katieclaire's kitchen: More from my holiday party!

I went home on Saturday to bake for the party, and it was perhaps the most chaotic, poorly-planned baking day ever. My mom was already baking when I got home, and all of my projects just added to the craziness. It was one of those days that I would start one project and move on to another half way through. Multi-tasking is not exactly my forte.

After baking cookies, I moved on to rosemary-roasted cashews. Super easy and always a favorite. You can find the recipe on my 'recipes' page.

Next I prepared the artichoke dip. As I was scatter-brained beyond belief on Saturday, of course I forgot to take pictures! Boo! I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe from The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I will post it on my 'recipes' page. It was very delicious, as most of PW's recipes are!

I found the recipe for Garlic-Brie Crostini from Real Simple - the GREATEST magazine - online.

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/warm-garlic-brie-crostini-10000000524369/index.html

The recipe was very nostalgic for me; french bread with tomato rub and olive oil is a very traditional Spanish tapa. It brought back fond memories of my semester in Barcelona!

Now, the best part. Sangria is always my go-to beverage for entertaining (also a very traditional Spanish drink). I make both red and white sangria, but I made white for Saturday. It was not only delicious but so pretty in the pitcher!

To make white Sangria:

Mix 3 bottles of white wine (I used 3-Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's) with 1/2 C orange-flavored rum with 1/2 C orange-flavored vodka.

Heat 1/2 C water in the microwave for a minute and a half. Add 1/2 C sugar to the hot water and stir until dissolved.

Add the water to pitcher.

Now add fruit! I used an apple, grapes, and a lemon, but you can really use whatever. I don't recommend using raspberries. They look very amoeba-like in the pitcher. Very unappetizing.

There is only half of the recipe in this pitcher, so I added between 8 and 10 ounces of club soda right before serving. I you have a pitcher or punch bowl to hold the entire recipe, add 16-10 oz of club soda right before serving. So pretty!

The party was a huge success!