Christmas Tree Food Recipes

BREAK-APART CHRISTMAS TREE CANDY BARK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment.
• With a short side of the prepared baking sheet facing you, arrange the white candy melting wafers on the prepared sheet tray in a 9-by-10-inch rectangle, leaving an empty 5 1/2-by-7-by-7-inch triangle in the center (vertically; this will be the Christmas tree). Fill the triangle with the green candy melting wafers. Place in the oven until the candy melting wafers are glossy and begin to melt, 3 to 4 minutes. Immediately use a small offset spatula to smooth and spread the white candy melting wafers. Use a clean small offset spatula to spread and smooth the green melting wafers. Go back over the triangle in small downward textured strokes to create the appearance of branches on a Christmas tree.
• Arrange the candy-coated chocolates in a decorative pattern across the tree to create a string of lights. Arrange the 5 yellow chocolates at the top of the tree in the shape of a star, setting each chocolate on its edge. Decorate the remaining space on the tree with gold sugar pearl sprinkles
• If using gingersnap cookies, break them into bite-size pieces. Decorate the white space around the tree with the whole gingerbread men or gingersnap cookie pieces, yogurt-covered pretzels, candied ginger and holiday sprinkles, leaving just a little white space in between. Let the bark sit at room temperature until fully set, about 45 minutes.
• To serve, break the bark into bite-size pieces.

CHEESE AND CRACKERS CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Put the cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, lemon zest, shredded Cheddar and 1 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix until thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula as needed.
• Mound about 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture on a serving plate and insert the pretzel rod vertically (the pretzel will help to hold up the structure). Add more of the cheese mixture, forming it around the pretzel rod and into a cone shape about 6 inches wide and 10 inches tall.
• Press the chopped parsley into the surface of the cheese tree to make it green, making sure to cover all the white areas. Chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Insert the pretzel sticks, mini butter crackers and almonds all over the tree, angled downward to create "branches". Take care to alternate the ingredients to add variety and depth. As you decorate the top, break the pretzel sticks in half so they are proportional to the size of the tree. Top the tree with one sliced almond for the "star". Tuck the pomegranate seeds in between the branches for festive "lights". Dust the edges with more finely chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan "snow". Serve with crackers on the side.

CHRISTMAS TREE MERINGUES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 120C/100C fan/gas ½. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment and fit a large piping bag with a star nozzle. Put the egg whites in a clean bowl with a pinch of salt and whisk to soft peaks using electric beaters, about a minute or two. Add the sugar while whisking, a spoonful at a time, whisking well between each addition, until all of the sugar has been added and you have a thick, glossy meringue. Whisk in the cornflour and vinegar, then enough of the green food colouring to create a light green colour.
• Spoon the meringue into the piping bag. Start by piping the circular base, then spiral up so you have a Christmas tree shape. Put an edible star on top, if using, and sprinkle with hundreds and thousands. Repeat until you have 12 trees. Put the trees in the oven for 1 hr until crisp to the touch. Turn off the heat and leave in the oven for 1 hr to cool gradually.

CHRISTMAS TREE PRESERVATIVE

Steps:

• A penny may be added to the sugar solution to act as a fungicide and acidifier.
• Mix together all ingredients and pour into tree stand.
• ** IMPORTANT NOTE: Bleach and vinegar produce toxic vapors when mixed. If you add vinegar or lemon juice, add it to the water rather than directly to the bleach.
• ADDITIONAL NOTE: Do Not Drink! If you plan on making enough tree or cut flower preservative to store, label your container and keep it out of reach of children and pets.

CHRISTMAS TREE FOOD

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan and mix well.
• Bring to a boil and boil for exactly 1 minute.
• Let cool and put in tree stand.
• Repeat as needed.
• I triple this recipe the first three days as the tree is thirsty.
• NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.

PESTO CHEESE STRAW CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Unroll the two pastry sheets, keeping them on their baking parchment. Spread the pesto over one of the pastry sheets, then scatter over half of the grated cheese. Flip the second sheet of pastry on top and press to stick the two pastry sheets together. Remove the top layer of parchment.
• Cut out a Christmas tree shape - a large triangle with a little stump at the bottom, using as much of the pastry as possible. Cut a star shape out of the offcuts for the top of the tree. Reserve the rest of the offcuts. Lift the tree onto a large baking tray, brush with the beaten egg, then do the same with the star and press it on the tip. Scatter over the rest of the cheese and gently press to help it stick to the pastry.
• Cut vertical lines into the sides of the tree, about 1cm apart, leaving a 'trunk' of about 2cm up the middle. Twist the strips of pastry and stick them back down to the tray. Do this with all the pastry 'branches'. Cut the offcuts into straws, and arrange them on another baking tray. You can now wrap and chill the tree and offcuts for up to two days, freeze for two months, or bake straightaway.

CHRISTMAS TREE "FOOD"

Steps:

• DISCLAIMER: This should go without saying, but - DO NOT DRINK THIS. THIS MIXTURE IS NOT MEANT TO BE CONSUMED BY HUMANS OR ANIMALS. IT SHOULD ONLY BE USED TO WATER YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE.
• IMPORTANT: DO NOT MIX VINEGAR AND BLEACH TOGETHER DIRECTLY - IF YOU MIX THEM DIRECTLY THE MIXTURE WILL PRODUCE TOXIC VAPORS. MIX THE VINEGAR WITH THE WATER FIRST, THEN PROCEED WITH THE REST OF THE RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS.
• In a large bowl, mix together the water and the vinegar.
• Add the corn syrup or the sugar, and stir well until all is combined or the sugar is dissolved. If you are using sugar, it may help to use half hot water first to dissolve the sugar, then add the second half, using cold water.
• Add the bleach, if using, and mix well to combine.
• Place your Christmas tree securely in the Christmas tree stand.
• Place a penny in the reservoir of the Christmas tree stand, then fill it with the water mixture.
• Store the remainder of the mixture in a gallon jug, and check the tree every day to see if it needs more of the mixture. Christmas trees which are not watered and which dry out become fire hazards, so make sure your tree is kept watered. If you have used bleach in the mixture label the container appropriately so that no one will drink from it.