Autumn Treats

EASY FALL HORS D’OEUVRES
Every fall, the creative juices start to run at Occasions. It’s time for new recipes, menus, and inspiration. THIS inspiration is our gift to you! Surprise your friends and family with an old idea gone MUCH BETTER. You can size it up or down. It’s inexpensive. It doesn’t take much time. You can innovate to make your prep time even less. It’s delicious with a glass of wine or hot cider.

MUCH BETTER PRETZELS AND DIPS
You will need:
- 1 lb. bag of Rold Gold Pretzels- Tiny Twists (the curled ones that almost look like hearts)
- 3 dips- recipes follow
- 3 mini pumpkins- different sizes. Put one pumpkin at a time in the microwave for 1.5 minutes. The cooking will soften the pumpkin just enough to allow you to cut into the top of the pumpkin without damaging your bodily parts. Remove the lid and seeds, scraping a little of the pumpkin meat out as well. The larger pumpkins will take 3-4 minutes. Cool your pumpkin containers before filling with dips.
- A flat basket to hold the pretzels and dips

We LOVE these dip recipies! You won’t believe how good they taste with the pretzels: (However, for speedy prep time, you can buy pre-made dips or make other types of dips. e.g.: Hot Mustard Dip, Onion Dip (recipe on back of the onion soup box), Artichoke Dip, etc.)

Wine-Cheese Dip:
2 cups sour cream (lite if you want)
2 t. garlic powder
2 t. onion powder
2 t. dried parsley
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
1 cup shredded cheese
½ cup white wine (or beer!)
Mix all together and chill.

Cranberry-Honey Dip
1- 16 oz. can cranberry sauce
¼ c. honey
2 t. vinegar
½ t. ground ginger
½ t. stone ground mustard
1/8 t. ground cinnamon
1/8 t. pepper
In saucepan, combine ingredients, whisk over medium heat until smoothish. Chill.

Dijon-Bacon Dip
1 c. mayonnaise
½ c. Dijon
1/3 c. bacon bits or cooked bacon, crumbled (Save a tablespoon for garnish over the dip once it’s in the pumpkin.)
1-2 T. horseradish
Mix all together. Chill.

Put your dips in the cooled pumpkins and surround with the pretzels. Dig in. Yum. Yum. Yum.

Tip: Change the pumpkins to gold bowls and brighten-up your winter holiday party.