Festive Mango Guacamole
‘Tis the season for celebrations with friends and family, and guests with food allergies can
leave a conscientious host or hostess scrambling to find finding festive appetizers and snacks that are safe for everyone. Here are a few last minute ideas that are sure to please.
Apple butter dip: Combine 1 cup of apple butter with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon sugar (can increase, depending on your taste). Serve with dried apple chips for dipping or cinnamon-sugar pita chips, if no one is allergic to wheat. Serves about 12.
Chunky Mango Guacamole: A few small tweaks to this recipe from Taste of Home make a safe guacamole for guests allergic to onions and tomatoes. Omit the tomatoes and onion. Add 3 chopped radishes for a festive splash of red and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper. Serve with rice crackers or chips. Serves about 12.
Dairy-Free Slow Cooker Hot Cocoa: In a medium sized slow cooker, combine 4 ½ cups of water, ¼ cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons of dairy-free chocolate chips, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 dash of salt and ½ cup of granulated sugar. Cook on low 2 hours, stirring every ½ hour. Switch to keep warm setting to keep hot chocolate warm through the evening. Serve with mini marshmallows and crushed candy canes as desired. Makes about 6-7 servings.
As a volunteer Field Editor for Taste of Home magazine, I was sent a free Fillables Mini Loaf pan to try and review. Using the pan, it was easy to make customized mini cakes by adding a variety of fillings. For an allergy-friendly twist, I used a favorite allergy-friendly, pound cake recipe. A cherry filling with a layer of coconut sorbet made a festive finish. The individual size is also ideal for portion control. Clean-up took a few minutes, since each small pan had to be scrubbed, but otherwise, it was an easy way to make a fancy dessert.
Fillables Cherry Pound Cake with Coconut Sorbet
