Carol Ritchie
New Years Entertaining
Ground Tour

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Worried about the costs of holiday entertaining? Now there’s a way to throw a New Year Eve’s party on a budget.

Make something delicious and economical….
Avocados from Mexico are prized by chefs for their rich, buttery flavor and creamy texture. Besides being delicious, avocados are great for your health. They’re packed with nutrients, heart-healthy fats and are very low in cholesterol. They also rank high in magnesium, vitamin E and foliate. Allow your avocados to ripen at room temperature or in a brown paper bag. In a day or two they’ll be ready to make this dish. www.avocadofiesta.com

SHRIMP AND AVOCADO SALAD
2 fully ripened avocados from Mexico, halved and pitted
1 cup peeled, cooked small shrimp (about 6 ounces), halved
3/4 cup diced mango or pineapple
2 tablespoons diced red onion
1/2 to 1 teaspoon adobo seasoning
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Scoop avocado pulp from shells with a spoon; dice avocado; reserve shells. In medium-sized bowl, combine the shrimp with mango, red onion, adobo seasoning and lime juice. Gently stir in avocado. Spoon mixture into shells, dividing evenly; garnish with shrimp, if desired.
YIELD: 4 portions
Per portion: 234 calories, 12 gm carbohydrate, 14 gm protein, 16 gm fat

Stocking the bar can sometimes present a challenge when keeping an eye on the budget…
Two Oceans wines from South Africa are a great option. Their Sauvignon Blanc is light and approachable, it really works well with food. And the Shiraz, with soft tannins and intense ripe berry flavors, is a crowd pleaser.”. It runs $7.99 a bottle, so you can afford to offer a wide variety to your guests, they also have a Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Blend. www.twooceanswines.co.za

Finger foods are always a great choice….
The Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies are made with the highest quality cuts of pork, turkey, and beef. They make delicious appetizers that are easy to make and are easy on the wallet. The links are fully-cooked which make them quick and easy to prepare. They are very versatile, from Pigs in a Blanket to a yummy Triple Cheese Dip. You can find more recipes at www.gomeat.com. Lit’l Smokies are full of protein and come in a variety of flavors. Price: $3.99-$6.99

Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies Pigs in a Blanket
Hillshire Farm Lit'l Smokies Cocktail Links 24 links
Refrigerated crescent dinner rolls 1 (8. oz.) can

Serving size:
Makes 24 servings – serve with mustard or cranberry sauce for a sweeter taste

Wraps are a great party food because they are easy to eat….
Mission Carnitas Pinwheels are made with guacamole and pork pot roast wrapped up in Mission flavored wraps. The wraps are made with zesty herbs and delicious seasonings. You can do a lot of different things with these wraps -- they come in several varieties, like Jalapeno Cheddar, Zesty Garlic Herb, Sundried Tomato Basil, Garden Spinach Herb and Multigrain. With a full ten-inch diameter, there’s plenty of room to wrap up all the ingredients in this snack. You can use them all or just a few; they come in a re-sealable zipper packaging that keeps wraps fresh! For more mission recipe ideas go to www.missionmenus.com

Mission Carnitas Pinwheels
Serves: 6
PrepTime (min): 5
CookTime (min): 3
Type: Appetizer and Party Food
Prep Tool: Work Surface, Microwave
Helpful Info: Kid Friendly, Easy, Entertaining

Recipe Instructions:
1. While still cold finely shred pre-cooked pot roast and combine with orange juice, chili powder and salt in a microwavable safe bowl or container. Microwave on high for 2-2 ½ minutes. (cooking time may vary due to variances in wattage)
2. Heat Mission® Wrap for 15 seconds in the microwave on high.
3. Lay warmed wraps on your work surface, spread guacamole or Mission® Guacamole Dip on the top half of the wrap. Evenly spread warm pork from edge to edge covering the entire tortilla without the guacamole. Beginning with the pork half closest to you, roll forward making a cylinder.
4. Slice cylinder in to 10 1 inch portions. Place on a serving platter and enjoy.

Hints:
1. It is important to evenly spread the pork from side to side so to create the most portions possible.
2. Pre-cooked beef pot roast could be substituted for pork.

Finish the night with a nice hot coffee….
Treat yourself and your guests to the divine combination of fine chocolate and superior coffee. Senseo and Godiva Chocolatier partnered to introduce two indulgent new flavors of coffee – Crème Brûlée and Chocolate Crème. The coffee pods allow you to enjoy premium, coffee-shop quality flavored coffee in under a minute, without the mess and hassle of handling coffee grounds. You can even experiment with different gourmet ingredients to become your own barista. www.SenseoStore.com Price: Senseo Coffee System $99.99-$139.99

Dark Chocolate
When paired correctly, chocolate and coffee enhance the flavors of one another. Dark chocolate provides the perfect complement to the delicious flavor of the Godiva Chocolate Crème coffee.

Saigon Cinnamon
Ignite the senses with a combination Godiva Crème Brûlée coffee and Saigon cinnamon.

Coconut
The exotic punch the fabulous flavor of coconut along with Godiva Chocolate Créme coffee is the perfect match.