Easy Entertaining For The Holidays

(NAPSI)-One way to keep the season merry for both partygoers and party throwers is to keep things simple.

When you serve dishes that are easy to create, you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time providing guests the gift of your presence.

You can serve:

• Crisp vegetables with festive dips such as salsa and hummus, chips and crackers.

• Traditional popcorn balls and trendy salty snacks.

• Gourmet cheese and fruit.

• Simple but flavorful recipes such as these:

BACARDI® Rum Garlic Shrimp

1 to 1½ pounds extra-large (21- to 25-count) shrimp, peeled with tails left on, deveined and patted dry

3 Tbsp. BACARDI® Superior Rum

3 Tbsp. butter

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 large clove garlic, minced

¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

¼ tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. chopped parsley

Arrange shrimp in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Heat remaining ingredients, except parsley, in a small saucepan until butter is melted. Drizzle mixture over shrimp. Bake at 425° F until shrimp become opaque, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley before serving. Serve with piña colada sauce. For an extra hint of festive color, decorate platter with fresh strawberries.

Yield: 4 entrée or 10 appetizer servings

BACARDI® Rum Piña Colada Sauce

1 cup light sour cream

½ cup cream of coconut

½ cup crushed pineapple, undrained

⅓ cup BACARDI® Superior Rum

Combine all ingredients. Cover and chill until served.

Yield: 2 cups sauce

BACARDI® Dragon Berry™ & Ginger Ale

3 parts BACARDI® Dragon

Berry™

1 part ginger ale

Pour over ice in glass.

Garnish with lime wedge.

You can find more great recipes and entertaining ideas online at Bacardi.com.

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Fresh Blueberries for Luscious Salads

CC Note: We bit into this salad recipe and will be doing it again and again. We give it 4 chocolate covered strawberries in our rating system of new dishes.

(ARA) - Blueberries are most abundant and least expensive in the summer, making it an ideal time to get your fill of these little blue gems. Stock the fridge and freezer with blueberries to make meals, snacks and desserts that are easy on the cook. Blueberries never need to be peeled, pitted, stemmed or chopped –just a quick rinse and they’re ready to eat or add to recipes.

Try these ideas for making quick, delicious salads that are enjoyable any time:

* Toss blueberries, chopped pineapple, jalapeno pepper and cilantro with lime juice and serve beside grilled chicken breasts.

* Stir blueberries into your favorite tuna salad and scoop onto baby spinach.

* Whirl vinaigrette salad dressing and blueberries in the blender until smooth and toss with green salads.

Blueberries are not only convenient, they also provide nutrients our bodies need every day. You can find more blueberry recipes and information at www.blueberrycouncil.org.

“Blueberry-Mango Colada Salad” is cool and fresh, boasting bright colors and sweet fruit flavors. With just three ingredients, this delicious salad is a snap to make. Spoon it into stemmed glasses and enjoy as a light fruit dessert. Another option is to serve with meat sizzling from the grill or with simple chicken sandwiches.

Blueberry-Mango Colada Salad

2 cups fresh blueberries
2 mangos, peeled, seeded and chopped (about 1-3/4 cups)
1/4 cup frozen pina colada mix, thawed

In a large bowl, toss blueberries, mangos and pina colada mix. Into four martini glasses or dessert dishes, spoon fruit mixture, dividing evenly. Garnish with blueberries, mango slices and thin lime slices threaded onto long toothpicks, if desired.

YIELD: 4 portions

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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