Olive Christmas Tree Appetizer Recipes

Steps:

• Get a box of toothpicks and a 9 inch cone shape to begin. (green or white).
• Drain olives. Cut block of cheese into 1/2 inch thick slabs and cut 1 inch stars with a cookie cutter. Cover with wrap.
• Break toothpicks in half. Starting at the bottom of the cone, insert toothpicks in a random order and push olives onto them. Vary the olives and leave room for the cheese stars. Place larger olives near the bottom.
• Push each cheese star into a toothpick half, Top the tree with a cheese star and insert rosemary sprigs randomly.
• Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate no longer than 8 hours.

Steps:

• In bowl, combine well the first 6 ingredients.
• Place on plate and with hands shape into an 8" tall cone-shape.
• Press chopped parsley on "tree" all over to make it green.
• With small star-shaped cookie cutter, cut approximately 1" stars out of slices of cheese. (You can make some of them bells or circles if you want.).
• Stick about 40-50 or so toothpicks halfway (or a little more)all over evenly spaced into tree.
• Stick "decorations"(cheese stars, cherry tomato halves round side out, and olives) onto toothpicks.
• Drape lemon peel around tree, spiraling downward, to resemble garland.
• Cut a larger cheese star for top of tree.
• Place assorted crackers in stacks around base of tree for "presents".