Holiday Treats with Epicure Selections

Ingredients:

3 cups apple juice
2 cups cranberry juice
1/4 cup cranberries
1 orange cut in half & thinly sliced
1/4 cup sugar or honey(optional)
1/4 cup VE Mulling Spices

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients into a stainless steel saucepan.
2. Heat gently until sugar is dissolved, about 10 minutes Serve in mugs with a VE Cinnamon stick.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup Feta cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup yogurt
3/4 tsp VE Greek seasoning
1/4 tsp VE Lemon Dilly Dip
1/8 cup finely chopped Spanish onion, cucumber, and tomato
2 tbsp. VE Balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp. Olive oil

Instructions:

1. Combine first six ingredients and place in a bowl. Top with chopped onion, cucumber and tomato mixture.
2. Pour Balsamic vinegar and olive oil on top just before serving.

Ingredients:

Basic recipe:
2 cups cream cheese(500 ml)
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
dash of hot sauce

Instructions:

1. Form into balls and serve with crackers.

Variations:

Smoked Salmon Cheese Ball:

1. Mix 1/2 basic recipe with 1/4 cup chopped smoked salmon
2. Add: 2 tsp VE Lemon Dily Dip Mix
3. Roll in chopped parsley.

Curried Cheese Ball:

1. Mix 1/2 basic recipe with 2 tsp. VE curry dip.
2. Brush with mango chutney and roll in crushed walnuts or pecans.

With Cranberry & Orange

Ingredients:

1 cup VE Canadian Wild Rice,soaked & cooked
1 cup pecan halves
1 cup dried cranberries
zest of orange
1/4 cup of olive oil
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tsp. VE Provencal herbs
1/2 tsp VE Mint
4 green onions chopped

Instructions:

1. Whisk together olive oil, orange juice and seasonings
2. Add rice cranberries, pecans
3. Season with salt and pepper
4. Serve warm or cold

With Dried Fruit, White chocolate and Almonds

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 large egg
1/4 tsp VE Almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
4 tsp VE Baking powder
1/2 tsp Baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup cold butter
1/4 cup finely chopped almonds
1/4 cup VE Dried fruits
1/4 cup VE Belgian White chocolate

Instructions:

1. Whisk together buttermilk, egg and VE Almond extract. Set aside.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and white sugar. With a pastry blender, cut in old butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
3. Add VE Belgian White chocolate, almonds and VE Dried fruits.
4. Add egg mixture and stir with a fork until a rough dough results.
5. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead 5 or 6 times. Divide dough in half. Pat each into a 7" circle. Cut into 6 wedges. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with cream and sprinkle with sugar.
6. Bake at 400 Degrees for 18 to 20 minutes.