These little treats are easy to put together and utterly addictive. The creaminess of mascarpone combines perfectly with tart dried cherries, tangy blue cheese and spice-filled cinnamon pecans.

Sweet and Tangy Phyllo Cups
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 24 cups

1 package pre-cooked phyllo cups
1 tub mascarpone cheese, softened
½ cup crumbled blue cheese
½ cup dried cherries, chopped
¼ cup Joe’s Market Cinnamon Frosted Pecans, chopped or crushed

Pipe or spoon a small dollop of mascarpone into the bottom of each cup. Sprinkle each with a little blue cheese, a few pieces of dried cherry and a few pecan pieces. Serve immediately.

Whether it’s an impromptu dinner party in your own home or a holiday soiree you forgot to grab a hostess gift for, our Joe’s Market line features plenty of indulgent treats that are ideal for the holiday season. Next time you’re in the store, pick up a few boxes of our savory cheese straws and a tub or two of our premium nuts (the Double Dipped Dark Chocolate Covered Peanuts and Cinnamon Frosted Pecans make delicious gifts!). Then you’ll have them on hand for last-minute snacks and presents. If guests come knocking on your door, try our easy recipe for Savory Tomato and Olive Bruschetta.

Savory Tomato and Olive Bruschetta
Serves: 20 as an appetizer | Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 13 minutes
1 Ukrop’s Bakery French Baguette
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 jars Joe’s Market San Marzano Tomato & Olive Savory Topping
1 tub Joe’s Market Argentinean Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice baguette into ½-inch-thick rounds. Place on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Toast in the oven for 5 minutes or until edges start to brown. Remove from oven and top each round with 1 spoonful savory topping. Return to oven for 8 minutes or until topping is heated. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.

Shrimp trays are a standard at almost every holiday party. Make guests rave about your party tray when you serve Ukrop’s All-Natural Shrimp with savory, unique dipping sauces.

Our shrimp is the best around. Back in the early 1990’s, James Ukrop launched a search for the freshest, best-tasting all-natural shrimp. He found it in South America. Today, Ukrop’s All-Natural Shrimp are grown exclusively for us in Honduras. They’re chemical-free and raised specifically to meet our high expectations. The best part: you can buy them pre-cooked and ready to eat in our meat department. If you’re using 21/25 cooked shrimp, plan on four shrimp per person. While you’re in the store, grab one of our flavor-infused Joe’s Market cocktail sauces like
Meyer Lemon & Shallot or Cilantro & Key Lime. Then, mix up the two sauces below; arrange everything on a serving platter, and your ready to go!

Cajun Horseradish Sauce
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1/2 cup prepared horseradish
1/2 cup light cream
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
3 tsps. Creole seasoning
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 cup sour cream
2 Tbsps. chopped parsley

Stir together breadcrumbs, horseradish, cream and salt in a medium bowl. Let mixture sit for 3 minutes so breadcrumbs can absorb cream. Break up breadcrumbs with a fork. Stir in cayenne pepper, Creole seasoning, lemon juice and sour cream. Spoon into a serving bowl and garnish with fresh parsley.

Easy Rémoulade Sauce
¾ cup mayonnaise
3 Tbsps. ketchup
1 Tbsp. Creole mustard
3 Tbsps. chopped celery (look for the pre-chopped celery in Ukrop’s produce department)
1 ½ Tbsps. chopped fresh parsley
½ Tbsp. chopped scallion
1 tsp. lemon juice
3 dashed Tobasco (optional)
Black pepper to taste 

Stir all ingredients together. Taste and adjust seasonings. Spoon into a serving bowl.

Make it Lighter:
Substitute the sour cream in the first recipe with reduced fat sour cream and use reduced fat mayonnaise in place of full-fat in the second one.

Keep this snack around the house for guests to munch on, or package it in pretty bags and hand it out to friends and family for an affordable holiday gift.

Joe’s Market Barbecue Snack Mix
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 1 hour | Yield: 14 cups

Ingredients:

4 cups Corn Chex cereal
4 cups Wheat Chex cereal
2 cups square-shaped cheese crackers
2 cups pretzel sticks or snaps
1 container Joe’s Market Deluxe Nut Mix
½ cup butter
5 Tbsps. Joe’s Market Southern Barbecue Sauce
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In a large roasting pan, mix together cereal, crackers, pretzels and nuts. In a small saucepan, melt butter then stir in barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce and salt until well blended. Pour over cereal mixture and stir to coat. Place in oven and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

The fresh citrus flavor of this grown-up parfait will add flavor to your feast and it’ll add color to your table. If you don’t have parfait cups, try using clear bowls, snifters or juice glasses.

Candy Corn Parfait
Serves: 4 | Prep Time: 15 minutes

2 large oranges
1 bottle Orangina
1 package Joe’s Market Lemon Straws, crushed
12 Tbsps. lemon curd
2 small tubs Ukrop’s Mandarin Orange Salad
1 bottle whipped cream

Peel orange. Use a knife to slice excess pith off edges. Cut into bite-size pieces, removing excess pith as you go. Place in a small bowl and cover with Orangina. Set aside for about 10 minutes.

Spoon 3 Tbsps. lemon curd into each glass. Top with a thin layer of crushed lemon straws. Using a slotted spoon, scoop ¼ of the orange segments into each glass. Top each with half of one container of Mandarin Orange Salad. Finish by topping with whipped cream and sprinkling with additional crushed lemon straws. If you’re making this dish ahead, prepare up to the Mandarin Orange Salad and refrigerate. Add whipped cream and additional crushed lemon straws just before eating.