appetizer help

[stieglitzcat]

I will be hosting the Knitting Group - a bunch of really fun women, who all happen to knit - at my house in a couple weeks.
We get together once a weekly at a coffee shop, but once a month at someone's house. Usually the hostess has some appetizers, wine (goes well w/knitting) ect.
Usually there are some sort of veggies w/ a dip and maybe some other type of appetizer.
Do you guys have any suggestions on great appetizers - that are different, but don't look too hard...Since I love to cook and don't get a lot of chance to entertain - I love to try new, fun things when I can - but, i don't want all these ladies to think I'm tyring to out do someone else, if you know what I mean...:)
I thought, too, I might try my hand at making some Sangria - since it's summer, afterall...
Thanks in advance.

[lindrusso]

Hi. These are very easy and might go fairly well with your Sangria. They are very tasty, but not fancy. I have other recipes that are easy as well if this one isn't your taste - one for Crabby Carols (a canned crab and cheese mixture on toasts) and one for Spinach Balls (this one you can find easily by searching this board).

CREAMY CHICKEN AND JALAPENO NACHOS

1 whole boned and skinned chicken breast, poached and diced
1 tsp. ground cumin
12 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
3 tablespoons chopped onion
6 medium pitas, each separated into two rounds

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Combine, cream cheese, jalapeno, onion, garlic, cumin and chili powder in a food processor (or mixer). Fold in chicken and cheese. Spread each pita round with a generous amount of filling. Place on cookie sheets and bake until puffed and bubbling, about 5 to 7 minutes. Cut into wedges.

2. This recipe freezes well - cut uncooked rounds into wedges, place on a baking sheet, freeze and store uncooked in the freezer until ready to use. Reheat at 350º until puffed and bubbling.

ENJOY!

[lorilei]

This recipe is excellent -- and also would go well with sangria (and nachos!) :) You can easily adjust the fat content based on the type of cream cheese you use and the amount of shredded cheese you put on top.

Mexican Appetizer "Cheesecake"

2 teaspoons chicken flavored instant bouillon
1/2 cup hot water
24 ounces cream cheese softened
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
2 eggs
1 can finely chopped chicken or leftover minced turkey or chicken
4 ounce can chopped green chilies well drained
salsa
shredded cheese
diced green onions
tortilla chips

Preheat oven to 325 F. Dissolve bouillon in water. Set aside. In bowl, beat cheese, chili powder and hot pepper sauce until smooth. Add eggs. Mix well. Add bouillon liquid, beating unitl smooth. Stir in chicken and chilies. Pour into cake or quiche pan which has been sprayed with pam. Bake for 30 minutes or until set. Cool. Carefully run knife around edge of pan. Turn onto serving plate. Top with sausa, grated cheese and green onions. Serve warm or chilled, with tortilla chips. Refrigerate leftovers.

[wallycat]

If you want to stick with the veggies and dip theme, maybe just do a fancier dip. I know there have been quite a few posted here.

After reading "The Cheese Plate" I'm addicted to trying new cheeses, so maybe something simple like baking home-made crackers and serving assorted cheeses. :D

What a great idea...a knitting club!!!

[nlh]

I'm thinking a shrimp or crab dip with veggies or crackers to scoop with. Remember that old recipe where you spread a pie plate with cream cheese mixed with worchestershire, top with cocktail sauce, green onions and load on the shrimp or crab? It's basic but good.

I had a real simple but real good appetizer at a shower recently. They took a block of cream cheese and covered it in orange marmalade and had miniature gingersnaps to scoop it up with. It was unexpectedly good!

[Luvmyson]

A really easy summer appetizer is cheese and pepper pinwheels. You saute red & green peppers and onions and mix in a package of cream cheese and season with S&P and cumin. Spread filling on a 10" flour tortilla, roll it like a jellyroll, then let it cool in the fridge for 30 min. Then just slice into 1" pieces and serve at room temp.

[ISAIAH30_18]

this is so easy and basic everyone will probably try to ban me from the boards....but...
our absolute favorite EASY appetizer, finger food is:
1 block cream cheese
Pick-a-peppa poured on top
served with either ritz crackers or wheat thins.

yummm.......

[little_bopeep]

Originally posted by ISAIAH30_18
this is so easy and basic everyone will probably try to ban me from the boards....but...
our absolute favorite EASY appetizer, finger food is:
1 block cream cheese
Pick-a-peppa poured on top
served with either ritz crackers or wheat thins.

yummm.......


Ban ISAIAH30_18 and I go, too! I love this stuff! :D

[stieglitzcat]

You guys have all been soooo very helpful, I appreciate it! Everything sounds good - yum.
Keep em coming...:)
I do need to know though - what is Pick-a-pepper...I've never heard of it?!!!
And Wallycat - do you like the Cheese Plate book? I just bought A Passion for Cheese by Paul Gayler...I rationalized it because - gosh, I didn't have a cheese book. Anyway - there are some tasty looking recipes in it -- more than 130, if anyone is interested I can do a little bit of a run down. :) Does anyone else have this in their collection?

[ISAIAH30_18]

pick-a-peppa is a condiment....made from Jamaican spices. It is sooooo good!!!!!

For me, it is found on the isle with steak sauces/ketchup etc. It's about $3-4. For each block of cream cheese you would use about 1/2 the bottle.

you can go to www.pickapeppa.com to see the bottle.

WARNING!!! It is so addictive!!!!! Before you know it the whole block of cheese will be gone and you will be wondering what to feed your guests!!!! :p :rolleyes:

[funnybone]

These were posted by Linda in MO months ago and I have made them many times! They are delicious!!!



* Exported from MasterCook *

SPINACH AND ARTICHOKES IN PUFF PASTRY

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Appetizer/Snack

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 package frozen chopped spinach -- (10-ounce) thawed
1 can artichoke hearts -- (14-ounce) drained and chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 package frozen puff pastry -- (17.3-ounce)

DRAIN spinach well, pressing between layers of paper towels.

STIR together spinach, artichoke hearts, and next 5 ingredients.

THAW puff pastry at room temperature 30 minutes. Unfold pastry, and place on a lightly floured surface or heavy-duty plastic wrap. Spread one-half spinach mixture evenly over pastry sheet, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Roll up pastry, jellyroll fashion, pressing to seal seam; wrap in heavy-duty plastic wrap. Repeat procedure with remaining pastry and spinach mixture. Freeze 30 minutes; cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. (Rolls may be frozen up to 3 months.)

BAKE at 400° for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: 4 dozen.

Prep: 20 min., Freeze: 30 min., Bake: 20 min.


Source:
"Southern Living, Top-Rated Recipe, November 2000"
http://www.southernliving.com/food/...hoke_pastry.asp

[honeygirl1971]

Here's one I've adapted from a friend's recipe. I don't even know the exact amounts of the ingredients since I've done it several different ways, so I'm guessing, but it's so easy and adaptable you can adjust it without fear...If you have a Trader Joe's near you, you can get the cheese and nuts without spending too much money.

1 7 oz log goat cheese
1 red paper diced
1 small bag of pine nuts, lightly toasted
1 tablespoon olive oil
chopped basil, for garnish
1 baguette french bread sliced into rounds

Rub the olive oil on the cheese log, then roll the log in the nuts, or press the nuts into the cheese, making a coating. Place the log in a bakeable glass dish, and surround it with the diced red pepper. Bake at 350 until nuts are golden brown and cheese is hot, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chopped basil. Serve hot with bread rounds.

This is great with wine!

[kathy123]

Lindrusso, I love nachos! How many teaspoons/tablespoons of canned jalepenos (sp?) would I substitute for two whole ones? Also I would love your recipe for your crab and cheese appetizer!

thanks

[lindrusso]

Hi Kathy. Just eyeballing it, I would guess about 2 teaspoons-1 tablespoon of canned per whole fresh jalapeno?? Another thing I like to do is leave the jalapenos out entirely (in order to make them kid friendly) and put sliced jalapenos (jarred variety) on the "adult" nachos. This also makes them a bit more visually appealing.

Okay, I must warn that this crab recipe is one of those that uses lots of, shall we say, not-so-fancy ingredients and is very salty. Maybe that's what makes them taste so good??? :D

The recipe calls for english muffins, but I like to use the little sourdough cocktail bread slices. I think pitas would work well too. I tried it with tortillas, but they got soggy. Being a big fan of Maryland blue crab, I am partial to using the Old Bay seasoning.

CRABBY CAROLS

4 ounces Kraft Old English Spread
4 tablespoons soft butter
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon garlic
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 can crab meat
4 English muffins
Paprika or Old Bay Seasoning

Combine first six ingredients and mix well. Divide muffins and distribute spread among them evenly. Sprinkle with paprika or Old Bay. Broil until bubbly and lightly browned.

Note: These appetizers freeze well. Just spread the muffins with crab mixture, cut into 4ths (or as desired), place on a baking sheet and place in the freezer. Once they are frozen, you can store them in a ziploc bag. There is no need to thaw - just put them in the oven and broil away!

ENJOY!

[Abby]

Originally posted by ISAIAH30_18
this is so easy and basic everyone will probably try to ban me from the boards....but...
our absolute favorite EASY appetizer, finger food is:
1 block cream cheese
Pick-a-peppa poured on top
served with either ritz crackers or wheat thins.

yummm.......

I love that, but I really love it with jalapeno jelly!

[Bluejays]

:) This dip is a hit everytime I make it, you can adjust to how hot you would like it;

Hot / Hot Artichoke Dip

1 can artichokes (in water, if not drain and rinse) I use 3 cans
1/2 jar Jalopino wheels (cut up)i use more for the heat !!!
1 can Green Chili's (diced)
1 cup Mozzarella (shredded)
1/2 cup Parmesan
1 cup Mayo

Bake at 350 degrees for at least 30 minutes in pie plate (until golden on top)

Serve with toritlla chips for dipping (I like triskets):D
Hint: I put the artichokes in a small food processor

Enjoy !!!;)

[Sami]

You can also do the cream cheese with jalapeno jelly on top or sundried tomatoes and pine nuts on top or anything else that sounds good to you. I've had it wit lemon curd also. I usually serve Carr's water crackers with it because they are fairly bland and the flavors then predominate.

Sami