• Chili Corn Cupcakes With Sour Cream Frosting
• Melon Ball Lollipops
• Sausage Ball Lollipops
• Cream Cheesy Gifts
• Party Pizza Hats
  

Advance prep:  1-2 days before the party

Last-minute prep:  Heat the chili, fill corn cups, color & spread sour cream
More difficult

Makes 32 Hors d'oeuvres

Special Equipment:

• Mini-muffin baking pan
  

Ingredients:

Beef chili

• 3 slices bacon, finely chopped
  
• 1 lb bottom round, cut into small pieces
  
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, minced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 Tbsp chili powder
• 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
• Cornmeal (optional)

Corn Cup Dough

• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• Salt

Sour Cream Topping

• 16 oz sour cream
• Food coloring: red, blue, green, yellow
  
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
  

Steps to prepare chili:

1. Saute the bacon over medium high heat for a few minutes.
2. Add the beef and onion, reduce heat to medium low, and saute for 5 minutes.
3. Add garlic, jalapeno, cumin, and chili powder, and cook until jalapeno is soft, about 15 minutes.
4. Add the tomatoes and cook until liquid has evaporated, about 1 hour.
5. Add 1-2 tablespoons of cornmeal to thicken, if necessary.
6. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
   

1. Cut the melons in half and scoop out the seeds with a wooden spoon.
2. Using a melon ball scoop, cut as many balls from the melon as possible.
3. Make the balls uniform and round. Try to leave a very slight flat side on each melon ball so they will stand upright on the tray.  If necessary, cut a very small slice off to get a flat edge.
   
4. Add the brandy to the melon balls and stir well.
5. Refrigerate overnight, stirring occasionally.
   
6. When ready to serve, Spread out melon balls, flat side down.
7. Insert a lollipop stick into each one.

Advance prep:  Day before party

Last-minute prep:  Bake 10-12 minutes, assemble.
Easy

Makes 40 Hors d'oeuvres

Special Equipment:

• Lollipop sticks (available in the baking section of hobby stores)
  

Ingredients:

Sausage Balls:

• 1 lb. bulk sausage, room temperature
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded, room temperature
• 2 cups Bisquick

Mustard Dip:

• 2/3 cup mayonnaise
  
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 8 oz sour cream
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp garlic salt
• pepper to taste

Steps to prepare sausage balls:

1. Mix ingredients by hand or electric mixer until smooth. Mixture should be quite dry.
2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with oil.
3. Roll sausage mixture into 1-inch balls.
4. Place on baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
5. To serve:  Bake in 400 degree F oven 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
6. Drain on paper towels
7. Place flat side down on serving tray (balls will flatten while cooking) and insert a lollipop stick into each sausage ball.  Mix in a few Happy Birthday picks for color.

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Cover and chill.
3. Serve with sausage ball lollipops at room temperature or chilled.
   

Advance prep:  Day before party.

Last-minute prep:  Assemble on tray.
Easy

Makes 40 Hors d'oeuvres

Ingredients:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  
• 1/2 package (1-1/4 oz pkg) ranch dressing mix
  
• 10 green onions, 2 minced
• 2 carrots
• 1/4 cup red pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup celery, diced
• 1/2 cup green olives with pimentos, diced
• 1 loaf sliced pumpernickel bread
  

Steps to prepare:

1. Mix the cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, 2 minced green onions, red pepper, celery, and green olives.
2. Chill cream cheese mixture to firm.
3. Mold the cream cheese into square box shapes about 1 tablespoon each and keep chilled.
4. Cut remaining 8 green onions and 2 carrots into thin strips.
5. Wrap each cream cheese square with a carrot or green onion and tie at the top.
6. Use a small biscuit cutter to cut rounds from the pumpernickel slices and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
7. To serve: allow the cream cheesy gifts to soften. Place each gift on a pumpernickel round and pass on trays.
   

Advance prep:  Morning of party.

Last-minute prep:  Bake 10 minutes.
Easy to moderate

Makes 16 Hors d'oeuvres

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  
• 1/2 cup chopped pepperoni or mini-rounds
  
• 1/2 cup pizza sauce (may be near canned ravioli at grocery)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  
• 2 8-oz packages crescent roll dough
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 Tbsp water
• 1/4 cup red pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup green pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup orange pepper, diced
  

Steps to prepare:

1. Combine mozzarella, pepperoni, pizza sauce, and half (1/4 cup) Parmesan.
   
2. On lightly floured surface separate dough into individual triangles.
   
3. Place half the triangles on top of the remaining triangles aligning edges.
4. Cut each triangle into 2 party hat (isosceles triangle) shapes, you will have leftover dough to get the right shape.
   
5. Lightly grease an extra large baking sheet.
6. In a small bowl, stir together the egg and water.
   
7. For each party hat triangle: separate the top from the bottom and use a rolling pin to flatten out both pieces.
8. Place the bottom half on the baking sheet and place 1 rounded tablespoon filling in the circle of each. Shape the mixture to fill the center of the hat, making sure none of the pizza sauce gets too close to the triangle edges.
   
9. Brush the edges of the hat with the egg mixture.
10. Cover with top half and press triangle edges together to seal.
11. Press red, orange, and green peppers into the hat for decoration.
12. Brush hat with egg mixture.
13. Fold the short side (hat bottom) of the dough up to make a hat brim.
14. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
15. To serve: bake in pre-heated 425 degree F oven for 8-10 minutes until golden.