The fast paced rush of the Holidays is winding down. The tree is sagging, needles dot the carpet, and when the garbage man gets out of traction for hauling away all the boxes and wrapping paper, he'll get to the rest of the trash. The kids have broken all their toys, the batteries have all been spent, all those ill-fitting clothes have been returned...and now it's time for a bit of adult fun.

Ahhhh, New Year's Eve 2000. Party of the century. Take out your Ka-la-na, kick your feet up on your sluts back and watch the ever more youthful Dick Clark (the only man on earth who seems to be the recipient of the stabilization serums) count down the last seconds of the 20th Century. Afterwards, be sure to get on the phone and call someone to see if Y2K killed the phone service.

For the more party hearted, here's a list of favorite finger foods to keep your mouth occupied (sluts exempted as their mouths might already be occupied) during the long wait to the crash of your computer, run on your bank, shortages at the local grocery store, end of the world, or just your New Years hangover.

Happy New Year Everyone!

*Disclaimer: All references to fears of Y2K are pure speculation.

lyritana’s Curried Chicken Puffs

1/2 cups water
1/3 cups margarine
2/3 cups flour
dash of salt
2 eggs
1 package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp salt
dash of curry powder
dash of pepper (lyri uses white pepper for this)
1-1/2 cup chopped cooked chicken
1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted
2 tbls green onion slices

Bring water and margarine to boil. Add flour and salt; stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms ball. Remove from heat; add eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Place level measuring tablespoonfuls of batter on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes. Cool.

Combine cream cheese, milk, salt, curry powder, and pepper, mixing until well blended. Add chicken, almonds and onions; mix lightly. Cut tops from cream puffs; fill with chicken mixture. Replace tops. Place puffs on cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 5 minutes or until warm

Approximately 1-1/2 dozen

Note: Unfilled cream puffs can be prepared several weeks in advance and frozen. Place puffs on a jelly roll pan an wrap securely in plastic wrap.Also can substitute turkey or shrimp for the chicken

snow_JDT’s Olive-Cheddar Bites

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons butter
24 extra large black olives
cayenne pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine cheese, butter, flour, and cayenne, blending untill you form a dough. Drop dough by tablespoons onto a wax paper covered cookie tray. Place an olive on the dough bits, wrapping dough completely around olive. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes or until nice and golden. Let cool for a few minutes, and serve warm.

lyritana’s Chocolate Coated Everything

4 squares semi sweet chocolate
Assorted morsel centers*

Melt chocolate in saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Insert wooden toothpicks or skewers into fruit and marshmallow centers. Dip quickly, one at a time, into chocolate. (To dip pretzels or nuts, stir into chocolate: then remove with fork.) Let stand or chill on rack or waxed paper until chocolate is firm. For best eating quality, chill dipped fresh or canned fruits and serve the same day.

Makes 1 to 1-1/2 dozen

*Suggested Morsel Centers: Firm strawberries, 1/2 inch banana slices, fresh pineapple wedges or drained canned pineapple chunks, peeled orange slices, orange wedges, well-drained stemmed maraschino cherries, dried figs, dried dates or dried apricots. Unsalted pretzels and large marshmallows. Walnuts or pecan halves or whole almonds or Brazil nuts.

jamila_JDT’s Sausage Rolls

8 oz. Ground pork sausage ( or ground turkey sausage or chorizo )
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon barbecue sauce
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
2 frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed
1 egg, lightly beaten (yes, another egg)

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Line two baking pans with aluminum foil. Brush with melted butter or oil.

Combine sausage, onion, egg, sauces and bread crumbs in a large bowl. Mix until well combined.

Cut pastry sheets in half lengthwise. Brush with extra egg. Divide sausage into 4 portions. Place one portion lengthwise down the center of each pastry sheet. Roll up and press edges to seal.

With the seam side down, make 9 slices in each roll, not quite cutting all the way through. Using a long knife, carefully lift the sausage rolls onto baking pans. Brush with extra egg. Bake 30 minutes or until pastry is golden and sausage is cooked.

Cut into individual sausage rolls. Serve warm

jamila_JDT’s Cheese Ball

2 pound block Velveeta, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons black pepper
2 teaspoons onion powder
½ cup nuts (your choice, finally chopped)

Mix all the ingredients until well blended.. Roll into a ball or form a log. Press nuts in to cheese to decorate. Sprinkle with paprika for a splash of color if desired. Wrap in wax paper, then in foil. Refrigerate This is best if prepared a day in advance to allow the flavors to blend.

lyritana’s Crispy Fried Mushrooms

1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp paprika
dash pepper
1/2 cup buttermilk (can be substituted with ½ cup milk and 1 tsp vinegar mixed together and left to sit for about 3 minutes)
8 oz whole fresh mushrooms

Mix flour, salt, mustard, paprika and pepper in large plastic food storage bag. Set aside. Place buttermilk in a small bowl. Dip a few mushrooms at a time in buttermilk. Place in bag with four mixture. Shake to coat.

Heat 2 to 3 inches oil in a deep fryer or heavy saucepan to 375F. Fry a few mushrooms at a time, 2 to 3 minutes, or until deep golden brown, turning over several times. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot with ketchup if desired.

4-6 servings