Happy New Year to all!
Here are 3 great recipes to help you bring in the new year!

Chutney Cheese Pâté

Ingredients:

• 2 packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 ½ cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
• 3 ½ tbsp dry sherry
• 1 ¼ tsp curry powder
• 1 cup chutney
• 1 to 2 green onions with tops, finely chopped
• red pepper strips

Directions:

Combine softened cream cheese, sharp Cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, dry sherry, and curry powder; beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until blended. Shape mixture into a 10 inch circle on a 12 inch round serving dish; cover and chill until firm. Spread chutney over cheese mixture; sprinkle with green onion, and garnish with red pepper strips. Serve with assorted crackers.

Yield: about 5 cups

Crab-Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Ingredients:

• ½ cup cooked crabmeat
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp finely chopped green onions
• ½ tsp dried whole tarragon
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• 1/8 tsp red pepper
• 1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 24 cherry tomatoes
• salt
• 1 package cream cheese, softened
• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• fresh parsley sprigs

Directions:

1. Drain crabmeat well by pressing between paper towels; flake crabmeat with a fork. Combine crabmeat and next 7 ingredients; stir well. Cover and chill.
2. Wash tomatoes thoroughly. Cut a thin slice from top of each tomato; carefully scoop out pulp, reserving pulp for other uses. Sprinkle shells lightly with salt, and invert onto a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Chill until needed.
3. Drain crab mixture well. Beat cream cheese and milk until fluffy; stir in crab mixture and chopped parsley. Spoon mixture into tomato shells. Garnish with parsley.

Yield: 2 dozen

Chocolate Caramel Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 package devil’s food cake mix
• ¼ cup water
• 1 egg
• 3 tbsp canola oil
• 38 Rolo candies
• chopped hazelnuts

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, egg and oil. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls. Press a candy into each; reshape balls. Dip tops in hazelnuts. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until tops are cracked. Cool for 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Yield: 3 dozen

Tested in the THASC kitchen. Photo by THASC.
THASC is a unique small American business producing cards and other promotional products.
www.thasc.com