Jolly Green Christmas Tree - Guest Post by Zel Allen

I am SOOOOOO thrilled to do a guest post with Zel Allen !!!!

Zel Allen loves to cook, a passion that led her to author two vegan cookbooks, Vegan for the Holidays. and The Nut Gourmet. With her husband, she also co-publishes Vegetarians in Paradise, a vegan magazine appearing on the net for 16 years. The publication features tasty recipes, vegan resources, articles, and items of interest to the vegan community. She blogs at veganfortheholidays.wordpress.com and nutgourmet.wordpress.com, and contributes articles and recipes to The Vegetarian Journal and Vegan Health and Fitness Magazine. Zel also teaches vegan cooking classes in Los Angeles.

Zel is sharing a fun recipe with us today....Jolly Green Christmas Tree !!!!! Use your imagination, have some fun and decorate the tree however you want !!!

Here's a holiday appetizer that puts yuletide spirit on a plate and unveils your hidden talent as a scultptor. Using nothing more than a spoon you’ll be able to turn this delicious dip into a dazzling sculpted Christmas tree or Christmas wreath that flaunts colorful ornaments you can eat. Make it mildly spiced or crank it up to muy picante with extra jalapeno chiles and a pinch of cayenne.

JOLLY GREEN CHRISTMAS TREE

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Dip

1 pound frozen peas, thawed

1 (15-ounce) can cannellini or Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves

2 tablespoons organic sugar

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

1/2 to 1 jalapeno chile, seeded and coarsely chopped

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Pinch cayenne (optional)

Ornaments

1/4 red bell pepper, finely diced

1/2 carrot, finely diced

1 green onion, white part only, sliced

1 whole star anise, or 6 whole cloves

1. Put the dip ingredients in a food processor. Process until smooth and creamy, stopping occasionally to scrape down the work bowl.
2. Spoon the mixture onto a large platter and use the back of a spoon to form the mixture into the shape of a large Christmas tree. Decorate the tree with the bell pepper, carrot, and optional green onion. Place the star anise at the top or arrange the cloves into a radiating star. Serve with baked tortilla chips, bean chips, toasted pita wedges, or your favorite crackers.

Check out more of Zel's holiday recipes in her book Vegan for the Holidays.

THANKS for sharing this GREAT and FUN recipe, Zel !!!!!!!