Two Great Christmas Holiday Menus!

How was your Christmas?! Are you still recovering? What was on your menu?

We had two Christmas dinners with two different sides of the family which meant two different Christmas menus!

I think we really outdid ourselves. It was a ton of work but everyone was blown away!

Menu 1: (Italian inspired:)

Appetizers:

Grilled Artichokes- (like these from Foodie Crush)

Paleo Meatballs in Marinara from Paleo Newbie

Cucumber Hummus bites with Tina's Homemade Hummus

Tina's Hummus recipe:
2- 16 ounce cans of chick peas drained- reserve the juice
4-6 garlic cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
3/4 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
1/2 cup lemon juice

Drain chick peas. Put garlic in food processor and mince. Add chick peas and mince, scraping down the sides. Add salt, tahini and lemon juice. Mix. Taste. Add enough reserve chick pea juice to make a thick creamy consistency. You should be able to make an indentation with the back of a spoon . Check taste again for additional lemon and salt. You can serve also with olive oil drizzled on top and smokey paprika! Divine!

Persimmons and prosciutto (add truffle oil, or honey if you have it!)

Main course:

Caprese wreath from Huffington Post

Shrimp Scampi (also by Huffington Post)

Chicken Cacciatore By Proud Italian Cook

and Italian Peas  (These were amazing)

And for dessert?

Pioneer Womans Cherry Cheesecake Shooters! These were a HUGE hit!!!

Stay tuned for menu number 2!!!