How to make:

Bacon wrapped water chestnuts

Ingredients:

1. Bacon (not thick cut)

2. Water chestnuts (whole)

3. Toothpicks

4. Maple syrup for drizzling

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Wrap slice of bacon around the water chestnuts. Cut the slice of bacon in half or in thirds, depending on the size.

3. Secure with a toothpick

4. Arrange flat on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, turning once

5. When you are ready to serve, arrange on a platter and drizzle with your favorite maple syrup

Classic cocktail style beef meatballs

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef (lean)                1 (8 oz. can) jellied cranberry sauce

1 egg                                                    3/4 cup chili sauce

2 TBSP water                                       1 TBSP brown sugar

1/2 cup+ Panko bread crumbs            1 1/2 tsp lemon juice

3 TBSP grated onion with juice          4 pinches of kosher salt  

2 TBSP minced garlic

2 TBSP chopped parsley

1/2 TBSP crushed red pepper        

Directions:  

1. Preheat oven to 450

2. In large bowl, mix together the ground beef, eggs, water, breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, crushed red pepper and 2 pinches of salt. Roll into small meatballs.

3. Arrange flat in baking dish. Bake for 25-30 minutes, turn once

4. In a slow cooker or a saute pan over low heat, blend the cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice and 2 pinches of salt. Add meatballs and simmer for 1 hour.