Poll: Strange Appetizers

[Ann Taylor]

I cowrite the Clueless Gourmet column for this Web site, and my partner and I are working on an upcoming installment on appetizers. CookingLight.com Editor Lisa Delaney told us about an appetizer one of her grandmother's friends brought over one time: bologna cake. She spread cream cheese over bologna slices and stacked them up to resemble a cake. Each person was supposed to cut a wedge of the "cake" to go with crackers.

This totally cracked us up, so we figured we'd poll our readers to see if we could get any other funny/weird appetizer stories. So please share your stories with us.

Thanks!
Ann Taylor

[Holly S]

I am not sure if this qualifies but I have never seen it at another table other than my mothers:

Thin croutons of italian bread layered with thinly slices red onions and grated Locatelli cheese, drizzle with oil oil, and that was it. She would make a whole platter of this, and there was hardly ever any left

[Kerri]

Not sure how common this one is, and it really isn't an appetizer, but a long time ago my mom made a dirt cake. It was made from Oreos and chocolate pudding, I think. She served it in a pot (new and clean) with a shovel (also new and clean) and stuck a plastic plant in it for decoration. I just thought that was so clever at the time!

[Stacey Strawn]

Ann-
Am I the only person that thinks serving miniature weenies in a sauce made from grape jelly directly from a slow cooker qualifies as weird?? Messy is the least of the problems with this one, but they still tend to show up on party tables anyway....?? I have to admit that I WOULD take them over bologna cake!!

[JeanneW]

I can't think of any real-life appetizer stories, but your post made me remember the movie Big with Tom Hanks. Remember when he went to the cocktail party and tried eating the baby corn on the cob like regular corn on the cob? That cracked me up.

[SueK]

I was just thinking to myself that I have always thought ANY meat product mixed with grape jelly is a weird combo. I don't like to mix my meats with my fruits. I'd have to agree that the cocktail weenie and/or meatball thing with jelly is strange.

[Gail]

Ann--
Your idea sounds fun and much as I'd love to share what I consider to be a revolting attempt at an appetizer, I'm afraid that by doing so I'd be putting a friendship on the line. My dear, dear friend thinks her combo is great-- to present it as anything else might be construed as insult to her, uh, cooking.

But, if I think of anything served to me by a stranger (or someone I never really liked) I'll be back in a flash. Good luck!

[mlynn]

This thread reminds me of a website I came across a few months ago. It is called "The Gallery of Regrettable Food" and contains pictures and commentary of odd recipes from years past. They have a section on Snacks that can be found at http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/500/index2.html

I'm always amazed that someone thought hotdogs in "gleaming aspic" was an elegant and tasty appetizer. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by mlynn (edited 09-01-2000).]

[Anne]

Hi Ann. I have run across an appetizer a bit similar to your example which I consider a strange. Spread a flour tortilla with cream cheese, roll like a jelly roll and slice in about 1 inch rolls. Serve cold and unadorned. Perhaps this idea started with some type of rolled quesadilla with queso blanko but I don't think the transition improved the taste. I have also seen the above with bologna and cream cheese with and without the tortilla.

[Abby]

I've seen this appetizer lots of times although it is usually a little more exciting; for example, you can blend the cream cheese with green chilis, or green onions, shredded cheese, any kind of olive, ham, ranch dressing mix,(not all at once!) or what have you, and it is actually pretty good. I must say that plain cream cheese wrapped in a tortilla is pretty boring.


Originally posted by Anne:
Hi Ann. I have run across an appetizer a bit similar to your example which I consider a strange. Spread a flour tortilla with cream cheese, roll like a jelly roll and slice in about 1 inch rolls. Serve cold and unadorned. Perhaps this idea started with some type of rolled quesadilla with queso blanko but I don't think the transition improved the taste. I have also seen the above with bologna and cream cheese with and without the tortilla.

[Gail]

The day the boards went down I awoke to the specter of tuna. Tuna and bleu cheese dressing which was supposed to be eaten with sourdough. Can't give you any of the specifics-- probably my mind has repressed the rest. Maybe I'm foolish for not asking questions about those seemingly harmless looking dips I've eaten over the years, dips which have played nasty horrible tricks on my taste buds, forcing me to perform one of those quick-eject-into-napkin while no one is looking... Do you really want to know what you've just eaten? I've got to admit, sometimes ignorance really is bliss. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[SandyDee]

Ann, This goes along with the one you talked about and believe it or not I learned it eons ago in Home Ec. You took a regular loaf of bread (uncut) and cut it in layers length wise. Then you would make gound bologna, egg salad, and ham salad and would spread a layer of bologna then top with a piece of bread, then spread a layer of egg salad and top with bread then a layer of ham salad then top with the last piece of bread and then you would spread softened cream cheese all over the top and sides to resembel a layer cake and decorate with olive and pimento slices cut and decorated to look like flowers on top. I had forgotten all about that until now. Ribbon sandwiches I believe they called it.

[shoyski]

SandyDee, I cracked up laughing when I read your post. Apparently my grandma used to make that all the time for "Ladies Luncheons" and it still gets rave reviews from my dad and all my aunts. What a riot!

[Gwenniver]

Originally posted by Stacey Strawn:
Ann-
Am I the only person that thinks serving miniature weenies in a sauce made from grape jelly directly from a slow cooker qualifies as weird?? Messy is the least of the problems with this one, but they still tend to show up on party tables anyway....?? I have to admit that I WOULD take them over bologna cake!!

I was shocked AND dismayed when I found out the ingredients of my mother's sweet and sour sauce...Heinz chili sauce and grape jelly! Evidently this is a common combination for sweet and sour cauce, but it just sounds revolting to me.

[SandyDee]

Shoyski, I only made it the one time (in class), Your grandma didn't happen to be a Home Ec teacher did she?? It's amazing what the mind retains, I would never have remembered it now if Ann didn't stir it up. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[andrea]

in college, my friends and i had pot-lucks once a week. being architects, we were always trying to out-do each other with not just the taste, but with the presentation, as well. brian, my not-so-gourmet friend sought to teach us a lesson.

brian's appetizers were displayed beautifully on the platter. i took them in to the party and passed the tray. everyone said "oooh!", tasted one, and in a moment of peer pressure (i guess) they all said, "mmm, these are great!" then, after a pause someone asked, "what are they?"...

brian proudly responded, "canned peaches rolled in dried breadcrumbs topped with pace picante sauce!" http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[JC]

A friend of mine told me about an Elvis party he had in college. One of the guests brought a sub sandwich she claimed was from a book on Elvis' favorite recipes. You take a whole Ilalian loaf, split it open and fill it with peanut butter, grape jelly and strips of cooked bacon. You then bake it until warm through and cut it into slices (so everyone can savor this delight).

I did not attend this party, so I cannot let you know how it turned out.

[Anne]

My mom used to make 'ribbon' sandwiches. one layer would be cream cheese with black olives, another layer was ground spam, sweet pickles, and mayo mixed together. She didn't use the creamcheese on the sides and top like Sandydee's experience but the general idea was the same. Ribbon sandwiches can be quite tasty and elegant but I don't think my mom's ingredients appeal to me anymore. Another appetizer that made appearances at our table was ritz crackers spread with cheese whiz and topped with half a stuffed green olive. Again, a good idea but I would make about 3 ingredient changes before making them myself.

[JeanneL]

Here's a variation on the cocktail weenie. Use hot dogs cut into small pieces on the diagonal and cooked in a mixture of red currant jelly and yellow [French's] mustard.