Need some side dish/snack food ideas for non-traditional Christmas - Help!!?

Here's a cute way to add a Christmas touch to the menu and have it be a snack thing and healthy, too>>

Make a "Christmas" triangle tree using broccoli florets, use 4 pretzel rods as the tree trunk, and the trunk is sitting amongst cauliflower bunches of "snow" all curved up around both sides and over the trunk a bit. Then cut out little star from cheese slice and put one up on top of the "tree". Add grape tomatoes for "ornaments" poked into the broccoli florets here and there. Serve a nice dip of your choice alongside of it. Merry Christmas!

forgot to say you should cut the pretzel rods in half...and if your tree is smaller in size, then use just 3 rods...just eyeball it ;).

editing again....lol...I was thinking, even doing something as deviled eggs (because they're so popular) on a bed of red leafy lettuce garnished with slice of green olive w/pimento or sprinkled with red paprika looks good, too.....then in the center you can have a few of these perky olive penguins filled with cream cheese to set them off>>http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Perky-Olive-Pen...

how about some Orange Spiced Mixed Nuts? http://www.smuckers.com/Recipes/Details.aspx?recip...

This is an old, treasured family recipe- I'm actually making it for our family dinner the day after Christmas! It's a really great recipe for big meals, because it makes a lot, and it's easier than it appears at first look. Bring the recipe, and be prepared to have it assigned as your "specialty", LOL!

Curly Mac Salad (Make 24 hours ahead!)

1 # rotini (corkscrew noodles)

1 onion, minced

1 green pepper, chopped

2 c. carrots, grated

1 12 oz can evaporated milk, chilled

1 pint mayonnaise (2 cups)

½ c vinegar

½ c cider vinegar

1 ½ c sugar

Cook rotini according to package; drain and set aside. In a very large bowl, beat the chilled milk until it resembles whipped cream. Gradually beat in the sugar, then the vinegars, and finally the mayonnaise. Pour the cooked noodles in a large bowl (an ice cream pail is perfect), and top with the chopped vegetables. Pour dressing over and stir well. Keeps 2 weeks in fridge.

How about a shrimp & crab ball? You can just take a couple of blocks of cream cheese and let come to room temp and add some salad shrimp & some shredded crab meat to it with a little bit of Old Bay Seasoning and form into a ball using plastic wrap. You could also make your own Cocktail Sauce to go with it & Serve w/ Crackers.

Here is something else... Take a Bock of Velveeta Cheese, Can of Black Beans Drained & a Can of Rotel Tomatoes with Cilantro and mix together and put in a small Crock Pot & Serve w/ Tortilla Chips.

How about Mini Pizzas? You can take the mini Bagels & toast them in the oven, then top w/ pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, bacon bits or any veggies you like...mushrooms are good! Then just put them under the broiler for a couple of minutes to melt the cheese.

A super easy finger food is wienie tots.

Hormel little smokies

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (the seamless sheet so you can cut your own strips or triangles)

Wrap each smokie with the cresent roll dough. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 for about 12-15 minutes.

Sandypaw, I don't need to include a recipe, it's your recipe. But before I say it, it sounds like you have enough food already to sink the Carrier Ronald Regan.

Whats wrong with your own meatloaf, thinly sliced, and used in those roll ups I told you about when you were going camping? Instead of cutting them in one inch wheels, cut them in half on the angle, as for other ingredient use what you think would go with it.

Have a bowl with cherry tomatoes, & mozzarella balls drizzled with oil & vinegar & Italian seasoning. Check out the sites I've included for more ideas. Have fun!

FRUIT PLATTER!! with appropriate sweet dips.l thin a carton of one of the cream cheese dips with milk to dipping consistancy. can use more than one of these.

Velveeta cheese on celery sticks, olives, nuts, cheese balls and crackers are always good!

have a tray of rolaids and tums for that unhealthy meal...wow...