually those somewhere in the middle!  

I like to have something quick and easy, that most everyone will like...but also healthy and without all the sugar, preservatives, and
chemical junk.  But that's a tall order!!

Here's what I did for the last party I went to:  Elm Run Farms sliced summer sausage roll-ups with cream cheese filling. I added several shakes of Real Salt, powdered onion and garlic, dried dill and basil to the softened cream cheese and spread the mixture on the sausage slices and rolled them up.  I arranged them on a platter with an assortment of fresh veggies and some dip...and had a colorful, festive-looking party tray! 

This is a relatively easy finger food, although you need to remember to thaw the sausage (best done in the fridge overnight) and soften the cream cheese.  Use whatever herbs/seasonings you like.  Return to fridge for at least an hour to firm up the cream cheese again.  You can purchase prepped veggies to make it even easier, or cut your own.  Happy partying!
 

We still have some nitrate-free hams available.  Easiest Christmas dinner you'll ever make!! 
Remove from freezer, plop in crockpot - fat side up (on low) or oven (250-275) 8-10 hours.
When done, slice and serve.  That's it!!
You can dress it up a bit by adding whole cloves or peppercorns on top, or a couple slices of pineapple, or a drizzle of maple syrup, etc.  But these hams are very tasty as-is.

May peace be present in your partying!
Sandy