Need easy food ideas for baby shower!

[GEM]

I am one of the hosts of a baby shower coming up next weekend. I am suppossed to be bringing two cold appetizer type items - some kind of figer food. I need ideas for things that are yummy, but quick and simple (and inexpensive) to make. I would like things that I can make the night before. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[JCarangal]

How about fruit kabobs with a tasty fruit dip??
One of my favorites is 8 oz cream cheese, 3 Tbsp orange juice concentrate, 1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme. Beat cream cheese and oj until smooth, then fold in marshmallow.

Another tasty/easy idea is a bread bowl filled with dip. Get a large round loaf of bread from the bakery dept. of your grocery store. Cut out the center to create a bowl. Fill with dip (either home-made or store-bought). Serve with extra bread cubes or crackers.
One of my favorite dips: Spinach Dip
10 oz frozen chopped spinach (thawed and well drained)
16 oz. cream cheese
2 c. mayo
1 pkg. vegetable soup mix or Hidden Valley ranch dip mix
Combine all ingredients well. Cover and chill at least 2 hours.

A final TNT (tried and true) recipe is one of my favorites:
Cheddar Potato Puffs
4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
4 slices bacon (crisply cooked and chopped) optional
2 Tbsp. Green onions with tops, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, pressed
2 c. instant mashed potato flakes
1 1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. mayo
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. corn flakes, crushed
Preheat oven to 375. Combine all ingredients (except corn flakes) in a bowl. Mix well. Shape into balls. Place several balls in ziplock bag with cornflake crumbs; shake bag to coat. Arrange on cookie sheet. Bake 20 minutes; serve warm. These can be made up to 2 days in advance and baked just before serving.

These are all recipes I use myself, so I hope they help you!
JenC in MD

 

[MerryPoppins]

How about those little tortilla pinwheel things? If you are interested, I can look for my recipe.

 

[chi-mom]

Another favorite that always gets raves: get a loaf of small thinly sliced bread (like party rye -- though I prefer white). Mix dry Italian dressing mix (seven seas) with 8 oz. cream cheese. spread thinly on bread and top with thin slice of cucumber. I have actually started using bread made in pampered chef bread tubes for a fancy look. I always come home with an empty plate.

 

[bananiem]

I have a recipe for cheesecake stuffed strawberries dipped (or drizzled) in chocolate. They seem to be well-liked when I make them. The recipe's upstairs. Let me know if you want it.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I'd love to have the strawberry recipe!

 

[bananiem]

Ok, here it is:
40 strawberries, washed and hulled
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla or almond flavoring

Blend the cream cheese, powdered sugar and flavoring well. Put in a ziploc bag with corner cut off to make a pastry bag.
Fill hulled center of strawberry with cream cheese mixture. Drizzle with melted chocolate chips.

 

[tigger2esq]

the tortilla pinwheel thingies are EASY and quick and always a big hit--I just made them for a baby shower myself last week.
this is my modification of the recipie:
:
package of 10in tortillas (I like the flavored ones like tomato)
2 packages of the onion and chives Phila Cream Cheese (I think they are 6 or 8 oz in the little tubs)
2/3 cup of THICK/Chunky salsa (if you use a not so thick one--the mixture will tend to get runny...)
1 package of shredded cheese mexican blend

mix cream cheese and salsa. chill (this will make it easier to spread)

spread mixture in thin layer on tortillas sprinkle w/ cheese, roll up tightly and place in large baking dish or on cookie sheet. chill for several hours (or overnight). slice into little pinwheels and arrange on dish and serve!

(note --the original recipie called for 2 8ox packages of regular cream cheese and 2 cups of salsa and additions like onion, olives etc.--I always found the mixture to be too runny, and by using the flavored chream cheese I didnt have to add anything other than the cheese to make them yummy!!!)

 

[SoonerKate]

My friends aren't quite at the baby stage yet -- we're officially hitting the beginning of the just-graduated-from-college-and-getting-married stage starting May 24, with my freshman-year roommate's wedding!

Lebanon bologna rolled up with cream cheese and maybe some sliced olives is good and quick. So is thinly sliced roast beef spread with a mixture of cream cheese, horseradish and a tiny bit of worcestershire sauce.

I'm also a big fan of a block of cream cheese, with salad shrimp (or crab meat, depending on how much you like your friends )dumped over the top, and cocktail sauce dumped over the whole shebang. Serve with ritz crackers. It's easy and super good.

I also got these two dip recipes from friends, and they're awesome:

Apple Pie Dip

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
Cream together and serve with slices of Granny Smith apples.


Caesar Dip

1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 anchovy fillet, mashed

Blend it all together in a bowl, season it with salt and pepper, and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. It's good with veggies or crackers. It's also good as a spread for open-faced sandwiches, I like it a lot with chicken.