Victoria MN Newspaper

Raspberry Cheese Spread♫

from Carolyn Colson, soprano

4 oz. cream cheese

1 cup mayo

2 cups shredded mozzarella

2 cups shredded cheddar

1/4 cup chopped pecans

3 green onions, chopped

Blend the first two ingredients together and then stir in remaining ingredients. Spread 1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam on top.

Writes Carolyn, "My sister in law Nikki shared this recipe with me. She's an excellent cook. A particular Christmas tradition? My dad gives all of the family, my siblings and their spouses and grandkids a hayride behind the tractor on Christmas Eve. We sing Christmas carols and have a bonfire. I've been singing since elementary school.

"I've been in the St. Victoria choir for one and a half years. My favorite piece is the 'Hallelujah Chorus.' It was a tradition to sing it each Christmas concert in high school and now I get to sing it with the church choir. I do get butterflies before the concert but they go away when we start to sing because it's so much fun."

Ham and Pickle Rollups♫

from Chub & Darlene Williams,

tenor and soprano

Lunchmeat ham slices

Spreadable cream cheese, plain or herb

Dill pickles

Take one slice of lunchmeat ham, spread with cream cheese, place the dill pickle, roll up, and cut into 3/8" slices.

Write Darlene, "We like this recipe because we can use our canned dill pickles. We like seafoam candy and grasshoppers at Christmas time. Chub started in the choir in 2001 and I in 2002. We were also in the choir about five years in the 1970's. Our all time favorite piece is 'O Holy Night.' This year we really like 'Somewhere Tonight.' We like these pieces because they tell the story of Christmas."

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