One of the best parts about the holiday season is the food! If you’re running out of ideas for what to make for a cocktail party your hosting or perhaps a potluck dinner you’ve been invited to, look no further! Here are some quick and easy three-ingredient recipes that will keep you and your friends satisfied this holiday season.
Ham and Cheese Rolls
This dish takes the nostalgic and comforting flavours of ham and cheese sandwiches from our elementary school days, but makes it classy and perfect for a holiday party. For this recipe you’ll need a ball of store-bought pizza dough, 8 ounces of thinly sliced deli ham and a cup of mozzarella cheese. You can also swap out the mozzarella for another delicious cheese of you choice such as pepper jack or cheddar. Firstly, pre-heat your oven to 400º F. Next, lightly flour your surface and roll out your dough into a 12 x 8-inch rectangle. Place the ham slices evenly over the surface of the dough, leaving a 1/2 space around the edges. Next, sprinkle your cheese on top of the ham. Starting at one of the short ends of the dough, roll it into a log and press down the seam with a fork to keep it sealed. Place the log seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Brush a little bit of olive oil on the surface of the dough to help it brown. Place in oven and bake for about 50 minutes to an hour, until it is golden brown
and the cheese is oozing. Let stand for about 15 minutes before slicing it into rounds. Serve with some spicy mustard or horseradish for dipping!
Beet Dip
If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to a cheese dip or sour cream-based spinach dip, this recipe is for you! This beet dip is quick and easy to make and its festive reddish-pink hue makes it perfect for your holiday spread. To make the dip, all you’ll need is 6 small beets that have been peeled and steamed (use pre-cooked packaged beets to save time), 3 tablespoons of tahini, 3 peeled cloves of garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Put the beets, tahini and garlic into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Taste the dip and add salt and pepper to your liking. Pour the dip into a bowl and serve with raw veggies, crackers or mini pita bread. To make the dip extra festive and delicious, top it with some goat cheese and fresh mint.
Maple Pear Galette
To treat your sweet tooth, you got to try out this mouth-watering maple pear galette. Sounds fancy, but it is so simple to make and is a great addition to a holiday cheese board. For this recipe, all you’ll need is store-bought pie dough, 4 small pears and maple syrup. To start off, preheat your oven to 400º F. Next, remove the stems from your pears, cut them in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Don’t worry about peeling them, the skin will get nice and soft when baked and provides nice colour to the dish. Put the pears into a bowl and toss them with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup. Roll out the pie dough into a 12-inch circle on a parchment-lined baking pan. Pour the pear and maple syrup mixture into the centre of the pie dough, leaving about 2 inches of space around the edges. Fold the edges of the dough inward to contain the filling. Bake the galette for approximately 45 minutes, until the crust is crispy and golden and the pears are soft. Drizzle with a bit more maple syrup and it is ready to serve!
