Merry Munchies

Total Time – Varies (varies)APRONS ADVICE

Complete your meal with a chopped salad, a baguette, and an assortment of cookies for dessert.

Substitute other creamy cheeses in the Cranberry Wreath for different flavor profiles.Recipe: Sausage Pasta Bites

Total Time – 25 minutes (Makes 45 servings)

Ingredients:

1/2 lb mild Italian sausage, casing removed

1 tablespoon canola oil

1/2 cup pearl couscous

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/2 cups tomato-basil pasta sauce

2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped

3 packages frozen mini phyllo cups

1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

Steps:

1. Preheat large, nonstick pan on medium-high 2-3 minutes. Remove sausage casing: cut in half lengthwise (butterfly); turn sausage over and peel the casing away (wash hands). Place oil in pan, then add sausage; brown 5-7 minutes, stirring to crumble meat, and until no pink remains.

2. Stir in couscous, salt, and pasta sauce; reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer 8-10 minutes or until couscous is tender.

3. Chop basil. Place about 1 teaspoon meat filling in each phyllo cup. Sprinkle with Parmesan and basil; serve.

CALORIES (per 1/45 recipe) 40kcal; FAT 2g; SAT FAT 0g; TRANS FAT 0g; CHOL 0mg; SODIUM 90mg; CARB 0g; FIBER 1g; SUGARS 1g; PROTEIN 2g; VIT A 0%; VIT C 0%; CALC 2%; IRON 2%Recipe: Cranberry Brie Wreath

Active Time – 10 minutes, Total Time – 50 minutes (Makes 6 servings)

Ingredients:

Nonstick aluminum foil

1 tablespoon rosemary, chopped finely

4 tablespoons cranberry orange relish

4 tablespoons orange marmalade

1 wedge Brie cheese (7-8 oz), cubed

1 refrigerated rolled pizza crust

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheet with foil. Chop rosemary. Combine rosemary, cranberry relish, and marmalade; stir until blended. Cut Brie into small cubes.

2. Unroll dough onto baking sheet. Spread cranberry mixture over dough, leaving 2-inch border, then top evenly with brie.

3. Starting at bottom, roll dough tightly around filling; pinch edges to seal. Place seam side down, arrange in a wreath/circle shape in the center of baking sheet; pinch the roll together where ends meet to seal.

4. Cut 1/2-inch slits in top of dough about 2-inches apart. Bake 25-30 minutes or until deep golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes to cool; serve warm.

CALORIES (per 1/6 recipe) 340kcal; FAT 12g; SAT FAT 7g; TRANS FAT 0g; CHOL 40mg; SODIUM 710mg; CARB 44g; FIBER 1g; SUGARS 14g; PROTEIN 13g; VIT A 4%; VIT C 6%; CALC 8%; IRON 10%Recipe: Deep Fried Buffalo Cauliflower

Total Time – 30 minutes (Makes 6 servings)

Ingredients:

1 quart vegetable oil

1 head cauliflower

1 1/2 cups all-purpose batter mix

1 cup water

1/4 cup buffalo wing sauce

1 tablespoon butter, softened

1/4 cup blue cheese dressing

Steps:

1. Fill fryer with oil and preheat to 350°F. Remove leaves and stem from cauliflower, then cut into florets. Whisk together batter and water.

2. Place sauce and butter in large bowl. Dip cauliflower in batter and carefully place in fryer. Cook 3-4 minutes or until golden.

3. Drain cauliflower and transfer to bowl with sauce. Toss to coat; serve with blue cheese dressing.

CALORIES (per 1/6 recipe) 260kcal; FAT 17g; SAT FAT 3g; TRANS FAT 0g; CHOL 10mg; SODIUM 1150mg; CARB 23g; FIBER 1g; SUGARS 2g; PROTEIN 3g; VIT A 4%; VIT C 50%; CALC 2%; IRON 2%