HolidayParty

2 (8 oz.) pkgs. of cream cheese
1 (8 1/2 oz.) can of crushed pineapple, drained
2 cups of chopped pecans
1/4 cup of chopped green pepper or 1/4 cup of chopped pimiento
2 tablespoons of finely chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon of seasoned salt

Beat softened cheese with a fork. Stir in well drained pineapple, 1 cup pecans, pepper or pimiento, onion and salt. Shape into 1 or 2 balls and roll in remaining pecans. Wrap and store in refrigerator for 24 hours. Serve with assorted crackers.

For more delicious Holiday recipes click here.

After running around for weeks attending to all your Holiday shopping, baking and gift-wrapping, you deserve a little fun to take away the stress of the Holiday season.

Whether you have a family get-together on Christmas Eve, or enjoy some time with friends before or after the big day, everyone is sure to enjoy a fun-filled time with these "Wacky Christmas Party Games."

Make sure your camera batteries are charged when you play these games... You'll want to capture all uncontrollable mirth and unrestrained silliness!

Create memories that will go down in family history with these Wacky Christmas Party Games.

Children are a huge part of the holidays but there are lots of children who won't get to celebrate. This year have a Santa Stocking Stuffer party. It's a fun theme that will make your guests feel terrific. Use a little Christmas stocking as the 'envelope' to hold a rolled up sheet of paper that is the invitation. Ask each guest to bring 20 of the same item to stuff a stocking. The dollar store, big lot store, or a warehouse store usually have lots of bargain items.

Examples of stocking stuffers include: toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste, tissues, hand sanitizer, travel size shampoo and conditioner, soap, warm gloves or mittens, socks, hat, stuffed toy, candy cane, energy bar, juice drink, flashlight with batteries, crayons with small pads of paper, children's playing cards, bottle of bubbles, small box of raisins, individual bag of cookies or snacks. Just keep in mind, nothing perishable or breakable. You could include a suggested list of stocking stuffers with the invitation. When a guest confirms they will be attending find out what they're contributing so there won't be duplications.

If you're ambitious, or if your guest list is large, ask some of the guests to bring new warm sweat shirts in medium and large children's sizes instead of the stocking stuffers.

As the hostess, your contributions are the stockings and to find a charity or church who will accept the filled stockings. That shouldn't be too much of a challenge. Do this before you send the invitations because some charities won't accept certain items like food or candy.

Carry through the stuffing theme with food that's stuffed for the menu. For example, serve a hearty soup stuffed into an individual loaf of bread, or a roast beef, blue cheese, bacon and fresh spinach salad stuffed into a pita pocket. If you'd like something more substantial, serve a stuffed rolled pork roast with stuffed mushrooms. For dessert, serve peppermint ice cream stuffed into hollowed out orange shells.

When the guests arrive have them place their stocking stuffers on a designated table or sofa. After dinner or lunch, the guests can take a stocking, fill it with a contribution and then pass the stocking to the next person to add another contribution, assembly line fashion. The last person ties the stocking closed with a big bow that helps keep the contents in the stocking during transit.

Your Santa Stocking Stuffer party will be a great hit with your guests and the children who receive the stockings.

For more Holiday fun ideas click here.

3/4 cup non-dairy coffee creamer
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 cup confectioners sugar

Combine all ingredients in a container with a tight fitting lid. Shake well to blend. Store in airtight container and give creamer with the recipe for Amaretto Coffee. Yields 12 servings.

Attach to the jar:
Amaretto Coffee: In a mug, combine 2 tablespoons of creamer with 6 ounces of coffee.

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Most of the country is wrapped in icy winds and perhaps even a blanket of snow which is great if you're inside where it's nice and warm with a few cookies and a cup of hot chocolate. But if you're a feathered friend, the holidays can be rough weather.

Instead of the same old party get together have "A Christmas for the Birds" party. If you look you can probably find a Christmas card with a bird on the front to use as the invitation. If not, find a copyright free photo of a cardinal, sparrow or blue jay and use that to make your own invitations. Follow up the mailed invitation with an email. Lunch time on a Sunday is a good time, but you could do it in the evening as well. This is a great party for children.

Ask your guests to bring an assortment of oranges, apples, pine cones, peanut butter, suet, honey, and bread. You can specify what you'd like them to bring on the invitation, or you can leave it up to their choice. You'll provide bird seed, the materials below, a box for each guest, and a light lunch or supper.

The menu can be chili, corn chips, veggies and dip. The children's menu can be grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken noodle soup and apple dippers. Serve cookies for dessert.

Spread painter's drop clothes on the floor underneath the work tables. You can protect the work tables with a plastic table cloth. Set out the string, and scissors. Add a cutting board, a few sharp knives (adults only please) and several butter knives. Put the bird seed in several bowls. You'll also need a big tapestry needle with a large eye. Now the fun begins.

Tie a piece of string around the pine cones and leave about a six inch loop at one end. Spread the pine cone with peanut butter or suet and then roll in bird seeds. Cut the fruit in quarters. Use the tapestry needle and string to make a garland of fruit. Knot between each piece of fruit and leave about six inches between each quarter. Cut the bread with cookie cutters into holiday shapes and tie each one with a loop much like you did with the pine cones. When you're finished give each guest a box with an assortment of bird goodies to take home.

Find a tree or bush that's away from the house but in view of a window. Hang the treats onto the tree or bush and watch as the birds have the holiday feast you've provided.

For more Holiday party ideas and traditions click here.

1 cup of butter
1 1/2 cups of sifted powdered sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla
2 1/2 cups of sifted flour
1 teaspoon of cream of tartar
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt

Cream butter, add sugar gradually and cream until fluffy. Add unbeaten egg and vanilla; beat well. Sift together dry ingredients; blend into creamed mixture. Chill dough about an hour. Roll on well floured pastry board to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with floured cutter. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 6 minutes at 325 degrees. Yield: 6 dozen cookies.

For more delicious Holiday recipes click here.

New Year's Eve is always cause for a celebration, but why not celebrate the last sunset of the year instead of waiting until midnight? Sunset is magical any time of the year. The last rays of the sun catch the clouds and turn the sky crimson. The crimson fades to violet, then purple, and finally the sky turns dark and the stars start to glimmer.

Invite your friends at least three weeks ahead of time and make sure the invitation clearly states that it's a sunset party. Follow up the invitation with an email for confirmations. Perhaps you could find a photo of the setting sun as the cover of the invitation or take a digital photo to use. You can find the exact time of sunset in your area online. Invite the guests one hour earlier.

This year take the Christmas decorations down early and redecorate for New Year's. The decorations can be simple votive candles and bunches of flowers arranged casually in vases throughout the living room. Another alternative is to echo the colors of sunset in the party decorations and food. A nice touch is to plant a single paperwhite (narcissus) bulb in a small flower pot about 4 weeks before the party. The day before the party wrap each pot in silver paper and secure with a rubber band. Place the pots on trays by the party's entrance. As each guest leaves give them a narcissus as a memento of the evening.

As sunset approaches provide each guest with a sunset cocktail, champagne with their choice of orange juice, cranberry juice or pomegranate liquor. Give each guest a helium balloon tied to a ribbon. The guests write their wish for the upcoming year on a small piece of paper and tie it to the ribbon. When the sun finally sets, each guest releases their balloon in the hopes their wish comes true.

Serve small bites, finger food and light appetizers. If you like, you can follow the sunset with a light supper but it's not necessary.

A Sunset New Year's Party can be a fabulous way to say goodbye to the old year and celebrate the New Year.

For delicious Holiday recipes and tons of fun ideas click here.