Help me impress my parents with a dessert (or appetizer)!!

[golfgal]

Here is a SUPER easy appetizer that is nummy and festive:

Balsamic Tomato/Pesto Dip:

1 container of grape tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup or so of Balsamic vinegar
8 oz cream cheese
1/3 cup fresh pesto (I often use Knorr mix)
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 container of feta cheese, crumbled
baguettes, warm and sliced

Marinade the tomatoes in balsamic vinegar in a ziplock bag overnight. Drain before preparing dip.

Mix cream cheese (take out of fridge an hour or so before making so it is soft), feta cheese together.

Spread cheese mix on the the plate-I have a nice Christmas dish I use so it is even more festive.

Spread pesto on top

Add tomatoes and toasted pine nuts

Serve with warm baguette (or crackers).

**to toast the pine nuts, put on a cookie sheet in the oven at 350 for about 10 minutes. Keep an eye on them so they don't burn. I usually do this the night before when I am cutting the tomatoes. I keep the oven door open a bit so I can watch them.

--for the baguette I slice the bread about 1/2" thick, wrap the entire loaf in aluminum foil and warm in the oven at 350 for about 15 minutes or so.



The red tomatoes and the green pesto makes this a very nice looking Christmas appetizer.

 

[vicb]

I need a couple of non-cheese appetizers to take to my sister's thanksgiving (got several non-cheese eaters coming) I was thinking of some kind of stuffed cherry tomatoes or celery as that would be a bit light given the thanksgiving meal is a heavy one. And my sis asked I bring cold appetizers because her oven will be over taxed as is

Any ideas? Remember no cheese.

 

[monkeybug]

I need a couple of non-cheese appetizers to take to my sister's thanksgiving (got several non-cheese eaters coming) I was thinking of some kind of stuffed cherry tomatoes or celery as that would be a bit light given the thanksgiving meal is a heavy one. And my sis asked I bring cold appetizers because her oven will be over taxed as is

Any ideas? Remember no cheese.

Stuffed mushrooms?
My family loves them!

 

[RUDisney]

I need a couple of non-cheese appetizers to take to my sister's thanksgiving (got several non-cheese eaters coming) I was thinking of some kind of stuffed cherry tomatoes or celery as that would be a bit light given the thanksgiving meal is a heavy one. And my sis asked I bring cold appetizers because her oven will be over taxed as is

Any ideas? Remember no cheese.

I'm going to a "How to Throw a Cocktail Party" at our club on Thursday night. One of the appetizers that they'll be teaching us to make is wasabi crab salad on cucumbers. I can post that recipe on Friday, if you'd like.

I recently went to a wedding where they used cucumber slices as the base and they had small dices of duck and mango in an asian sauce on them. It was fantastic, but I don't have a recipe for that. People who claimed to not eat duck but were brave enough to try it, loved it, too.

 

[vicb]

Stuffed mushrooms?
My family loves them!

Stuffed mushrooms is usually my go-to no cheese appetizer but I need a cold one this time. I agree my family loves them too!

I'm going to a "How to Throw a Cocktail Party" at our club on Thursday night. One of the appetizers that they'll be teaching us to make is wasabi crab salad on cucumbers. I can post that recipe on Friday, if you'd like.

I recently went to a wedding where they used cucumber slices as the base and they had small dices of duck and mango in an asian sauce on them. It was fantastic, but I don't have a recipe for that. People who claimed to not eat duck but were brave enough to try it, loved it, too.

Yes, please post on this thread the crab on cuke recipe, that sounds very interesting and might be just what I need. Thank you!

 

[NotUrsula]

Stuffed mushrooms is usually my go-to no cheese appetizer but I need a cold one this time. I agree my family loves them too!

If they are 'shroom fans, how about marinated mushrooms?

1 pound of brown or white mushrooms, or a mix of both
4 tablespoons of good extra virgin olive oil, or more if needed
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup of red onions or shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons of fresh oregano, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds (optional)

Wash mushrooms well and remove stems. Boil mushrooms in salted water for about 10 minutes, drain and let cool. While mushrooms cool, combine all other ingredients in a jar, close the lid and shake until it's all combined. Add mushrooms, close lid and refrigerate overnight. Remove from the fridge at least 10 minutes before planning on serving it.

Also, savory pecans are good as well -- I give these as gifts, but they are very popular for nibbles, too. This recipe is very similar to mine, only I add a bit of garlic powder to the melted butter. and use sea salt because it's pretty that way. http://hopeitsgood.blogspot.com/2005/12/savory-spiced-pecans.html

 

[vicb]

If they are 'shroom fans, how about marinated mushrooms?

1 pound of brown or white mushrooms, or a mix of both
4 tablespoons of good extra virgin olive oil, or more if needed
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup of red onions or shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons of fresh oregano, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds (optional)

Wash mushrooms well and remove stems. Boil mushrooms in salted water for about 10 minutes, drain and let cool. While mushrooms cool, combine all other ingredients in a jar, close the lid and shake until it's all combined. Add mushrooms, close lid and refrigerate overnight. Remove from the fridge at least 10 minutes before planning on serving it.

Also, savory pecans are good as well -- I give these as gifts, but they are very popular for nibbles, too. This recipe is very similar to mine, only I add a bit of garlic powder to the melted butter. and use sea salt because it's pretty that way. http://hopeitsgood.blogspot.com/2005/12/savory-spiced-pecans.html

thank you these sound very good and easy too. I'm thinking they would go well with the sliced italian salamis, cheese and crackers my sister is already planning to serve. So maybe the marinated mushrooms and the crab on cukes or whatever other wonderful idea someone suggests.

 

[RUDisney]

Sadly, only 8 people, including my Mom, sister and I, signed up for the "How to Throw a Cocktail Party" last night, so it was cancelled. I don't have a recipe for the wasabi crab salad on cucumber slices.

That was the recipe I really wanted.

They're going to try to reschedule it in March.

 

[vicb]

Hi RUDisney,

That is too bad about the class. I just did a search and found this link for a recipe:
www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Wasabi-Lime-Crab-Salad-in-Cucumber-Cups-108161

Maybe we will have to try that one or keep looking for another. Thanks for following up. Hope your Thanksgiving turns out great.

 

[mnrose]

Flourless chocolate cake. It's amazing, always gets rave reviews, and is so darn easy that you almost feel like you were cheating. LOL! If you want the recipe let me know and I'll dig it up. It has eggs, butter, chocolate chips (semi sweet), vanilla and that's pretty much it. What's not to like?

Oh, and I also have a Pumpkin Praline Cheesecake recipe. This one is a bit more involved, but I wouldn't call it difficult. It takes time, not skill.

Both of these clearly qualify as "gourmet" desserts. The kind of thing you'd find in a high end restaurant without truly being difficult.

 

[vicb]

Flourless chocolate cake. It's amazing, always gets rave reviews, and is so darn easy that you almost feel like you were cheating. LOL! If you want the recipe let me know and I'll dig it up. It has eggs, butter, chocolate chips (semi sweet), vanilla and that's pretty much it. What's not to like?

Oh, and I also have a Pumpkin Praline Cheesecake recipe. This one is a bit more involved, but I wouldn't call it difficult. It takes time, not skill.

Both of these clearly qualify as "gourmet" desserts. The kind of thing you'd find in a high end restaurant without truly being difficult.

I'm not the OP but would love it if you could find the flourless cake recipe. I need to take a chocolate alternative dessert for thanksgiving. Something similar was served at a dinner party I was ate a long time ago with mocha whip cream, I always regretted not asking for the cake recipe. Thanks in advance.

 

[RUDisney]

I'm not the OP but would love it if you could find the flourless cake recipe. I need to take a chocolate alternative dessert for thanksgiving. Something similar was served at a dinner party I was ate a long time ago with mocha whip cream, I always regretted not asking for the cake recipe. Thanks in advance.

Me, too. I want that recipe!

 

[kimmar067]

An appetizer that everyone usually likes is asparagus with boursin cheese wrapped in roast beef...

....we do something like that - spread some whipped cream cheese on a paper-thin slice of hard salami, then roll to make 'straws'....DEE-LISH!

 

[kacaju]

Here is a real easy appy and everyone loves it

8 slices of crumbled cooked bacon (pre cooked bacon is even easier)
10 oz of shredded white chedder cheese
1 bunch of scallons chopped
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup mayo

Mix together and serve with crackers
Water crackers are very, very good with this.

 

[HannaBelle]

Here are two of our go to favorite appetizers / dips. They can be made ahead of time and warmed in the microwave before serving or use a crock pot to keep them warm if oven space is limited.

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip

1 can artichoke hearts
2 - 8 ounce boxes of cream cheese
1 box frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, Grated
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, Crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
pepper
Your favorite crackers, tortilla chips or toasted bread

Directions:
Boil spinach and artichoke hearts in a cup of water in small saucepan over medium heat until tender, about 10 minutes.

While cooking the veggies, heat the cream cheese in medium sized bowl in microwave set on high for 1 minute.

Drain the spinach and artichoke hearts well and add to the cream cheese and stir.

Add remaining ingredients to the cream cheese and combine. Serve hot with the crakers, chips or bread. Tortilla ships are our favorite and we like to spicy it up with lots of crushed red pepper flakes and garlic.

or...


Buffalo Chicken Dip

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/buffalo-chicken-dip/Detail.aspx

I do not use the canned chicken. I buy a rotisserie chicken at Sam's and use the breast meat from that. Sam's has the best chickens and it is essential to not use dry chicken meat.

Both of these have been a huge hit and are good with tortilla chips.

If you are making cheesecake for the first time, do the water bath...they are HARD to make perfectly. It is very easy to undercook them as well. I honestly would stay away from cheesecake if you want it to be *perfect*, but they are so yummy!

 

[2bearsmom]

For those that want a cheese appetizer, I just found this today in a magazine: http://www.pepperidgefarm.com/RecipeDetail.aspx?recipeID=51027You could probably make it before you leave since it has to rest for 45min to an hour. It sounds and looks awesome! I love brie and have made it before wrapped in cresent dough but puffed pastry would be so much better! For the decorations on top it looks like, from the magazine ad, they used small circle cookie cutters to cut out the shapes but it would be just as good without.

Or you can forget about the puffed pastry, cut the top rind off the brie and place on cookie sheet, bake at 350 until it starts to get gooey in the middle.....then I place dried cherries and slivered almonds in the middle and spoon on some honey mixed with Grand Marnier...bake a few mintues longer. I cut up french bread and toast for a few mintutes in the oven and then drizzle some of the honey mixture over each toast and then spoon on the brie...it is so good. Sorry I don't have specific times as the recipe is remade by us from a favorite restaurant! Sam's Club sells a big round of brie for a little over $5 and it is very good, much better than the smaller more expensive ones I've had in the grocery store.
Here are some more recipes I found the past couple of days in some magazines....they all sound so good.



Flourless chocoate cake: http://www.realsimple.com/food-reci...less-chocolate-cake-00000000044848/index.html

Goat cheese with pistachios and cranberries: http://www.realsimple.com/food-reci...t-cheese-pistachios-00000000044911/index.html

Stuffed mushrooms with spinach: http://www.realsimple.com/food-reci...d-mushrooms-spinach-00000000044913/index.html

Parmesan scallion pastry pinwheels: http://www.realsimple.com/food-reci...on-pastry-pinwheels-00000000044922/index.html

Warm crab dip: http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/warm-crab-dip-689279/

 

[amg35]

So, thank you for all your great suggestions!

But, I'm sure you will all want to kill me when I say I'm doing something else!

The big joke in my family is how no one likes cranberry anything. (well, we have funnier jokes than that, but this goes along with this topic )

Sooo, my sister said I should make something with cranberries because no one will eat it anyways. We all love each other so much.

Anyways, I'm going to keep this attempt at cooking super, super simple. I'm just making a cranberry chutney that includes lime and orange juice/zest, sugar, salt, black pepper, and jalapenos. Saw it on a cooking show.

I'll leave the artsy food to the rest of the family.

I know it sounds simple, but really, my family will be in shock that I can turn on a stove! I'll attempt something fancier on Christmas Eve...maybe.

And yes, they will make fun of it.

 

[mnrose]

I'm not the OP but would love it if you could find the flourless cake recipe. I need to take a chocolate alternative dessert for thanksgiving. Something similar was served at a dinner party I was ate a long time ago with mocha whip cream, I always regretted not asking for the cake recipe. Thanks in advance.

Here you go!

Ingredients

1/2 cup water
3/4 cup white sugar
3 6-oz packages of semi sweet chocolate chips (18 oz. total)
1 cup salted butter (if you use unsalted, add a pinch of salt) at room temp
6 eggs


Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease one 10 inch round cake pan and set aside.

In a small saucepan over medium heat combine the water and sugar. Stir until completely dissolved and set aside.

Either in the top half of a double boiler or in a microwave oven melt the bittersweet chocolate (I microwave it...takes about 90 seconds. After each 30 seconds, I stir the chips to ensure even heating and melting). Pour the chocolate into the bowl of an electric mixer.

Cut the butter into pieces and beat the butter into the chocolate, 1 piece at a time. Beat in the hot sugar-water. Slowly beat in the eggs, one at a time.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Have a pan larger than the cake pan ready, put the cake pan in the larger pan and fill the pan with boiling water halfway up the sides of the cake pan.

Bake cake in the water bath at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 45 minutes. The center will still look wet. Chill cake overnight in the pan. To unmold, dip the bottom of the cake pan in hot water for 10 seconds and invert onto a serving plate. To make this easier, I line my cake pan with parchment paper.

This is wicked served with raspberries and a bit of whipped cream.

Great for gluten free people too.

 

[marcyinPA]

Yes, please post the recipe, I can buy a pan! My family are good cooks, but they will be so surprised I brought something, anything will be good. But I want it to be really good.

thanks everyone, everything looks good! Maybe I'll try a few beforehand...

Ok, if you are willing to buy a springform pan...get a 9 inch one and try this recipe:

Pumpkin Cheesecake

3 packages cream cheese (I use 1/3 less fat) at room temperature
3 eggs
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 - 15 oz. can of pumpkin pie mix (the pumpkin with the spices already added)
2 cups of graham cracker crumbs (I buy these already crushed up, in the baking aisle)
1/2 cup melted butter
1 tsp. sugar

Mix graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar together, and press into the bottom of a springform pan.

Beat cream cheese, add eggs. Beat until smooth. Beat in condensed milk, and pumpkin pie mix. Pour on top of crust. Bake at 325 for an hour. Do not open oven door. Turn oven off and let cool in oven for an hour. Take out of oven, cool completely on counter, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Trust me, your family will be impressed!

 

[Tinijocaro]

Look at this bad boy! Easy, beautiful, and yummy!

http://www.realsimple.com/food-reci...t-cheese-pistachios-00000000044911/index.html