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In this holiday season many of you are hosting a party with family or friends. I'd like to share a little true story with you. One of our friends has a family of eighteen grandchildren and adults. They choose to invited a guest who has no-one to share Christmas with. Some family members have passed on, some live in Europe and it seems that those who live far away from home spend their holidays with their children. My friend is a hospice volunteer and has visited this gentleman many times, telling stories, singing, laughing and has become a very good friend to him. And so, with the nursing home and the family's permission brings him into her home to celebrate Christmas day with her family. It's a joyful time and everyone awaits his arrival. This is a part of Christmas for their family...loving, caring, sharing, giving, and reading the Christmas story from the bible, embracing the true meaning of Christmas. Tears flow from everyone as she brings him back to the home, hoping that he will spend next Christmas with his "family".

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Recipes for appetizers are for today, to share with family and friends

I'm pretty sure that some of you have made this appetizer, but when it's a "please bring an appetizer of some sort", I usually make this.

CRESCENT ROLL

VEGGIE PIZZA

2-8 oz. pkgs., crescent rolls

2-8 oz. pkgs., cream cheese, softened

3/4 c. mayonnaise

1 T. dill weed - not dill seed

1/2 t. garlic salt

Press two triangles of dough together, using all of the dough to cover the bottom and up the sides of a ungreased 15x10 jelly roll pan, pinching edges of triangles to form the bottom of the crust. Bake at 375 degrees 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely.

Combine cream cheese, mayo, dill and garlic salt, mixing well. Spread over crust. Top with the following: 1 c. coarsely shredded carrot, 2 c. sliced raw mushrooms, 1/2 c. each, diced green pepper, celery, sliced green onion, 1 c. each, broccoli and cauliflower florets, 1 c. diced tomatoes (can use small cherry tomatoes cut in half), 3 thinly sliced green onions, using most of tops. Press gently into cream cheese mixture. Cut into two-inch squares. I always take out the first two as it's easier to get the pieces out, using a fork.

Makes a lot!

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SALMON SPREAD

1 large can salmon, or 1 pt. home canned salmon

1-8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 medium sweet onion, minced

5 oz. shredded Swiss cheese

1/2 c. chopped pecans

1/4 t. celery salt and pepper

In a medium bowl, mash salmon until smooth. Stir in rest of ingredients. Cover and refrigerate 1-2 hours. Serve with crackers, rye or pumpernickel cocktail bread, large tortilla chips, etc.

Makes 4-5 cups.

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ORANGE FRUIT DIP

1-8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1-7 oz. jar marshmallow cream

1/4 c. orange juice

2 T. grated orange peel

1/4 t. ground ginger

Assorted "dippers" such as thick slices kiwi fruit, strawberries, pineapple, sliced bananas, fresh pear or apple chunks (dip in orange juice so they don't get discolored).

Beat all ingredients together with electric mixer until fluffy. Cover and chill up to 24 hours. Serve with "dippers".

Makes 2 cups.

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This snack/appetizer is not the "ants-on-a-log" celery stick. It's kind of an adult snack.

STUFFED CELERY RIBS

1-3 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

2 T. creamy peanut butter

1 T. light cream (milk will work if it's not skim milk)

1-1/2 t. minced onion

1/4 t. curry powder

4-10-inch celery ribs

1/4 c. finely chopped salted peanuts

In a small bowl, blend first 5 ingredients. Stuff into celery ribs. Sprinkle with nuts. Cut into 2-inch pieces. Makes about 20 pieces.

Note: You can make these a day a head of time. Lay the pieces side by side in a flat container, like a cake pan, and refrigerate, covered. Or you can make up the ingredients ahead, refrigerate and fill the celery before serving. Also, the recipe says to cut in pieces first and then fill. I think it's faster and easier to cut after it's filled. Do as you please.

TFD: May your Christmas celebration, the birth of our Lord, be filled with joy, peace, love and greatfulness.

Christos Razdaetsja - Christ is born. Slavite jeho - praise him.

Alice and Bud

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