PARTY SNACKS

The tree is up and the wreath is hung and I already have one holiday party under my belt. Last weekend was the fourth annual Christmas Caroling night right here, in my Brooklyn brownstone. We had a piano delivered (ok, my neighbor threw his keyboard in his car and drove two blocks) but I like the sound of it, very Jazz Age. "The piano is getting delivered at noon and the bathtub gin should be here around three."

Usually I cook a whole bunch of food, but since I am hosting my ENTIRE (22 of us) family on Christmas day, I simply could not exhaust myself. This year we just did drinks and appetizers (and dessert, of course.) I relied on my tasteful friends to show up with a variety of wines, cheeses, and dips. Talk about holiday cheer: my brilliant cousin brought a gluten-free cranberry tart, and a dear friend adapted a artichoke-dip recipe, gluten-free. I felt like I was at TGI Friday's! In a good way!

I couldn't resist making a few things, and I enlisted the help of my industrious roommate. There are no pictures because we were pretty beside ourselves with party cheer and general industriousness.

Ginger Infused Cranberry Gimlets

-One bottle medium quality vodka (the liquor store guy recommended Svedka)

-One ginger root

-Cheese grater

Grate about 5-6 tablespoons of ginger. Pour vodka over it. Soak overnight.

Serve over ice with cranberry juice, sparkling water, and a dash of simple syrup. Or ginger ale.

Clementine Mimosas

-1 large box clementines

-Several bottles of champagne

-Lemon juicer

Cut clementines in half. Do NOT cut your finger. Squeeze juice. Pour some into each individual glass of champagne.

Turkey-Curry Meatballs

-One container ground turkey [warning! get the full-fat kind or else your meatballs will be dry]

-One small onion, diced

-A few garlic cloves, diced

-One egg

- 1/3 cup gluten-free rice crackers OR corn chips OR non-sweet cereal, OR breadcrumbs if you have such a thing in your kitchen

-1 tablespoon gluten-free soy sauce

-1 tablespoon gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
-2 tablespoons curry powder

-Salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste. (Don't taste the raw turkey.)

Brown the onion with the garlic. Dump the turkey meat into a bowl. Add all ingredients, taking care to blend well, with your hands.

*WARNING* if you are making these the day OF YOUR PARTY, you will have yellow fingernails due to the turmeric in the curry powder. I don't have a solution for this, except maybe to get a manicure (red) or use a spoon (not as good for blending) or make them the day before.

Make little balls. If the balls are not sticking, add more bread crumbs or another egg.

Bake at 35o for about twenty minutes. Serve with toothpicks.

Coconut Rice Pudding with Mango

Adapted from here.

-1/2 cup basmati rice

-2 cups light coconut milk

-2 cups water

-1/3 cup sugar

-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

-1 large mango

-Cardamom powder, optional

Combine rice, coconut milk, sugar, and water in a pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. When done, add vanilla and cardamom. Slice mango and put on top. Serve in little cups, to your vegan and dairy-allergic friends!