Party Foods # 2

     This posting is the second one in a series. Some of the type of party foods we will feature, are most suitable for deck or Super Bowl parties. Others, when presented right, will even work at 'fancy' parties or wedding receptions.
     Mainly, we will be featuring finger food type of foods.
     Again, for the record, NO, starting this new series does NOT mean that we are done with the entries in the 'Warm Weather Desserts' series!!! In-fact, I am really looking forward to using blogging as an excuse to make some of the yet to come features. o;-p
     I learned this recipe while working for Baker Catering. I really have no idea just how many hundreds of the green onion type I made during my years there. Seriously!

        Today's Feature: Party Foods # 2
        'Polish Roses' and Pickle Wraps

{Yes, Many of you know the green onion wraps by a name other than 'Polish Roses'. It seems that lots of nationalities have their own name for them. And yes, there are also names out there for the pickle wraps... just haven't heard any I'm willing to use o;-p}
     Ingredients:
     thick sliced sandwich ham
        (or buy a boneless ham on sale and have the store cut it thick sandwich style)
    Cream Cheese - it takes a lot! So buy the huge block of it like at Sam's Club or GFS
    non-wimpy green onions
    and / or
    (Meijer brand) Kosher dill spears - fresh pack (green label, 24 fl. oz. jar)
       (no, you don't have to use that brand, some people had just raved over them last time and wanted to know which brand we had used)

    Kate and I made these via team work for Analyse's B-day party. Found that it went ever so much faster!!! :-) I did the spreading, she did the rolling. But it can be done single person style too.

      - the night before you plan on making these, pull the cream cheese out and leave it sitting on the counter !

    - Using kitchen shears, trim the straggly ends off of the one end of the green onions, and cut the root ends off of their other end. Then rinse the onions and let set for quite awhile in a strainer.
    - If your also doing pickle wraps, dump the pickles into a strainer as well.

    - Once it's time to make them:
    - Using a large solid cutting board as your work surface, lay out a piece of the ham.
Then, using a thick paper towel, pat the excess moisture off of both sides of the piece of ham. (you will not need a new piece of paper toweling for each piece of ham. In-fact, the paper toweling keeps absorbing even once it's considerably soggy).
    - Using a thick bladed knife, (a frosting spreader works great!) spread cream cheese on to the ham, staying about a sixteenth of an inch from the edges. While you don't have to be overly generous with the cream cheese, do  NOT  be  greedy  with  it  either!!!! You should not clearly see the ham through the cream cheese, nor should there be holes in it.
    - If your making the 'polish roses' - lay the green onion so that the trimmed off root end, is about even with the width side of the piece of ham - but laying so that it's at one end of the piece. (Hope that makes sense...). Then GENTLY roll the piece of cream cheese spread ham around the green onion.
    - Repeat, repeat, repeat.
    - If your making the pickle wraps, you do it the same way, including the patting dry part.


    ~ For the record, these not only go over big at parties, but at 'Potlucks" ('Pot-scrappers') as well!

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You might also like:
- Party Foods # 1 - Bean 'Salsa'

- Deviled Eggs
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I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
~ "Foodie Friday('s)", are hosted by "Gollum" (aka: Michael), at 'Designs by Gollum' (http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/)
~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)' (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven' (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
~ "Market Yourself Monday", are hosted by Sumo, at 'Sumo's Sweet Stuff' (http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/)
~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace' (http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com).
~ "Tuesdays at the Table", are hosted by Cole, at 'All The Small Stuff' (http://allthesmallstuff-cole.blogspot.com/).
~ "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes' (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/).
~ "Tasty Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Jennifer, at "Balancing Beauty and Bedlam" (http://www.beautyandbedlam.com/)
~ "Whatever Goes Wednesday('s), hosted by Michelle, at 'Someday Crafts'
(http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/)
~ "Make it from Scratch", are held at 'Make it from Scratch ... Where creativity and frugality intersect'. (http://makeitfromscratch.blogspot.com/)