Easy Holiday Party Dishes—Baked Beans and Cheesy Wedges Food Families.com

Easy Holiday Party Dishes—Baked Beans and Cheesy Wedges

Doesn’t sound too appetizing does it? Hang in there… you might be surprised. The following recipes are ideal for busy cooks who need a dish to pass at a New Year’s get together.

The first dish is a hearty version of the classic baked beans. (What’s a holiday gathering without beans, right?) I’m not sure if it’s a Midwestern-thing or if people around the nation have a hankering for beans around the holidays, but whenever there are baked beans on a buffet table at the parties in Wisconsin they disappear fast. This specific baked bean recipe is great for office parties (it was always a hit at my office, but that could be because we were all starving underpaid TV reporters) because you can make it ahead of time, stick it in a crock pot and you’re done. If you prefer to go vegetarian, the beef and bacon can be omitted.

The second recipe is simple, affordable and can be quickly assembled even after your guests arrive. Just prepare the recipe components in advance and you’ll have fresh quesadillas (my 3-year-old calls them cheese wedges) in less than 10 minutes. If you want a crispier texture, toast the quesadilla in a grill pan instead of baking it in the oven.

HEARTY BAKED BEANS

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb bacon (cut into 1 inch pieces)

1 cup chopped onion

2/3 cup light brown sugar

2/3 cup white sugar

1 tsp. chili powder

2 16oz cans kidney beans (drained)

2 16oz. cans pork and beans

2 16oz. can butter beans

1/2 cup catsup

1/2 cup BBQ sauce

4 tbsp. mustard

4 tbsp. molasses

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

Directions:

Brown ground beef, drain.

Brown bacon, remove from skillet and reserve about 1 tbsp. of the grease.

In the cooking grease, sauté onion and green pepper and cook till tender. Drain and add to beef and bacon.

Drain beans (except the pork and beans). Add all to the beef, bacon and veggie mix.

Combine sugars, catsup, BBQ sauce, mustard, molasses, salt and pepper. Mix well. Add to the remaining ingredients.

Pour into 3-quart casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or if you are taking this dish to a party put it in a crock pot and cook on low 4-5 hours.

CHEESY GUACAMOLE WEDGES

Ingredients:

Two 7-inch flour tortillas

2 tablespoons guacamole

1/4-inch-wide strips of bottled roasted red bell pepper

1/4 cup (about 1 ounce) coarsely shredded Gouda cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Place one tortilla on a baking sheet. Spread with guacamole, leaving a 1-inch border.

Arrange the strips of red bell pepper on the guacamole and sprinkle with cheese.

Top with the remaining tortilla, pressing down gently.
Bake for about 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are soft and warm.

Cut quesadilla into 8 wedges. Serve warm with salsa.