Holiday Recipes

Tostada Mexican Pizza

This is an easy and tasty staple that is also flexible. You can make it for many people or you can make it for yourself. Each time you make it you can change up the ingredients and love each bite.

Serves: 4-6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

4-6 Tostada shells - I use Mission but any kind will do.

1 can Refried Beans - I used Fat Free but any will do.

1lb of Ground Chuck - I used 80/20 but any will do.

2 green onions chopped or 2 tablespoons of diced yellow/red onion

2 small tomatoes diced. I used Campari but any will work.

1 package of Taco Seasoning -I use McCormick but any will do.

1 package of Mexican or Cheddar shredded cheese.

4-6 dollops of Sour Cream  (optional)

Black Olives (optional)

Guacamole (optional)

Salsa (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 285 degrees.

Cook the ground chuck according to the instructions on the taco seasoning package.

While cooking the ground chuck dice up the tomatoes and onions.

Place the tostadas on a cookie sheet.

Spread a layer of refried beans on the tostada. Cover the tostada and feel free to put as much as you would enjoy. I like more refried beans so I add more. You can play with it to fit your liking.

Once the ground chuck is done and the seasoning is added you can start to layer the meat on the tostada. Be generous. This is your meal, enjoy it.

Top with your shredded cheese. Again, be generous and cover the meat.

Top with tomatoes, onions, and any other toppings you enjoy like black olives.

Put in oven for 15 minutes - the cheese should be melted so leave in longer if needed.

Take out of oven and top with sour cream, guacamole, or salsa and serve.

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Santa Fruit Hats

Fun, festive, and tasty! Plus, healthy for you!

Serves: Many
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0

Ingredients:
Green Grapes
Strawberries
Bananas
Mini Marshmallows
Cocktail sticks for skewers

Instructions:

Each skewer will need a grape, a strawberry, a banana slice, and a mini marshmallow so adjust the quantity depending on the number of skewers you wish to make.

Wash the grapes and strawberries and peel and slice your banana into about 5 mm slices.

Cut the tops of the strawberries and stick the strawberries (cut end first) onto one end of a cocktail stick, leaving a bit of the stick visible at the top.

Push the mini marshmallow onto the skewer on top of the strawberry to make Santa’s pompom.

Add a banana slice onto the skewer and position it against the cut end of the strawberry to make Santa's hat.

Finally, slide a grape (Santa's Face) onto the skewer until the little grape head touches the banana brim of the Santa hat.

Yummy and festive!

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Caprice Christmas Wreath

Want to impress your guests with a beautiful, fresh, and healthy appetizer everyone is sure to love? Dive hands first into this unique Caprice Christmas Wreath.

Serves: Many
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0

Ingredients:

1 bunch fresh basil leaves

20 ounces fresh mozzarella balls

24 ounces grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes

Your favorite Balsamic dressing or glaze store bought

1 red or green pepper

Package of extra-long toothpicks  

Instructions:

Rinse and dry tomatoes.

Set up assembly line of with toothpicks, grape or cherry tomatoes, basil leaves and mozzarella balls.

Skewer the tomato first, basil leaf second and finally the mozzarella ball. Repeat this step until you have filled your round platter creating a full caprice wreath.

Cut the top of the red or green pepper off and clean the insides out. Pat dry.

Place the red or green pepper in the center of the wreath and fill the pepper with Balsamic dressing for dipping skewer in.

Optional: you can serve with salt and pepper on the side for additional seasoning.

Optional: save some basil leaves as decoration around the wreath.

Enjoy!