Suggestions please

November 14, 2011 in advice, food

In lieu of a real post, I’m asking for your help today. I’m hosting my first-ever holiday party for a small group of friends and have decided to make it an all-appetizer affair.

Just the words “all-appetizers” make my heart go pitter patter.

Anyway, if you share my affinity for All Things Apps, I’m hoping you’ll share a suggestion for one I should make for the party. Included recipes are appreciated!

Thanks, and we’ll return to regular scheduled blogging tomorrow.

29 comments

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November 14, 2011 at 1:10 pm

Laura

Hi Molly,

A crowd favorite at our evens are: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/bacon-wrapped-dates-stuffed-with-blue-cheese/detail.aspx

They are AMAZING!

November 14, 2011 at 1:11 pm

Laura

Oh and we don’t use tooth picks, they stay together fine without them.

November 14, 2011 at 1:16 pm

Keri

I like this better than buying the store-made ranch dip for veggies:

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/white-bean-dip-with-rosemary-olive-oil-10000001119561/

Here’s one for roasted almonds:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roasted-Almonds-with-Rosemary-Fleur-de-Sel-108939

Depending on how many people you have coming, small soup shooters is a fun twist too. Good luck and post what you end up making!

November 14, 2011 at 1:20 pm

Shelley

Shrimp and cocktail sauce is an easy one to prepare.

There’s also a healthy black bean dip: http://www.wearenotmartha.com/2011/03/healthy-black-bean-dip-and-delicious-chip/

and chicken sate with spicy peanut dipping sauce: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/chicken-sate-with-spicy-peanut-dipping-sauce-recipe/index.html

I guess having shrimp and/or peanuts might be not so good if one or more friends have allergies to them.

November 14, 2011 at 1:22 pm

Molly P

A hunk of gorgonzola, coat generously with honey, then in crushed walnuts. Serve with crackers. So simple but truly awesome.

November 14, 2011 at 1:25 pm

Brandi

Something easy that I loooooved at a Halloween party recently…caprese on a stick. Cheese, tomato and basil on a toothpick. Delish and easy

November 14, 2011 at 2:01 pm

Nichole (@MrsB_P)

Texas caviar is super easy and super delicious! It’s always a hit – just serve with scoop tortilla chips. (Also, there are lots of recipes out there that use italian dressing – don’t do it – it’s never as good as this one.)

2 cans black-eyed peas (rinsed and drained)
2 cans black beans (rinsed and drained)
2 cans white corn (rinsed and drained)
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
1 red & 1 green bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tspn garlic powder

To make the dressing, stir the vinegar, olive oil, sugar, and garlic powder together in a pan. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat.
Mix all the beans & veggies together in a bowl, then pour the dressing over it – toss to mix evenly.
The longer it sits, the better the flavors are.

Enjoy!

November 14, 2011 at 2:21 pm

Tara

These jalepeno poppers are fabulous: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/07/bacon-wrapped_j/

If you do these, make more than you think you’ll need– they always go quick! And definitely wear gloves when making them. The jalepeno juice in that quantity is waay intense.

Hope it goes well!

November 14, 2011 at 2:25 pm

Small Pond

Get some cream cheese, mix in some real maple syrup until the stuff is of dip consistency and you think it tastes good. Toss some cocoa or chocolate shavings on top. Instant appetizer dip. it’s actually best with bread, not a sweet thing to dip.

November 14, 2011 at 2:29 pm

alison

I’ve been lurking your blog for some time now, happy to come out of the woodwork with appetizer recipes, it’s my favorite part of every meal!

My Spinach-Artichoke Dip is a hit everywhere I take it, I’m always asked for the recipe at least once. I serve it in a bread bowl with cubed bread and pita chips. Enjoy!

1 cup grated mozzarella
1 cup grated parmesan (Sargento actually makes a cheese mix that’s 2 cups exactly of Mozz/Parm…how convenient!)
1 8oz. package of cream (or neufchatel) cheese
3 minced garlic cloves
1 box thawed frozen spinach (make sure to rinse and pat dry, pushing out as much of the water as possible, the dip should be thick!)
1 tall jar of marinated artichoke hearts, drained
S&P to taste
1 light sprinkle of red pepper flakes (this really makes it, don’t skip this part!)

Throw EVERYTHING in your crock pot. Cook on high for 2 hours or until well incorporated.

November 14, 2011 at 2:32 pm

Kate

It’s the laziest appetizer ever, but I take puff pastry dough (I love the all-butter DuFours brand at WF), put squares of it in a mini-muffin tin and fill each one with a cube of brie and some whole berry cranberry sauce. Top it with a little sprig of rosemary and bake until the cheese is melty — they’re good warm and at room temperature.

I’ve done these italian skewers before, too, and they were a big hit: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/italian-skewers-10000001634631/

November 14, 2011 at 3:00 pm

stubborntomato

1. Slice onions and red seedless grapes. Saute in olive oil, salt, pepper and a few dashes of balsamic vinegar until caramelized.
2. On crostinis: lay down a leaf or two of baby spinach, spoonful of caramelized onion and grapes, hunk of goat cheese OR gorgonzola.
3. Broil in oven for 2 – 3 minutes until cheese is melty and toast is golden.

You can dress these up any variety of ways. Add chicken or pulled pork. Add roasted corn. Etc.

November 14, 2011 at 3:13 pm

Mon

Easy & always a winner…1 bag frozen meatballs, 1 bottle ketchup, 1 similar size bottle grape jelly. Dump all into crockpot and do low 6-8 hours or high 4 hours. (I sometimes add a squirt of mustard and a few shakes of black pepper). Result? Delicious app that is super easy and everyone always loves it!

November 14, 2011 at 5:31 pm

Life of a Doctor's Wife

Ooh! How fun!

One of my all-time favorite appetizers is goat cheese, dried cranberries, and walnut chunks on individual leaves of endive (the pale green kind) drizzled with some high-quality balsamic vinegar.

November 14, 2011 at 7:05 pm

karijo09

1lb of sausage (we use bob evans savory sage), 1 8oz block cream cheese, and a couple containers of mushroom caps. Wash the mushrooms and remove the stems. Brown the sausage and combine with the softened cream cheese. Put spoonfuls of the sausage mixture in each mushroom cap and bake in the oven at 350 degrees until nicely browned. About 20 minutes or so? Delicious and easy!

November 14, 2011 at 7:18 pm

Audrey

Baked brie – my mouth is watering just THINKING about it!

November 14, 2011 at 8:13 pm

I usually either serve bacon-cheddar-ranch dip or baked brie. The dip is 16 oz of sour cream, 1 bag of real bacon pieces (3 oz), 1 packet of ranch dressing mix, and a cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Mix it all together and let it refrigerate overnight. Serve with tortilla chips and be amazed at its awesomeness! The baked brie is a round of brie placed on a rolled out sheet of pillsbury crescent roll dough. Top with fig or raspberry preserves and pull the pillsbury dough up over the brie round until it is completely enclosed. Vent it a little with a knife. Bake until golden brown and serve with apple slices and bagel chips. SO good! Good luck with your dinner party!

November 14, 2011 at 8:52 pm

Sarah

I don’t know about y’all, but if I show up at an appetizers event and there is no guac, I’m walkin out!!!! : ) I am obsessed with Alton Brown’s recipe and everyone I’ve made it for agrees it’s the best ever!!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/guacamole-
recipe/index.html

how fun… happy cooking!! : )

November 14, 2011 at 9:30 pm

sweetandtart

I was also going to suggest bacon-wrapped dates. We’re not blue cheese eaters so we just like them plain, and they are so easy! Another favorite here is to get a skinny baguette and have them slice it at the grocery store if they’ll do it for you, or slice it at home. Put slices on a baking sheet and top with a dollop of goat cheese and honey and bake in a 350 oven until warm (about 15 mins?). If you want to get super fancy (and if someone is helping to foot the bill) we love beef tenderloin with a horseradish dipping sauce. Appetizer parties and meals are my favorite!

November 14, 2011 at 10:44 pm

Marie

Goat cheese and caramelized onions on crostini. SO GOOD. I may have made this for my husband and me sometimes just for dinner, with some salami.

November 15, 2011 at 7:18 am

Lauren Bush

A favorite of mine that is super easy is sliced french bread with some crumbled gorgonzola cheese and drizzle with honey. Then put them under the broiler for a few minutes until they get slightly crispy. SOOOOO yummy!!

November 15, 2011 at 9:35 am

loserjenn

Salted Dark Chocolate Figs

80 dried figs
8 ounces dark chocolate
coarse salt

Heat dark chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave at 20 second intervals. Stir often and heat until just melted. Dip 1/2 fig in chocolate, put on plate covered with wax paper, and sprinkle with salt. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

November 15, 2011 at 10:20 am

Lisa

This is always a hit! But use white balsamic vinegar so the colors stay vibrant.

Artichoke, Cheese and Olive Antipasta:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/artichoke-cheese-and-olive-antipasto/detail.aspx

November 15, 2011 at 11:08 am

DanceintheRain

Baked Cream Cheese

1 block cream cheese, room temperature
1 tube pillsbury crescent rolls

Open crescent rolls and lay dough on cutting board. Push together the perforated seams (so it becomes one piece, rather than pulling apart). Put the block of cream cheese in the middle. Pull the excess dough up and around the cheese so it’s covered (you can try to make it look pretty or fancy). Bake according to directions on crescent rolls – I usually add a few more minutes to make sure dough is done and cheese is soft.

It’s amazing. Cut a slice before you serve so people know what it is. Serve with light crackers or just on it’s own.

So simple but so good.

I’ve also covered the cream cheese blcok with craisins or seasoning to add a little something.

November 15, 2011 at 11:09 am

DanceintheRain

*its own, not it’s own… pet peeve. My fingers were faster than my brain.

November 15, 2011 at 1:18 pm

your mom