Turn to leftovers for post-holiday break
You've worked hard already this week. You got all the presents wrapped and under the tree before the kids woke Christmas morning, squeezed the orange juice, made the coffee cake, cleaned up the wrapping paper and prepared the holiday feast. No wonder you want to sit back and coast until the weekend.
Thankfully, you've got a fridge full of leftovers to give you a head start on the week's meals. Pull the ham from the fridge, shave off a handful of thin slices, then cube the rest so it's ready to go.
The folks at Hormel suggest adding cubed ham to scrambled eggs or on top of toasted frozen waffles with sliced strawberries and maple syrup for a quick brunch.
Ham cubes can perk up potato, pasta or bean salads and even your favorite macaroni and cheese (especially if it comes from a box).
If you need to bring an appetizer to a New Year's Eve party or Rose Bowl bash (go, Illini!), top toasted French bread slices with shaved ham, thinly sliced pear and thinly sliced Fontina cheese. Broil 1 to 3 minutes to melt the cheese and watch them disappear.
Fresh from the freezer: No everyone has the time to whip up an appetizer spread -- and that's OK. You shouldn't stress over the menu so much that you don't enjoy your own party.
The frozen food aisles at your local grocer can provide even seasoned hosts and hostesses with convenient options. But what to pick?
Real Simple magazine answered that question with its list of top frozen hors d' oeuvres. Not only are these appetizers flavorful and crispy, they require almost no work, so you'll have plenty of energy to be the life of the party. Here are some of the picks:
Pigs in a blanket: Hebrew national beef franks in a blanket ($10.40 for 40). The flaky golden wrappers on these classic snacks are far superior to the soggy, starchy crusts of their competitors. Several tasters commented on the real beef flavor, reminding us of authentic ballpark hotdogs.
Breaded shrimp: Seapack jumbo butterfly shrimp ($8 for 12). "Nice and firm" was the most frequently heard praise for these breaded crescents. They don't taste or smell fishy. Seafood lovers will appreciate the crispy coating and juicy shrimp inside. Try them Buffalo-style with hot sauce and blue cheese dressing (pictured).
Cheese soufflé: Nancy's mini cheese soufflé ($4 for 12). They're so light and airy, you could eat them nonstop. The cheese has the right amount of tang; it isn't overwhelming. They are smooth and creamy.
Taquitos: Delimex three-cheese taquitos ($6 for 25). These mini, rolled tacos have a real corn taste. The gooey blend of mozzarella, American and cream cheeses is hard to resist. Kids would love these. They are a great alternative to everyday chip and dip.
Samosas: Deep Indian Gourmet 9 samosa ($5 for 9). Tasters were seduced by the fragrant blend of coriander and cumin in these plump pastry pockets. They have a nice balance of spices that would appeal to all palates.
For the complete list and other holiday cooking ideas, visit www.Realsimple.com.
Patty cake, patty cake: Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights celebrates the new year with its annual Mochi Tsuki ceremony on Tuesday.
Mochi is a traditional Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice, pounded into paste and molded into shape. For people in Japan, the new year celebration trumps other holidays and Mochi Tsuki is the main event.
Join the celebration and take your turn pounding at noon and 1, 2 and 3 p.m. at the store, 100 E. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights. Samples of azuki (red bean) and kinako (soybean flour) cakes will be available. In addition to Mochi Tsuki, Mitsuwa will have other traditional new year foods on hand for purchase.
-- Deborah Pankey