<p>Okay so I have my IRL book club at my house tonight. Two new people coming and all of a sudden I’m nervous about the food. Generally the hostess does appetizers, dinner and dessert.
Dinner is going to be homemade squash soup, salad, fresh rolls, corn souffle. Dessert apple cake which is like a carrot cake: dense and cream cheese frosting.
What about easy appetizers? Ideas out there? I was going to go to Trader Joes but it is a drive and I had a stressful work day yesterday. I just don’t feel up to it…</p>
<p>Is it all vegetarian?</p>
<p>How about a plate of crudites (celery, carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, green and red peppers) and some dips? potato chips, mixed nuts; pita bread and hummus; plate of cheeses and crackers.</p>
<p>Marite, good catch. I’m a vegetarian and since it’s at my house that’s what they are getting :)</p>
<p>I just pulled an article from Southern Living about the “Great White Pumpkin” cheese ball. It is made from shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese, cream cheese, goat cheese that is shaped like a pumpkin. Stick a pretzel in the top to resemble a pumpkin stem & a vine leaf (if you have one). Serve with crackers, pita chips, and/or crudites.</p>
<p>Get a couple packs of those mini phyllo dough cups and fill them with something from the deli or just about anything else you can imagine. Also their recipes on the box are usually very good.</p>
<p>Do a grape, a chunk of melon and a mint leaf on a toothpick.</p>
<p>Here’s my go-to:</p>
<p>Cranberry Brie Pizza </p>
<p>Heat oven to 425 degrees.</p>
<p>Lightly (olive) oil a 13 X 9 pan. Unroll a 10oz. can of refrigerated pizza crust and press into the pan (use the Pillsbury dough; it’s sweeter than a normal pizza dough and also rises higher). Bake for 5-8 minutes.</p>
<p>Sprinkle with 1/2 inch cubes of brie (8 oz, rind removed). Break up a can of whole-berry cranberry sauce and spoon over cheese. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup chopped pecans.</p>
<p>Bake an additional 6-10 minutes until cheese is melted and crust is brown. Cut into squares. Yummy.</p>
<p>Variation: Substitute a jar of fig preserves for the cranberry sauce and use walnuts…even better.</p>
<p>But I often buy the phyllo appetizer tart shells, as well. For Halloween I filled them with guacamole and a smoked salmon/cream cheese dip. The box recipe suggestions are pretty good.</p>
<p>Not today, but when you are less stressed for time, I’d love it you’d post your corn souffle recipe!</p>
<p>How about just slicing a pineapple, and putting in some toothpicks holding a Marschino cherry for each slice.</p>
<p>You can always serve melted Brie with some pears and crackers. You can top the Brie with some preserves.</p>
<p>Your can serve a mix of orange and cranberries (recipe on the Ocean Spray bag), but it would require plates. It would be about as messy and as much work as making a fruit cocktail.</p>
<p>You could serve spanakopita. It makes a nice warm appetizer and is filling.</p>
<p>I think everyone appreciates a well-done Cheese tray. Just a few kinds of cheeses, fancy crackers, & garnish with grapes on a beautiful tray. Don’t stress.</p>
<p>Spread some goat’s cheese on crackers and top with a little dab of sundried tomato pesto and a basil leaf. Couldn’t be easier and quite tasty.</p>
<p>OMG, I want some of the cranberry brie pizza NOW!!!</p>
<p>(copying THAT recipe!)</p>
<p>Another easy peasy appetizer is to get puff pastry or filo (phyllo) cups and fill them with tapenade or other spreads like that. You can buy the spreads ready made at Trader Joe’s, and probably regular supermarkets too. Creamed mushrooms are good in them too, though a bit more work.</p>
<p>I would go with the cheese tray. Trader Joe’s has a nice soft blue we like and you could do a brie and fontina and maybe a sharp cheddar or huntsman. We like the Trader Joe’s seedy flatbread with our cheese and some crusty french bread. It’s easy and always tastes good!</p>
<p>I take pre-made pizza dough (available at Trader Joes or a kind local pizzeria) and bake a small pizza with carmelized red onions,thinly sliced pears, and crumbled gorgonzola. Serve hot and sliced with a (garnish) sprinkling of baby greens tossed in vinaigrette.</p>
<p>Where is the closest Trader Joe’s?
What has been served at my bookclub-
Cut up vegetables with an assortment of dips mainly from Trader joe’s but I bet El Rancho would have some similar dips. Hummus, Guac, roasted red peppers mixed with softened cream cheese.
Cheese with crackers
Hot artichoke dip or spinach dip
We went through a phase where we different versions of baked brie.
An easy puff pastry recipe- roll out the rectangle, cut into small squares, layer sliced pears, goat cheese and top with a bit of thyme. Bake till cheese is melted and edges puffed and golden.
Are you making the apple cake? Recipe?</p>
<p>Closest trader joes is 40 miles north or south (by mom60 :))
I like the puff pastry with pears and goat cheese and the brie pizza.
Thanks. I knew you ladies would pull through for me.
Okay the recipes:
This is the corn souffle/pudding. I have had several versions of this recipe but this is the lowest cal one out there.
Combine:
one can creamed corn, one can regular corn-drained, one jiffy brand corn muffin mix (dry-don’t make it up), two eggs, one carton plain yogurt, 1/2 stick melted butter. Bake at 400 one hour. You can double this. It comes out very nice and is super easy. 9 x 13 pan.
The apple cake:
4 c. apples sliced/peeled, combine with 2 cups sugar and 1/2 c vegetable oil. Add 2 beaten eggs and 2 t. vanilla. Sift 2 c. flour with 2 t. baking soda, 2 t. cinnamon and 1 t. salt. Add dry to wet apple mixture. Bake 325 one hour. Frosting: 1 stick margarine or butter 2 c. powdered sugar, 1 t. vanilla, 4 oz cream cheese
Frosting recipe can be doubled if you like lots :)</p>
<p>Thanks ebeeeee! </p>
<p>I don’t blame you, 40 mile drive to pick up some items for tonight would be a bit much. Glad someone came through for ideas you can use for tonight!</p>
<p>Maybe this is so easy that it is cheating. Either on its own or as part of your cheese assortment, just take a wedge of good Stilton (or other blue cheese that you like) and spoon some fig preserves over it. Serve with good crackers.</p>
<p>Make your own jalepeno poppers, we do it two different ways:</p>
<p>Slice them in half, clean out all seeds & ribs (wear gloves or put your hands in baggies!)</p>
<p>Filling option#1 (more traditional)
slice a piece of cream cheese to fill each gap
sprinkle with Emeril’s essence
top with some pepper jack and/or cheddar cheese, broil for 20-30 minutes until golden brown</p>
<p>OR</p>
<p>filling option #2 (more baked potato like)
mix cream cheese
sour cream
cooked bacon (crumbled)
green onions
cheddar cheese
choose your ratio to taste</p>
<p>fill the pepper and broil</p>
<p>If you really want them mild, blanch the peppers for 30-45-60 seconds before filling</p>
<p>They are a bit of work to clean, but yummy</p>
<p>For a group of around 6-8 people I would do 20 peppers which makes 40 poppers. Many recipes call for breading, but healthier not to add that!</p>
<p>Mafool - I am all for cheating!!!</p>
<p>Make mafool’s recipe and here’s another easy, easy one:</p>
<p>Drain a can of artichokes packed in water
Add about a tablespoon of vege mayo or smart balance (skimp on this, you can add </p>
<p>more later
Add about a tablespoon of rosemary/basil
juice of 1/2 lemon</p>
<p>put all ingredients in a small food processor and pulse - allow to remain a little chunky
Add pepper and salt to taste - sprinkle a little spices</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>1 can of chick peas - drained
1 small jar of roasted red peppers
tsp. chitpole pepper
juice of 1/2 lemon</p>
<p>put in food processor and pulse - if it is not wet enough - add a little of vegan mayo or smart balance.</p>
<p>Add salt and pepper to taste</p>
<p>serve with pitas, bread or the crackers you have with Mafool’s recipe</p>
<p>You’re doing quite a bit already–I’d second the cheese tray suggestion. Try manchego cheese and membrillo (a thick quince paste) or fig jam and blue cheese (I’m partial to Great Hill Blue) and crackers or a wheel of French brie with Bellini Jam (from Stonewall Kitchen–tastes like a bellini.) Another really easy appetizer that my H thinks is tacky but one that I love and one that guests devour immediately is cream cheese and hot pepper jelly. Take a wedge of cream cheese and spread the hot pepper jelly on top–surround it by crackers. (Stonewall makes a nice hot pepper jelly.) </p>
<p>Can I join your book group–in my group people serve coffee and tea.</p>