Planning a swanky adult Kitschmas Kocktail shindig? Try these perfect timesaving, crowd-pleasing multipurpose trees. They're decorative! They're edible! They're delicious cheese balls, meatballs, or whatever balls! There is a rich legacy of holiday ball recipes. For some unknown reason, ladies from the fifties were obsessed with balls and weenies. If you don't have a bunch of ball recipes, call your mom; most likely she has tons of them! Be warned, some people are very funny about their balls. Some of these top secret recipes have been carefully protected like the family jewels. So don't go around asking just anyone to show you theirs; they may not be so accommodating.
What would a Jingle Ball Tree be without its obligatory companion, the classic Weenie Tree, made with heat-and-serve cocktail wieners. Oddly, they seem to go hand in hand, like a matching set. Go forth and multiply this recipe as needed for bigger parties or a thickly treed festive forest.
you will need
Two 1-quart plastic containers
Plaster of paris
Two 3/8-by-11-inch wooden dowel rods
Masking tape
Two 12-by-4-inch Styrofoam cone forms
Aluminum foil or shiny gift wrap
Double-stick tape
Hot-glue gun and hot-glue sticks
Scraps of felt
Ribbon
Bric-a-brac
Food balls of your choice
Cocktail weenies
Toothpicks
1 It is best to prepare your tree forms an hour or two in advance, so the plaster of paris is dry enough to hold the dowel rod firmly (it will be fully dry in 24 hours). Fill a plastic container three-fourths full with plaster of paris mixed according to package directions. Place a wooden dowel in the center to make the trunk. Using the precut masking tape strips, make a series of stabilizing straps across the rim of the can. Double-check to make sure it is plumb before allowing it to set. Let dry completely. Repeat with second container and dowel.
2 When the plaster base is dry, push a Styrofoam cone onto each dowel and cover the cones with aluminum foil or gift wrap. Use double-stick tape to close the seam. Trim any excess paper.
3 Using the hot-glue gun and glue sticks, decorate the plastic container with felt, ribbons, and bric-a-brac to give it that sixties swing.
4 Prepare your balls and weenies. Arrange the balls on one tree and the weenies on the other, using toothpicks to attach them to the Styrofoam.
5 Whew! You must be thirsty—time for cocktails!