Christmas Cookie Exchange: Details

Details, Instructions & Recipes for:

Mini Christmas Tree & Gingerbread Man Pizzas

Baked Ziti

Hot Chocolate Bar

 

Mini Christmas Tree & Gingerbread Man Pizzas:

I was "pin-spired" by this idea and was so excited to try it out.  I was a little nervous how the mini pizzas would actually come out but I was very impressed -- you could tell the shapes AND they tasted good!  I got all the normal "pizza baking supplies."  My toppings were plain cheese, mini pepperonis and green peppers (to be festive). 

                   

 Roll out the pizza dough on a pan (pretending like its cookie dough) and use any shape cookie cutter to cut out the pizza shapes -- It might take a knife to scrape of the extra dough from the cookie cutter (pizza dough is sticky!).  You will have a lot of extra dough -- you can either re-role it out or trash it if you don't need it.

Hot Chocolate Bar:

Party bars are the best -- they are fun for the host to prepare and fun for guests to partake in.  Since it's winter and it was a Christmas themed birthday party, I had a hot chocolate bar.  The mugs were on sale for $1 at Michaels so everyone got to go home with a little treat! (and a cookie cutter, also on sale, that was set up on their plate in the dining room)

Toppings:

- whipped cream

- holiday marshmallows

- peppermint marshmallows

- mini holiday m&m's

- crushed holiday oreos

- chocolate fudge cookie sticks

- candy canes

Mom made us a big pot of hot chocolate on the stove -- very chocolate-y and very good!

The hot chocolate bar was a hit!

Baked Ziti:

This was one of the first recipes mom taught me how to make!  She made the ziti for us while I did other things to get ready but it's super yummy (Take Note:  I got a cute pyrex dish at the Macy's Family & Friends Sale)

 

Ziti Recipe:

16 ounce package ziti (macaroni)

1 pound ground beef

1 pound ricotta cheese - skim

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

1 egg beaten

1/2 teaspoon pepper

24 ounce jar sauce

8 ounce shredded mozzarella cheese

 

- cook ziti as for macaroni, drain and set aside

- brown beef

- add ricotta, parmesan, egg, salt, pepper and half of sauce (mix well)

- spoon into 13 x 9 pan and cover with remaining sauce

- sprinkle with mozzarella

- bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes

 

Xo C