Budget and easy yet elegant?

[DisneyYahoo]

Wrap a circle of Brie in crescent roll dough (make sure edges are sealed to prevent the cheese from leaking out once it melts) and bake until golden. Serve with crackers and apple slices.

This is my fav. I just add a favorite jam on top of the brie before I wrap it in crescent rolls. YUM!

 

[buzz5985]

This is my fav. I just add a favorite jam on top of the brie before I wrap it in crescent rolls. YUM!

I usually use a puff pastry crust, add the brie, raspberry jam, and slivered almonds. It's on the puff pastry website.

Homemade breadsticks with an olive oil dip.

We had an antipasto tray for Christmas - Rachel Ray's recipe- it was a huge hit. I would skip the hot sopressata - it didn't go as well - and add proscuitto (sp??). We purchased the ingredients from an Italian specialty store, which raised the price a bit. But I'm sure you could find the ingredients at your local grocery store.

Ingredients
1 pound fresh smoked or plain fresh mozzarella
1/2 pound deli sliced sweet sopressata
1/2 pound deli sliced hot sopressata
1/2 pound deli sliced Genoa salami
1 pound sharp provolone
2 cups good quality large olives, available in bulk bins near deli
2 cups giardiniera hot pickled vegetable salad, drained
2 cups marinated artichoke hearts
1 (16-ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained and cut into pieces
Directions
Arrange meats and cheeses on cutting board. Pile olives, giardiniera, artichokes and red peppers into small bowls and set along edge of board or serving tray. Place knives near cheeses and seafood forks in olives and veggies to serve. Place an extra ramekin out to collect pits from olives.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Bite-sized rolled asaparagus. I'm not sure what recipe my coworker follows, but she wraps 1-inch pieces of asaparagus in cream cheese and some sort of pastry (puff pastry I think, but you can also use white bread or refrigerated crescent rolls).

I took a tray of them to MIL's Christmas day and DH ate about half of them before dinner.

Search 'asparagus appetizers' for recipes.

 

[CTdiznymom]

I made this for Christmas and it was very good & looks festive.

Take 1 oz. pack of Hidden Valley Ranch and mix it into 2 blocks of cream cheese. Set aside.

Take 12oz of MARINATED artichoke hearts, and 12 oz. of ROASTED red peppers & a small handfull of fresh parsley.(THESE NEED TO BE WELL DRAINED) Pulse in a food chopper until chopped fine. Drain excess liquid.

Take a round bowl, and line with saran wrap. Try to do this so there aren't too many wrinkles.

Take one third of the cream cheese and spread in bowl. Making it level with a spatula (or your damp fingers!)
Layer 1/2 of the veggie mixture on the cream cheese, Top with cream cheese and repeat. Ending with cream cheese layer.

Chill until firm. Unmold onto a nice platter, top with sprig of pasley, serve with a nice cracker.

 

[lukenick1]

I made this for Christmas and it was very good & looks festive.

Take 1 oz. pack of Hidden Valley Ranch and mix it into 2 blocks of cream cheese. Set aside.

Take 12oz of MARINATED artichoke hearts, and 12 oz. of ROASTED red peppers & a small handfull of fresh parsley.(THESE NEED TO BE WELL DRAINED) Pulse in a food chopper until chopped fine. Drain excess liquid.

Take a round bowl, and line with saran wrap. Try to do this so there aren't too many wrinkles.

Take one third of the cream cheese and spread in bowl. Making it level with a spatula (or your damp fingers!)
Layer 1/2 of the veggie mixture on the cream cheese, Top with cream cheese and repeat. Ending with cream cheese layer.

Chill until firm. Unmold onto a nice platter, top with sprig of pasley, serve with a nice cracker.

That sounds wonderful

 

[lovesmurfs]

It's edgy isn't it? Did you notice the artful detail of bacon woven in and out of the sideline toothpicks? You won't see anything that klassy on Top Chef.

Reminded me of the Julia Child quote: "It's so beautifully arranged on the plate - you know someone's fingers have been all over it."

 

[apnep]

I found this one on another thread last year and made it. It was SO tasty. It has tortellini, pepperoni, salami, olives, and parsley. The olives and tortellini are coated with italian dressing before putting on skewers.

 

[apnep]

I can't figure out why my picture won't post.