Easy Holiday Party Appetizer + Kids Handprint Art Idea

Planning the holiday menu can be quite a task. Guests expect certain foods depending on the holiday, but it’s always fun to throw a few curveballs like new recipes into the mix. What are you planning for the holiday menu this year? If you’re looking for new and easy recipes, I highly recommend checking out the NABISCO Party Planner website. It’s full of tried and true recipes that are simple and delicious. Plus valuable coupons, tips and more!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NABISCO Cookies and Crackers. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’m sharing one of those tasty recipes below. If you like savory appetizers, this recipe for roasted pepper-cheese bites is perfect. It takes just a few minutes to make too!

Roasted Pepper-Cheese Bites

Ingredients

• 4oz brick cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup finely shredded mozzarella cheese
• 24 RITZ Garlic Butter (or Whole Wheat) Crackers
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced mixed roasted red and yellow peppers
• 2 tsp. chopped fresh basil

Directions

Prep by slicing your red and yellow peppers, and fresh basil. Next, heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the cream cheese and mozzarella until blended; spread onto crackers. Top with peppers and bake for 5 minutes. Lastly, sprinkle with basil and serve!

It’s that simple….and makes a perfect holiday party appetizer! Serve it on a beautiful platter at the food station or dining table. Your guests will be delighted! And if you need a dessert idea, try this amazing marshmallow dessert I made for Thanksgiving.

While you’re busy in the kitchen, it’s a good idea to have a designated place for the kids to play. Most children love arts and crafts, so why not create a fun (and supervised) craft station for them? Below I’m sharing one of the boys favorites – handprint art. I purchased a few inexpensive aprons, and other supplies at the craft store to use for the project. This also makes a great “thank you” gift for the holiday host or cook.

Kids Handprint Art

What you’ll need:

Material like aprons, shirts, hats, etc

Fabric paint

Paintbrushes

Hand wipes

Cups with water

Newspaper (for covering the table)

How to create the handprint art:

Using the paintbrush, apply paint to the child’s hand. Make sure it’s a generous amount so that it absorbs well on the material. Then turn the child’s hand over and press gently onto the material for a count of 3. Slowly lift the child’s hand up and you should see a fun design in its place!

We chose to make a handprint fish apron for grandpa since fishing and cooking are two of his favorite hobbies. The boys then used the paintbrushes to draw bubbles around the fish and seaweed below them. It was a fun and easy craft to complete. Not to mention a fun surprise for grandpa! The kids have already asked when they can make more handprint art too.

I hope these holiday tips help you pull off easy recipes in the kitchen, and fun art projects for the kids too!