‹ Healthy Living Blog

Easy Holiday Party Ideas with Michigan Apples

We all love a good holiday party but sometimes being the host can be stressful. These easy holiday party ideas, tips, recipes, and easy decorating ideas that include Michigan Apples, will help you keep things simple, so you can enjoy your guests during this special time of year.

 

6 Tips to Host an Easy Holiday Party:

1. Prepare a menu and make it easy on yourself

Everything does not have to be made from scratch. Look for convenient items like precut veggies to reduce time in the kitchen. Also, look for recipes that are quick and easy to prepare like our Michigan “Apple-tizers” below.

2. Create a schedule and work ahead

The week before your event, create a list of to-dos and complete tasks you can do before your event. Set out serving trays, dishes, and utensils. Purchase napkins, make your centerpiece, etc. This will help keep you from rushing at the last minute.

3. Batch out drinks

Make a punch, they’re festive! or set up a bar and let people mix their own beverages. Make sure you have appropriate glassware, mixers, tools, garnishes, and beverage napkins conveniently located. Make sure to include mocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages.

4. Stations are key

Set up appetizer and dessert stations and let guests help themselves.

5. Engage the senses

Light a holiday candle, play soft seasonal music, and enjoy natural decorations like evergreens.

6. Do the math

Plan on two drinks per person for the first hour, and one drink per person for each additional hour. For appetizers, one-and-a-half to two appetizers per person should be fine.

 

Try These Healthy Apple-tizers

Slow Cooker Apple BBQ Meatballs

INGREDIENTS:

• • 1 cup applesauce
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 egg
  • 1 Michigan Apple, finely chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. 1. In the bowl of 3-quart slow cooker, stir together applesauce and barbecue sauce.
   2. Place egg in a large mixing bowl and whisk until smooth.
   3. Add apple, beef, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, black pepper, salt and red pepper flakes.
   4. Mix with hands until just combined. Do not overmix. Using your hands, gently form the mixture into meatballs just smaller than golf balls.
   5. Place meatballs in the bowl of slow cooker and gently stir to cover the meatballs with sauce.
   6. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until meatballs are cooked through.
   7. Stir mixture well, then transfer to a platter and serve garnished with parsley, if desired.

 

Creamy Blue Cheese and Honey Apple Topped Crostini

INGREDIENTS:

• • 1 cup (8 ounces) part-skim ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces) crumbled blue cheese
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves, plus 18 small fresh basil leaves for garnish
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • Pinch ground black pepper
  • ¾ of a French baguette, sliced diagonally into 1/3-inch thick pieces (you should have 18 pieces)
  • Olive oil
  • 2 Michigan McIntosh or Northern Spy apples, cored and thinly sliced (18 slices

DIRECTIONS:

1. 1. In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, blue cheese, chopped basil, honey, and pepper.
   2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
   3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
   4. Place baguette slices on a rimmed baking pan and lightly brush one side with oil.
   5. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until crisp. Remove from oven; let cool.
   6. To serve, top each baguette slice with a heaping tablespoon of cheese mixture, 1 apple slice, and 1 basil leaf.

 

Apple Chutney Spread

Approximately 10-15 servings

INGREDIENTS:

• • 1 package (8 oz.) Neufchatel cheese softened
  • 1 cup shredded red Michigan Apple
  • 1/3 cup shredded carrot
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
  • 1/3 cup mango chutney

DIRECTIONS:

1. 1. Combine all ingredients.
   2. Cover and chill thoroughly, about 2 hours. Serve with crackers or celery.

 

Holiday Wreath Apple-tizers

If you don’t plan on decorating the apple slices right away, then first soak them in a bowl of lemon water (ratio of 1 cup water to 1 tablespoon lemon) for 3-4 minutes to keep them from browning.

Recipe from myheartbeets.com

INGREDIENTS:

• • Michigan Apples, cored and sliced
  • Almond butter or another type of nut/seed butter

TOPPINGS:

• • Pomegranate arils
  • Slivered almonds
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Dried cranberries
  • Chocolate chips
  • Coconut shreds
  • Crushed nuts (walnuts, pecans, cashews, pistachios)
  • Raisins
  • Cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

1. 1. Spread nut or seed butter on top of the apples (or add the nut butter to a zip-top bag and snip a corner to make spreading easier).
   2. Decorate with toppings of choice!

 

Holiday Decorating with Michigan Apples

You can’t call it a true holiday party without decorations. Red, green, and white are of course easy colors to coordinate when picking out tablecloths, napkins, plates, cups, and utensils. Consider lining the windows with bright red poinsettia, or decorating your mantle with twinkling lights and greens. Including shiny Michigan Apples in your décor is also a simple, colorful, and inexpensive way to add natural beauty and interest to your holiday décor.

On the counter

Add holiday greens to a large bowl and fill with Michigan Apples

 

On the table

Make place cards for guests – add a green sprig with a leaf name tag

 

On the door

Include Michigan apples in your wreath

 

 

Find even more easy holiday recipes with Michigan Apples!