appetizer recipes

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1

<p>I have Martha Stewarts appetizer cookbook, although I have only actually made anything from it maybe once.</p>

<p>It is fun to look at though , it makes me happy that I am not expected to scoop out grapes with a melon baller and fill them with cheese.
:slight_smile:
However- I need to bring appetizers for about nine people to a drinks party tomorrow. ( my book group)</p>

<p>I am not big on presentation ( which is why I don’t use the cookbook), I can’t even decide between salty or sweet, but I don’t want to bring what I usually do ( pita and hummus- dip & veggies- stuff like that)</p>

<p>I am not in the mood for drinks, not even wine or beer, although most of the others are probably going to be drinking wine or sangria, so something that goes with that would be good- but I am out of ideas.</p>

<p>We are going to be watching a film of * A Gathering of Old Men*, ( which we read last month), so maybe something Cajun/Creole?
Anyone know what they eat in Louisiana?</p>

<p>Oh shoot- how short my memory is- we had some friends who had a Louisiana cafe in the neighborhood, but they retired a few years ago and moved to the San Juan Islands
( don’t remember appetizers though)</p>

2

<p>[Roast</a> Chicken-Chipotle Nachos with Cilantro-Avocado Crema Recipe - MyRecipes.com](<a href=“http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=656205]Roast”>http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=656205)</p>

<p>These are not Cajun, but really good. The canned chipotles that I used already had tomato and vinegar in them (“adobo” style) so I skipped that step. The canned peppers were also very spicy… so a little goes a long way.</p>

3

<p>Idiots Appetizer.</p>

<p>1 loaf of small tiny rye or pumpernickel bread
1 container of cream cheese with chives
2 cucumbers sliced
Dill weed</p>

<p>Peel and slice the cucumbers. Spread the cream cheese on the bread slices. Top with slice cucumber. Sprinkle with dill weed.</p>

<p>Tada.</p>

4

<p>I make a wicked fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade, but it doesnt travel well.
Try this [Shrimp</a> Cakes with Andouille Sausage Recipe at Epicurious.com](<a href=“http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Shrimp-Cakes-with-Andouille-Sausage-106163]Shrimp”>http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Shrimp-Cakes-with-Andouille-Sausage-106163)
Hush Puppies with home made spicy mayonaisse are a good NOLA recipe as well.
also <a href=“http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Spicy-Toasted-Pecans-231166[/url]”>http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Spicy-Toasted-Pecans-231166&lt;/a&gt; (spicy pecans–easy and popular)</p>

5

<p>I was just looking at recipes for fried green tomatoes since that is something I have plenty of- but maybe another time since now it looks like we aren’t going to watch a movie- however love the suggestions.</p>

<p>I have fresh dill & chives too :)</p>

6

<p>Prosciutto and melon. Melons are so good right now, perfect with wine and so easy.</p>

7

<p>Everyone scarfs up deviled eggs when I make them.</p>

<p>I also love little cucumber sandwiches on white bread with the crusts cut off.</p>

8

<p>This Zucchini season. 490+ ways of presenting the all american vegetable.
[Zucchini</a> - All Recipes](<a href=“http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Fruits-and-Vegetables/Vegetables-N-Z/Zucchini/Main.aspx]Zucchini”>http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Fruits-and-Vegetables/Vegetables-N-Z/Zucchini/Main.aspx)</p>

<p>Baked zucchini slices with melted cheese, a crouton a ranch dressing.
(vary the cheeses, crouton, and dressing). </p>

<p>For 9 people, I’d stuff 17 zucchini’s. :)</p>

9

<p>This is easy and very fancy sort of?!! Figs are in right now so get some figs split them is half. Place on a baking sheet. Put a couple of tsp. of goat cheese on each fig and soften quickly in a warm over for a few minutes. pull them out and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. (I use really good stuff). Done!! It’s great with wine and not hard at all. It does taste really rich too. When figs are out of season, I use rice crackers, goat cheese, and fig jelly. No heating at all. but l love figs and they aren’t in season very often.</p>

10

<p>Homemade lemonade/limeade
spinach dip in a hollowed bread bowl
cut up a baguette into thin slices and veggies(celery, carrot, jicama) to spread the dip on</p>

11

<p>Thinly sliced french bread topped with that Costco artichoke jalepeno dip and broiled is a tasty and easy treat</p>

12

<p>Here’s my favorite one to bring, as it always impresses and is VERY EASY (and tastes good too):</p>

<p>Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap. Put a thin layer of cream cheese on the bottom (I use a cheese slicer across the top of the bar), spread some pesto on that (homemade or store bought). Repeat layers 3-4 times, endingwith cream cheese. Refrigerate.</p>

<p>Then turn out on to a plate, spread some cut-up roasted red peppers on top, serve w/ crackers.</p>

<p>It’s really good and very pretty too!</p>

13

<p>Trader Joe’s has something similar to JustaMom5465 suggestion. I think it is cream cheese, pesto and a layer of sundried tomatoes.
Last month at my book group the appetizers were a platter with all items from Trader Joe’s. Crackers, cut up french bread, the sundried pesto torte, brie, hummus, salami (buy the log and slice it yourself,much tastier). Also cucumber, red pepper slices and sugar snap peas. The vegetables were a good option for those not wanting the carbs of bread or crackers.
Another appetizer that is easy. Puff pastry cut into small squares with a pizza cutter. Top with a thin sliced apple or pear, top with goat cheese and a bit of thyme. Bake. It is quick and easy but looks nice.</p>

14

<p>You can do lots of things with puff pastry. It’s good with tapenades or artichoke spreads or baba ganoush or creamed mushrooms.</p>

15

<p>^^Post #12----what size cream cheese block do you use? Sounds really good and nice for Christmas.</p>

16

<p>A gourmet group to which I belong requires each member to either host or plan a dinner menu once a year. One member relies exclusively on the Martha Stewart appetizer cookbook every year. The rest of us (who have to make the recipes) groan. They are usually very heavy and far too much work for the result.</p>

17

<p>Silvervestersmom, I usually use a full-size 8 oz bar of cream cheese, you may need more than one. The original recipe called for spreading the cream cheese in the layers…I found that if you use a cheese slicer (the kind with a wire) you can slice it across the top to get big slices; much less work. Make sure the cream cheese is nice and cold or it gets sticky. Once you have the slices you can just piece them together to fit the loaf pan, it doesn’t matter what it looks like.</p>

<p>I’ve made it in a regular size loaf pan and also in a mini loaf pan for smaller gatherings.</p>

<p>It really is great around Christmastime, very festive looking.</p>

18

<p>–Tapenade. Allrecipes.com has a recipe but it can be bought at Trader Joe’s (which has plenty of appetizers).
–Different kinds of pate
–A tray of cheeses.</p>

19

<p>^^Thank you, Justamom. That sounds like a keeper (as do quite a few of the others posted here).</p>

20

<p>@marite: Perfect! You got to the tapenade first. A good tapenade, paired with very fresh, quality French bread, pate and cheese is the perfect appetizer.
Another very good appetizer is a shrimp remoulade on top of toasted pumpernickel squares with molasses butter.</p>

<p>@hmom5: Insalata di Melone is wonderful, and it is made by balling up Tuscan cantaloupe, slicing prosciutto, a little scallion, and tossing with a white wine vinegar and fruity olive oil mizture. It looks beautiful and tastes even better. The olive and white wine tastes bring out the flavor of the cantaloupe.</p>