Chicken Pockets

I've got to try these. They sound so yummy. Thought I would share as I was going through this cookbook for some ideas for Easter @ Moms. Enjoy!

3 oz low fat cream cheese, softened
2 tbls unsalted butter, softened
2 tbls milk or chicken broth
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
Chopped chives or minced onion to taste
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 (8 count) cans reduced fat crescent rolls

Beat the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add the milk and beat until blended. Stir in the chicken, chives, salt and pepper.

Unroll the roll of dough from 1 can onto a baking sheet. Separate into 4 rectangles and press the perforations to seal. Spoon 1/8 of the chicken mixture in the center of each rectangle. Bring the corners of each rectangle together over the center of the filling. Twist and pinch to resemble a hobo's bundle. Repeat the process with the remaining can of crescent rolls and remaining chicken mixture.

Arrange the packets on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake @ 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Makes 8 chicken pockets
From River Recipes IV: Warm Welcomes

Keylime Tarts

These were a big hit at the party. I had no leftovers.

24 key lime cooler cookies ( I used key lime twists from target and made a crust)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbls lime juice, preferable key lime
1 tsp lime zest
fresh sweetened whipped cream
mint leaves or lime zest, for garnish

Preheat oven 350 degrees

Fill 2 (12 muffin) mini muffin tins with paper cups and spray with cooking spray. Place 1 key lime cooler cookie in the bottom of eac. cup flat side down.

Prepare filling. beat together cream cheese, egg, sugar, lime juice, and zest until well mixed. Fill the cups to the top. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove tarts to cool. When completely cool, fit a star tip in a pastry bag and fill with the whipped cream. Pipe the whipped cream on top of the tarts. Garnish with tiny mint leaves or lime zest.

Enjoy!

Party Time

The White Elephant Party Menu

Beverages:

Kim's Apple Cider

Poinsettia Sipper

Food:

Spinach Balls

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Pinwheels (Turkey)

Pig in the blanket

Mr. Ronnie's Snack Crackers

Snowman Cheese Ball

Sugar/Cinnamon Almonds

Keylime Tarts

Peppermint Bark

White Chocolate Cake Balls

**There might be more there, I just can't decide. I'm pretty set on all of these things though**

Estimating Quantities of Hors d'Oeuvres

When estimating quantities of hors doeuvres for a party, keep these guidelines in mind. As a rule of thumb, most guests will consume 8 to 10 bite-size pieces for every 60 to 90 minutes of a party. However, the larger the variety of offerings, the more hors doeuvres that will be consumed because everyone will want to try at least one of each item. At the beginning of a party, especially if it is in the early evening, the pace of eating will be faster and then will slow as people satisfy their initial appetite.

If your party lasts longer than 90 minutes and is intended to replace dinner, the pace of eating will speed up again after 2 hours. In this case, it is important to have enough hors doeuvres ready and waiting in the kitchen to replenish empty platters.

For an average-size party, with 8 to 20 guests, plan on 2 hot and 2 cold passed items and 1 or 2 buffet itemsa total of 5 or 6 selections. If you will be hosting 30 to 40 guests, add 1 more of each hot and cold item plus 1 more buffet selection.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Collection Series, Hors d'Oeuvre, by Brigit L. Binns (Simon & Schuster,2001) .

The Menu

I'm almost ready to post the Menu for the party. So stayed tuned to find out what we'll be eating.