(Family Features) For many, the hallmark of the holiday season is time with cherished loved ones, and there are few better places to spend those special moments together than gathered around a beautiful seasonal spread. By adding a little creative flair to the menu, and a signature ingredient like grapes, you can elevate any dish – from snacks and main courses to sides, desserts and even cocktails.

Compatible with an array of other foods, grapes can add flavor, texture and beauty to dishes and take hosting to the next level thanks to their delicate sweetness and juicy texture.

Available into January and perfect for the holiday season, fresh Grapes from California can add a crisp, juicy burst of flavor to salads like this Lemony Grapes and Greens Salad. Or take advantage of the versatility of grapes by roasting them to intensify the flavor of an appetizer such as Balsamic-Roasted Grape and Burrata Crostini or muddling into a sweet and savory Grape Basil Martini, which highlights their delicate sweetness in a festive manner.

Find more recipes and inspiration to elevate your holiday menu at grapesfromcalifornia.com.

Using Grapes as Holiday Decor

Clusters of colorful grapes are beautiful, tasty additions to many holiday tables. However, their use goes well beyond serving as an appealing addition to holiday recipes. Consider these ways you can utilize grapes when setting out your seasonal spread:

• Vase Filler: Use grapes instead of glass gems or foam to hold flowers in place in a vase. Grapes keep floral arrangements completely natural and extend color throughout the vase.
• Trim the Turkey: After placing the turkey on a large platter, decorate with a variety of fresh herbs and small bunches of grapes for friends and family to admire before it’s gobbled up.
• Set the Table: Grapes add color, texture and flavor to dining tables and work well with a wide variety of themes and color palettes.
• Floral Arrangements: Red, green and black grapes pair perfectly with a wide variety of flowers and greenery to add color, texture and depth to floral arrangements.
• Grape and Mint Ice Cubes: Grapes freeze well and make for a perfect replacement for ice cubes in cocktails. Simply freeze sliced grapes and mint in ice cube trays with a bit of water then add to favorite cocktails.
• Chocolate-Dipped Grapes: Dipped in white, milk or dark chocolate varieties, grapes can be paired with desserts like cheesecake or served on their own.
• Cake Decor: Red, green and black grapes are ideal decor for frosted cakes, serving as edible decorations that add color and elegance to each tier.

Balsamic-Roasted Grape and Burrata Crostini

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8

• 3 cups red or black Grapes from California
• 1/4 cup white or traditional balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 8 ounces burrata cheese
• 3 tablespoons roasted, salted pistachio kernels, coarsely chopped
• fresh basil, snipped
• 24 soft or toasted baguette slices

1. In mixing bowl, mix cake mix, flour, cocoa powder and sugar. Blend in milk, eggs and butter.
2. Grease bundt pan with butter and pour in batter. Bake according to package instructions for bundt cakes then add 10-15 minutes. Let cool before icing.
3. To make frosting: In bowl, mix butter, cream cheese and whipping cream. Slowly blend in powdered sugar.
4. Ice entire bundt cake or place frosting in piping bag and pipe with back and forth "drip" motion. Sprinkle sanding sugar for sparkly snow appearance, if desired.

Nutritional information per serving: 290 calories; 11 g protein; 35 g carbohydrates; 12 g fat (37% calories from fat); 5 g saturated fat (16% calories from saturated fat); 20 mg cholesterol; 390 mg sodium; 1 g fiber.

Lemony Grapes and Greens Salad

Prep time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6

Lemon Vinaigrette:

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons spicy brown or stone-ground mustard
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Salad:

• 10 cups mixed torn greens (endive, watercress, frisee or butter lettuce)
• 1 1/2 cups halved Grapes from California
• 1/2 cup slivered red onion
• 1 large firm but ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
• 1/3 cup roasted, salted pistachio kernels

1. To make lemon vinaigrette: In small bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, honey, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper.
2. To make salad: In large bowl, mix greens, grapes and onion. Drizzle with dressing and toss well to coat. Add avocado and toss lightly. Sprinkle with pistachios.

Nutritional information per serving: 230 calories; 4 g protein; 19 g carbohydrates; 17 g fat (67% calories from fat); 2.5 g saturated fat (10% calories from saturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 130 mg sodium; 5 g fiber.

Grape Basil Martini

Servings: 1

• 3 basil leaves, torn, plus 1 full leaf for garnish
• 5 green Grapes from California, halved, plus 2 whole grapes for garnish
• 2 ounces gin
• 1/4 ounce sweet muscat wine
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• ice

1. In cocktail shaker, muddle basil and grapes with gin. Add sweet wine, lemon juice and simple syrup; shake gently.
2. Strain into rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with basil leaf and float two grapes on top.

Nutritional information per serving: 229 calories; 0 g protein; 24 g carbohydrates; 0 g fat (0% calories from fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 1 mg sodium; 0.3 g fiber.

(Family Features) The holiday season is meant for spending quality time with friends and family, not stressing out over hosting. With some simple tips, you can cut down on hectic preparations while creating a memorable holiday full of food and fun guests can savor.

Consider these suggestions from the entertaining experts at Real California Milk:

Plan Ahead
Heading into your seasonal soiree with a plan in place can help avoid snafus. Make a shopping list of ingredients and decorations. Then put together a schedule a few days prior to the event to cover last-minute preparations.

Elevate Holiday Classics
Elevating classic appetizers is a simple way to savor the season. A trend on the rise, the Grazing Table starts with the table as the canvas, adds elements of the traditional cheese board then takes it to the next level with an arrangement of appetizers or brunch dishes and seasonal decor. Another way to lift your holiday spread is using high-quality, authentic ingredients like Real California Milk cheeses, made with milk from California dairy farm families, which are key ingredients in this Sweet Citrus and Spice Cheese Board.

Prepare Dishes and Decorations in Advance
Preparing for guests can be one of the most time-consuming aspects of hosting. Decorating at least a day ahead and setting the table the night before, for example, can help minimize stress. Welcome guests with holiday cheer and trendy decor like a virtual yule log made of melting cheese, complete with holiday music.

For more holiday inspiration and recipes like antipasto skewers and yogurt-pesto dip, queso fundido and cheese logs and bundts, visit realcaliforniamilk.com/recipes.

Grazing Table

• Toma cheese, sliced
• natural almonds
• prosciutto
• salami
• Real California aged cheddar, sliced
• Real California burrata cheese
• olive oil
• herbs
• blue cheese
• Real California braided marinated string cheese
• dry salami, sliced
• premade antipasto skewers
• yogurt pesto dipping sauce
• Real California aged Gouda
• brie cheese
• Real California cheese log
• Real California cheese bundts
• dry jack cheese
• sweet red piquante peppers
• green California olives
• premade Real California queso fundido
• breadsticks
• tortilla chips
• dark chocolate sea salt caramels
• dried citrus, such as oranges and lemons
• artisan bread, sliced

1. On large board, plate or tray, arrange sliced toma cheese, almonds, prosciutto, salami and aged cheddar. In center, place burrata cheese and top with olive oil and herbs.
2. On separate small plate, place blue cheese; crumble.
3. On medium board, arrange braided string cheese and dry salami slices.
4. On serving platter, arrange antipasto skewers around bowl of yogurt pesto dipping sauce.
5. On separate small cheese board, place Gouda, brie cheese and cheese log.
6. On slate, arrange cheese bundts. On separate plate, place dry jack cheese.
7. In separate bowls, place piquante peppers and green olives.
8. Arrange boards, plates, bowls and skillet of queso fundido on table, as desired.
9. Fill blank spaces on table with breadsticks, tortilla chips, dark chocolate sea salt caramels, dried oranges, dried lemons and bread slices. Add floral arrangements and holiday decor for finishing touches. Complete table with cheese knives and spreaders.

Sweet Citrus and Spice Cheese Board

• Real California brie cheese
• black olives
• green olives
• dried oranges, sliced
• Real California pepper jack cheese sliced
• almonds
• raspberries
• blackberries
• Real California burrata cheese
• honey, for garnish
• fresh herbs, for garnish

1. To assemble cheese board: On large board, plate or tray, arrange brie cheese, olives, dried orange slices, sliced pepper jack cheese and almonds.
2. On smaller board, arrange raspberries and blackberries around burrata cheese placed in center of board. Garnish cheese with honey and fresh herbs. Place smaller board into empty space on larger board.

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