Cranberries, goats cheese, meatballs.... these are just a few of the ingredients that can make for some delicious and easy, yet elegant holiday appetizers.

Don't go with the ordinary this holiday season. You and your guests deserve more than chips and dip. Here are some recipes that bring yuletide to the kitchen, yet are still simple and easy to execute.

Holiday Goat Cheese Loaf Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 8 oz. loaf of goat’s cheese, or soft goats cheese
• 1⁄2 cup kalamata olives, drained and diced
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and diced
• 1⁄4 cup roasted red peppers, drained and diced
• 1 teaspoon fresh basil
• 1 package pita chips

Directions

1. In center of appetizer dish, form goats cheese into small loaf.

2. Cover with olives, sun-dried tomatoes and peppers, pressing gently into loaf (some will spill over sides).

3. Spread pita chips around goat’s cheese loaf and serve.

Cranberry Brie Pizza Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 package uncooked pizza dough
• 1 8oz. round of Brie cheese
• 1 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce

Directions

1. Spread pizza dough evenly onto baking dish, and pre-bake for 10 minutes at 350 dgrees F (180 degrees C).

2. Remove from oven and cool slightly.

3. Spread cranberry sauce over crust.

4. Chunk Brie and sprinkle on top.

5. Bake for an additional 8 minutes or until Brie is bubbling and crust is cooked through. Cool, slice and serve.

Cranberry Cream Cheese Roll-ups Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 large flour Tortillas
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
• 1⁄4 cup finely-chopped toasted pecans

Directions

1. Spread one ounce of cream cheese on each tortilla.

2. Top with 1/8 of the cranberries (approximately 1 1⁄2 tablespoons).

3. Sprinkle 1⁄2 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1/8 of the pecans over each.

4. Roll and cut into 1-inch pieces.

Holiday Meatballs Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1⁄4 cup onion, diced
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tablespoons parsley
• 2 teaspoons garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 (12 oz.) bottle chili sauce
• 1 (14 oz.) can of whole berry cranberry sauceDirections

1. Mix ingredients together and form into small meatballs. Place in a single layer in a baking tray and bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 35 minutes.

2. Add meatballs to crock pot, and cover with chili and cranberry sauces. Cook for 3 hours in crock pot before serving.

Spiced Sausage Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients

• 1 pound turkey sausage
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sliced green onions
• 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 head Bibb or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated, rinsed and drained

Directions

1. Cook sausage in pan on stove until well browned, stirring to break meat into small pieces. Add soy sauce and cook an additional 2 minutes. Cool slightly.

2. In separate pan, cook cranberries and brown sugar just until cranberries begin to burst and a slight glaze is formed. Cool slightly.

3. Combine sausage and cranberry mixture, and gently stir in walnuts and green onions.

4. Serve a spoonful of sausage mixture in each piece of lettuce.

Looking for some main-course and side dish suggestions for your holiday party?

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