Soup With Santa

Southern Living, Dec 2004 by Huss, Lauri, Maxwell, Tracey

A PARTY WITH ST. NICK ADDS UP TO HAPPY MEMORIES.

Schedule a special party for your younger children and their friendsand invite Santa to help decorate the tree. A weekday afternoon is the perfect time to let youngsters work off energy. When they're ready for a snack, offer these kid-friendly recipes. They're easy and pleasing to young taste buds.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

MAKES 3 SERVINGS

PREP: 10 MIN., COOK: 5 MIN.

1½ (1-ounce) unsweetened chocolate baking squares

¾ cup water

¼ cup sugar

1 teaspoon instant coffee granules

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Dash of salt

2 cups milk

Miniature marshmallows (optional)

STIR together first 6 ingredients in a 3 ½-quart saucepan over medium-low heat until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.

COOK, stirring constantly, just until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, stirring constantly, 4 minutes.

STIR in milk, and cook until thoroughly heated. Whisk mixture until foamy.

POUR into mugs; top with miniature marshmallows, if desired. LAURI HUSS

MOUNT PLEASANT, SOUTH CAROLINA

CHEESEBURGER SOUP

MAKES 12 CUPS

PREP: 30 MIN., COOK.: 40 MIN.

Have a bottle of hot sauce handy for adult party guests to heat up their soup.

½ pound lean ground beef

½ cup chopped onion

¾ cup shredded carrots

¾ cup chopped celery

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried parsley

6 cups chicken broth

2 pounds potatoes, peeled and diced

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

¼ cup all-purpose flour

¾ pound processed reduced-fat American cheese, cubed

1½ cups milk

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

Easy Breadsticks (optional)

COOK ground beef in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat about 3 minutes, stirring until meat crumbles. Add onion and next 4 ingredients, and sauté 4 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Drain well. Return beef mixture to Dutch oven.

STIR in chicken broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 to 12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

MELT 3 tablespoons butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Gradually stir in flour, and cook, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes or until flour is lightly browned. Whisk flour mixture into simmering beef mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 6 minutes or until thickened.

WHISK in cheese and next 3 ingredients just until cheese melts. Serve with Easy Breadsticks, if desired.

TRACEY MAXWELL

WAKE FOREST, NORTH CAROLINA

EASY BREADSTICKS: Separate 8 hot dog buns into halves; brush halves evenly with 4 tablespoons melted butter or margarine. Cut each piece in half lengthwise and then crosswise. Place buns, buttered sides down, on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 5 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately. Makes 64 breadsticks.

BLT Wraps

MAKES 8 SERVINGS

PREP: 20 MIN.

1 cup mayonnaise

½ cup dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped

8 (10-inch) flour tortillas

1 large head iceberg lettuce, chopped

16 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

1 medium onion, thinly sliced (optional)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

COMBINE mayonnaise and tomatoes in a bowl. Spread evenly over 1 side of each tortilla, leaving a '/2-inch border.

LAYER lettuce, bacon, and onions, if desired, evenly over tortillas; sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper.

ROLL up tortillas; secure with wooden picks, and cut in half diagonally.

Chocolate-Dipped Orange Cookies

MAKES 4 DOZEN

PREP: 45 MIN., CHILL: 1 HR., BAKE: 12

MIN. PER BATCH, COOL: 3 MIN. PER BATCH

1 cup butter, softened

½ cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon grated orange rind

1 teaspoon orange extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 (6-ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels, melted

¾ cup finely chopped almonds, toasted (optional)

¾ cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted (optional)

BEAT butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add powdered sugar, beating well. Stir in orange rind and extract. Gradually add flour, beating well. Cover and chill 1 hour.

DIVIDE dough in half. Cover and chill 1 portion. Divide remaining portion into 24 pieces; shape each piece into a 2'/2- χ '/2-inch log on a lightly floured surface. Repeat procedure with reserved portion. Place cookies on baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.

BAKE at 350° for 12 minutes. Cool on baking sheets 3 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

DIP tips of cookies in melted chocolate, and if desired, chopped nuts or coconut. Place on wire racks; let stand until firm.