Easy Christmas Stuffed Eggplant

A simple dish to liven up your Christmas menu, this stuffed eggplant will have your guests coming back for more. You can use this recipe as an appetizer or even start a new tradition as your Christmas dinner. The ease of this recipe make the possibilities endless for your Christmas meals.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium eggplant
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoon margarine
• 2 tablespoon oil
• 2 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
• Seasoned bread crumbs
• Tomato sauce
• Grated Parmesan cheese
  

Cooking Instructions:

1. Parboil halved eggplant.
   
2. When tender, remove from water and drain.
   
3. Saute onion and garlic in butter-oil mixture.
   
4. Salt and pepper to taste and add parsley.
   
5. Scoop out insides of eggplant, leaving 1/2" - 3/4" shell all around.
   
6. Chop up inside pulp, add to onion mixture and saute 5-10 minutes.
   
7. Stir in enough seasoned bread crumbs to make a moist, but not stiff, filling.
   
8. Fill eggplant shells.
   
9. Spoon tomato sauce, a little grated cheese, and a little olive oil over the tops.
   
10. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
    

Easy Christmas Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained, finally chopped
• 1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
• 3/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
3. Spoon mixture into a 9" quiche dish or pie plate.
4. Bake 20 minutes or until heated through.

Serve with crackers, pita bread, tortilla chips or toast.

Easy Christmas Crab Meat Dip

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sour cream (16 oz)
• 1 can crab meat, drained (6.5 oz)
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Dijon or brown mustard
• salt (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl combine sour cream, crab, Worcestershire and mustard.
   
2. If desired, season to taste with salt.
3. Refrigerate leftovers.

Great with chips. Makes 2 cups of dip.

Easy Christmas Nacho Chip Dip Recipe

This nacho chip dip makes the best appetizer for holiday and party gatherings. It is super easy and is a winner every time.

Easy Nacho Chip Dip Recipe

Ingredients:

• cream cream (8 oz package)
• chili (15 oz can)
• salsa (8 oz jar)
• shredded cheddar cheese (8 oz bag)

Instructions:

1. Soften cream cheese to room temperature.
2. Spread cream cheese in the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate.
3. Pour chili on top and spread to cover the cream cheese.
4. Pour salsa over chili and spread to cover the chili.
5. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the chili, covering it completely.
6. Preheat oven to 375°.
7. Cook for 20 minute or until bubbly.
   

Easy Christmas Party Meatballs

Ingredients:

• 16-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce
• 12-ounce bottle Heinz® Chili Sauce
• 2-pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs

Cooking Instructions:

1. Combine sauces in a large saucepan.
2. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth.
3. Add meatballs.
4. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.

Makes approximately 30 appetizer meatballs.

Slow cooker Preparation:

1. Place meatballs in a slow cooker.
2. Combine sauces and pour over meatballs.
3. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH.

This recipe was taken from the Ocean Spray/Heinz website. For more great recipes like this visit www.ultimatepartymeatballs.com