Easy Appetizer Ideas

[Anonymous]

We have a party next weekend- just with friends and I need an easy appetizer idea. I am blanking. I am going to bring a veggie platter- but need something else... Anyone have a go to app? TIA

[Anonymous]

Shrimp cocktail

[Anonymous]

If you bring veggies, then I would bring a dip to go with it. I found this recipe for onion dip that I have been meaning to try:

http://joelens.blogspot.com/2010/06/homemade-onion-herb-dip.html

[Anonymous]

Spinach dip. Get the recipe off the box of Knorr's veg soup mix. Buy a rustic boule, carve out the middle and dice it up. Put the dip in the boule and serve with the diced bread pieces.

[Anonymous]

Cocktail meatballs
Spanikopita (mini)
Deviled eggs
Some sort of smoked salmon app (cracker, creme fraiche, salmon, sprig of dill)

[Anonymous]

A friend once made a tray of cherry tomatoes stuffed with some sort of crab-cheese spread. They were good and I imagine they were pretty easy to do. I'm sure you could use almost anything for the filling.

[Anonymous]

Cheese platter (go to whole foods and ask), hummus, tapenade, spanakopita, crackers, bread, chips, salsa, guacamole, etc.

[Anonymous]

dips are always pretty easy. spinach dip, crab dip, 7-layer dip...

but the easiest ones by far are the frozen ones at costco that you just heat up in the microwave... some are not bad! (like bacon wrapped scallops and mini quiches) but they can get pricey.

[Anonymous]

sorry not microwave -- heat up in the actual oven! microwaves turn them all to mush.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cocktail meatballs
Spanikopita (mini)
Deviled eggs
Some sort of smoked salmon app (cracker, creme fraiche, salmon, sprig of dill)

Deviled eggs....mmmmm. Try making Spanish style deviled eggs with chorizo. It's a great spin on a classic.

[Anonymous]

Hint...if you do a veggie plate, blanch the veggies (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, radishes). It will bring out the color and make them more digestible. Raw veggies can be rough for some : )

Cold:
Gorgonzola stuffed dates (can be made the night before)
Apple/Manchego salad
Goat Cheese Torta

Hot:
Prosciutto wrapped asparagus
Mini Meatballs w/ Saffron Sauce

[Anonymous]

lamb flatbread

throw 1 lb ground lamb into food processor with some cumin, coriander, fresh garlic, salt, pepper, fresh parsley, tomato paste - give it a whirl to mix and then spread thinly onto lavash.

bake at 400 for 10 minutes, until meat is cooked, then remove from oven, drizzle with a bit of honey and sprinkle with fresh mint.

slice it up with a pizza wheel into bite sized pieces, and your guests will be delighted.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking for something sweet/dessert-ish, bring a fruit platter with dip. Fast, easy, pretty, and people love it.

I brought this to a gathering a few weeks ago and people devoured it and everyone was asking me for the recipe (which is embarrassingly simple).

Make a pretty arrangement of fruits on a plate (can do skewers but I prefer individual pieces with colored toothpicks). Apples work especially well with this dip. I slice my apples and drop them into a bowl of water with some orange juice in it and let them sit a few minutes. The citric acid from the OJ makes them not turn brown, but they don't get a sour taste like they do if you squeeze lemon juice over them.

I use apples, pineapple, strawberries, and melon.

For the dip, mix an 8 oz block of cream cheese (softened) and a jar of marshmallow fluff, along with a splash of vanilla extract and/or lemon juice. You need to use an electric hand mixer to get the right consistency; it's hard to mix it by hand. That's it -- it's ready to go as soon as you mix it up or can keep in the fridge for a few days. It's really yummy!

[Anonymous]

I have made that fruit dip before . It is SO good!