This is the time of year that I make the most appetizers, well it was, before we moved to Ontario. We already missed hosting the Casino Party and now I look ahead to having no Christmas Party. Boo hoo! So I thought I would copy and paste some of my favourite appetizer recipes onto a post. Even if I can't enjoy making them this Christmas, perhaps you can. They're all super easy and can be prepared in advance. I love doing the prep work for a party, and after many years (9 in fact), I think I've pretty much got it to a science so that I can be a part of the party and not just be stuck in the kitchen. I find that homemade dips and appys are so much better than store bought as well. I always keep a can of artichokes, refried beans, diced green chilies, package of frozen spinach, chili powder and taco seasoning in the house. With these ingredients on hand I find that I can always make up an appy if someone drops by or we need to bring something out with us.
If you've been to our "parties" or just over for snacks these will all sound very familiar to you!
Cheese Ball 1 brick of cream cheese, softened
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp chopped green pepper
1 Tbsp chopped onion
11 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp Chili powder
1/8 tsp salt
1. Mix all ingredients together and shape into a ball. I find it’s easiest to scoop ingredients onto a large piece of saran wrap, wrap up and then shape into a ball with hands, keeps your hands clean too!
2. Optional: roll in sesame seeds or finely chopped walnuts, wrap up. Refrigerate a minimum of 1-2 hours before serving (I like to make this the day before).
3. Serve with crackers
Pasadena Pinwheels
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
8 oz. cream cheese 250 g
2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
1 - 4 oz. can diced green chilies,drained
1 large tomato, seeded & chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
flour tortillas (try using spinach and sundried tomato for Christmas)
Instructions:
1.Blend cream cheese and mayonnaise. Stir in remaining ingredients.
2. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
3. Spread cheese mixture over each tortilla and roll up tightly. Trim ends (I like to eat these)
4. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm.
5. Slice and place pinwheels flat on cookie sheet. Broil until lightly golden.
(The cream cheese mixture is also a tasty dip to serve with taco or corn chips)
2. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
3. Spread cheese mixture over each tortilla and roll up tightly. Trim ends (I like to eat these)
4. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm.
5. Slice and place pinwheels flat on cookie sheet. Broil until lightly golden.
(The cream cheese mixture is also a tasty dip to serve with taco or corn chips)
Party Meatballs
Ingredients:
3 lbs Ground beef
12 oz can Evaporated Milk
1 cup Quick Oatmeal
1 cup find ground cracker crumbs or bread crumbs
2 Eggs
½ cup minced onion
½ tsp Garlic Powder
2 tsp Salt
½ tsp Pepper
2 Tbsp Chili Powders
Sauce
1 ½ cups Ketchup
1 cup Brown Sugar
¼ cup BBQ Sauce
½ tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Liquid Hickory Smoke (Optional)
Ingredients:
3 lbs Ground beef
12 oz can Evaporated Milk
1 cup Quick Oatmeal
1 cup find ground cracker crumbs or bread crumbs
2 Eggs
½ cup minced onion
½ tsp Garlic Powder
2 tsp Salt
½ tsp Pepper
2 Tbsp Chili Powders
Sauce
1 ½ cups Ketchup
1 cup Brown Sugar
¼ cup BBQ Sauce
½ tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Liquid Hickory Smoke (Optional)
Directions:
1. Mix together first set of ingredients and form into walnut sized meatballs. Place on wax paper lined cookie sheets and freeze. I make these well ahead of time and just pull them out of the freezer when I need them.Put the frozen meatballs into a roaster with lid. Cover with sauce and bake at 350 degree for 1 ½ hours. Add a little water occasionally and gently shake the roaster every ½ hour.
1. Mix together first set of ingredients and form into walnut sized meatballs. Place on wax paper lined cookie sheets and freeze. I make these well ahead of time and just pull them out of the freezer when I need them.Put the frozen meatballs into a roaster with lid. Cover with sauce and bake at 350 degree for 1 ½ hours. Add a little water occasionally and gently shake the roaster every ½ hour.
I LOVE Dips! So great with chips, crackers, bread! Sour cream, mayo, etc can all be subsituted for low fat, I find it doesn't really affect the flavour anyways.
Hot Artichoke Dip
1 can artichokes, chopped (not the marinated ones)
1 can chopped green chilies
1 large tomato (seeded and diced)
¾ cup parmesan cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup Mayonnaise
1 can artichokes, chopped (not the marinated ones)
1 can chopped green chilies
1 large tomato (seeded and diced)
¾ cup parmesan cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Mix ingredients together and pour into a shallow casserole dish or pie plate. Sprinkle extra parmesan cheese on top if desired. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Mix ingredients together and pour into a shallow casserole dish or pie plate. Sprinkle extra parmesan cheese on top if desired. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Mexican Layer Dip
Ingredients:
3 Ripe Avocados (or already prepared guacamole)
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
½ Tsp Salt
¼ tsp Pepper
1 cup sour cream
½ cup mayonnaise
35 g taco seasoning
Can of Refried Beans
1 bunch chopped green onions
3 medium seeded and chopped tomatoes
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
½ cup chopped pitted olives (optional)
1 bag of tortilla chips
Peel, pit and mash avocadoes with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Spread refried beans on bottom of a large casserole dish. Top with avocado mixture or prepared guacamole.
In a separate bowl, combine sour cream, mayo and taco seasoning. Spread over avocado mix. Sprinkle with green onions, tomatoes, olives and grated cheese. Serve with tortilla chips.
*I buy taco seasoning in a large container from Costco. It only costs a few dollars and is great to use in dips, taco beef, soups, etc.
*For something different try cream cheese instead of sour cream and mayo
3 Ripe Avocados (or already prepared guacamole)
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
½ Tsp Salt
¼ tsp Pepper
1 cup sour cream
½ cup mayonnaise
35 g taco seasoning
Can of Refried Beans
1 bunch chopped green onions
3 medium seeded and chopped tomatoes
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
½ cup chopped pitted olives (optional)
1 bag of tortilla chips
Peel, pit and mash avocadoes with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Spread refried beans on bottom of a large casserole dish. Top with avocado mixture or prepared guacamole.
In a separate bowl, combine sour cream, mayo and taco seasoning. Spread over avocado mix. Sprinkle with green onions, tomatoes, olives and grated cheese. Serve with tortilla chips.
*I buy taco seasoning in a large container from Costco. It only costs a few dollars and is great to use in dips, taco beef, soups, etc.
*For something different try cream cheese instead of sour cream and mayo
Spinach Dip
1 large Sourdough Round
(1 extra round or a large loaf of French bread for dipping)
1 package of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 cup sour cream
1 cup Mayonnaise
½ cup chopped green onions
2 tsp Dill Weed
1 tsp Parsley Flakes
1 tsp Seasoning Salt
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Lemon Juice
1. Mix all ingredients together, refrigerate
2. Cut top of sourdough round off, cube bread. Cut and cube extra bread, placing in large sealable Ziploc bags. This makes it easy to fill up an almost empty plate when guests are over.
3. Pour spinach dip into bread. Can be served cold or heated in a 350 degree oven until hot and bubbly. If I heat it I like to shred some parmesan or mozzarella cheese over the top as well.
4.
*To make a spinach/ artichoke dip just add a can of chopped artichokes, and a ½ cup parmesan cheese
Happy cooking!
1 comment:
I can't begin to tell you how excited this post has made me. I LOVE recipes and I LOVE appies, so this is a win-win for me. We're having an appy get-together with Gary's family in a couple of weeks and I can't wait to try some of your brilliant recipes.
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