Party appetizers?

[mommaU4]

For our extended family Christmas party on the 20th we are not having a sit down meal but rather everyone that comes is supposed to bring two or three of their favorite appetizers to share. We did it last year and it worked out great. Less formal, easier to play games and mingle, etc.

But I need some ideas for what to bring. Does anyone have a fav appetizer idea or even recipe they wouldn't mind passing along? Thanks!!

 

[DisneyMay2005]

This is an easy recipe that is a crowd pleaser! My family fights over it when I make it.

1 large can chicken; drained and shredded
1 can diced green chilis
2 cups cheese (I use a Colby Jack blend)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 large round loaf bread; hollow out into a bowl.
Ritz Crackers

In a large mixing bowl combine chicken, chilis, cheese, and mayonnaise. Mix Well. Pour mixture into bread bowl and place in a 350 degree oven for 5 -10 minutes or until cheese is completely melted. Serve with crackers.

 

[RadioFanatic]

here are a few:

Meatballs
1 lb hamburger
1 egg
bread crumbs
horseradish - 1 TBS

mix all of this together - make little bitesize meatballs and then bake at 300 degrees until brown

sauce - one jar chili sauce and one jar rasberry

shrimp ball

1 can small shrimp
1 brick of cream cheese
1 jar cocktail sauce

drain shrimp, let cream cheese soften. mix together and then make it into a ball - chill it over night

when ready to serve, dump cocktail sauce over it. serve with crackers.

taco dip

1 container cream cheese
1 container sour cream
1 package of taco seasoning

mix together. serve with chips

 

[anewvance]

Always gotta love those pigs in a blanket cocktail weenies! Buy the small smoked weenies and phillberry crosants that you cut up and wrap around the weenies. Offer with mustard dip.

 

[Annette_VA]

Bourbon Dogs

Ingredients:
1/2 cup bourbon
1 cup ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
2 lbs. regular hot dogs, cut into 1" pieces

Directions:
Mix bourbon, ketchup and brown sugar in a casserole dish. Add hot dogs. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.

Or, do what I do: throw everything into a crockpot and let it cook for 3-4 hours, stirring every once in a while.

 

[Cthia]

My DH makes this for when we have company or we take the crockpot with us when we go out.

Very easy to make:

2 jars of chili sauce (I think their 10 oz jars)
1 20oz grape jelly (squeezable kind is really good for this)
Meatballs (homemade ones are good, I think he had about 40 of them made)
2 packages of kielbasa/mini hot dogs

Put those in a crock pot, add the meatballs and 2 packages of kielbasa or hot dogs and simmer until ready to serve. Make sure you stir it once in a while.

Just becareful how long you simmer on low for. After a couple of hours the sauce starts to taste burnt.

 

[Goofball]

Rachael Ray's Swiss and Bacon Dip This is so yummy; I actually saw it recommended around here somewhere and have made it several times since. I just stick it back into a warm oven when it gets too cool. Very tasty!

 

[720L]

Tortilla Chip Dip in Bread Bowl:
1 loaf round bread unsliced (I buy rye bread)
1 C. Desert Pepper Salsa black bean and corn salsa
1 8oz bag shredded cheddar
1 8oz cream cheese (regular only not low fat)
1/2 C. sour cream (regular only)
---soften cream cheese in microwave. Add other ingriedients and mix together. Dig hole in bread (be sure to leave a top for the hole to be covered back up). Put mixture in bread loaf. Top hole with bread. Wrap in foil and bake at 400 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.

-This is always a hit so it goes quick. It doesn't make much so I'd bring more to make after this is gone. You can just melt it all in the microwave -I think it tastes better after being baked in the oven though. It also doesn't have to be in a bread bowl-that just makes it look better.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I've seen these called a lot of different things, but these are our family favorite:

1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. hot sausage
1 lb. Velveeta, cut in cubes
1 package party rye breads

Brown ground beef and sausage, drain fat. Remove from stove and stir in Velveeta until completely melted. Spoon onto party rye breads and put under broiler until bubbling and slightly brown on top.

You can also freeze them once you've spooned the filling on top of the bread and then take them right from the freezer to the broiler (it takes a few more minutes under the broiler, obviously).

 

[EthansMom]

Shrimp Coctail is a big fave with the in-law's. You can buy the shrimp pre-cooked and then just serve up with coctail sauce (mix ketchup and horseradish). I prefer shrimp that have already been deveined and peeled.

My SIL makes the Pampered Chef Crab Dip and serves it with crackers -- it always goes like gang-busters.

I also make vegetable platter with homemade veggie dip: Mix together 1 cup real mayonaise (don't substitute lower fat versions), 1 cup sour cream (again, don't substitute lower fat versions), 2 Tablespoons dried parsley, 1 Tablespoon dried dill weed, 2 Tablespoons dried onion flakes, and 1 teaspoon garlic salt. Refrigerate for 24 hours before serving. Serve with any kind of vegetables -- goes great with carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers...

 

[kaseyC]

Our family does basically the same thing on Christmas Eve. Here is a recipe I have used and it is very popular with the guests.

Brown Sugar Smokies

1- 16oz package o f little smokies sausage
1 lb of bacon
1 cup of brown sugar, or to taste
box of toothpicks

- preheat oven to 350 degrees
- cut bacon into thirds and wrap each strip around a little sausage. Secure with toothpick. Arrange the bacon wrapped smokies on a baking sheet and sprinkle them liberally with brown sugar.
-Bake for about 20 mins or until bacon is crisp and brown sugar has melted.

 

[FSUGrad97]

I LOVE little smokies/hot dogs in a sauce like barbecue, etc. My mom used to make a sauce with grape jelly and chili sauce that was FAB!

Shrimp cocktail is always a crowd pleaser.

I also have a thing for pigs in blankets too.

Ok, now I'm HUNGRY!!

 

[FSUGrad97]

My DH makes this for when we have company or we take the crockpot with us when we go out.

Very easy to make:

2 jars of chili sauce (I think their 10 oz jars)
1 20oz grape jelly (squeezable kind is really good for this)
Meatballs (homemade ones are good, I think he had about 40 of them made)
2 packages of kielbasa/mini hot dogs

Put those in a crock pot, add the meatballs and 2 packages of kielbasa or hot dogs and simmer until ready to serve. Make sure you stir it once in a while.

Just becareful how long you simmer on low for. After a couple of hours the sauce starts to taste burnt.

THIS is what I was talking about! It is YUMMY!

 

[mrsheppo]

Chile Cheese Appetizer Tart

1 pkg Pillsbury all ready pie crusts
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 can diced green chiles, drained
1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Put one crust on ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle over crust to within 1/2 inch of edge; sprinkle with green chiles. Top with other pie crust and seal edges with fork. Make holes on top crust with fork. Sprinkle with chili powder.

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into wedges and serve with your favorite salsa.

 

[JennInTN]

Really, really easy:
8 oz. Block of Cream Cheese
Pour Green or Red Pepper Jelly over
Serve with crackers
Instead of jelly, you can try Cocktail sauce poured over the cream cheese.



Our family's favorite dip recipe:
Hot Country Ham Dip

2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1 c sour cream
½ - 1 c cooked, chopped Country Ham
¼ c finely minced onion
½ t garlic powder
1 T butter
1 c chopped pecans
1/2 t Worcestershire sauce

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat or blend cream cheese, sour cream. Stir in country ham, onion and garlic powder in a small bowl and place in a baking dish. Saute butter, pecans, and Worcestershire sauce and sprinkle over baking dish. If not baking immediately, refrigerate until serving time. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve hot with crackers (also good served cold and we like to use a stone ground wheat cracker).

 

[mommaU4]

All good ideas so far. It will be hard to choose!! Thanks.

Also does anyone have a good seven layer dip recipe?
My aunt made one once that was yummy. I remember beans, sour cream, guacomole but nothing else.

 

[JennyMominRI]

This isincredible.I serve it with bread or if people are low carbing,celery and cukumbers

Rachael Ray's Swiss and Bacon Dip Recipe #91306

I got this off of 30 Minutes Meals, luckily for me I had everything I needed to make it and was I happy! Try this, you won't be disapointed.
8 slices bacon, chopped
8 ounces soft cream cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon prepared Dijon mustard
1 1/2 cups shredded swiss cheese
3 scallions, coarsley chopped (green onions)
1/2 cup smoked almonds, coarsly chopped
vegetables or bread, whatever you like for dipping

1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Brown bacon over medium high heat till crisp, then drain. In a mixing bowl combine cream cheese, mayo, Dijon till creamy. Add cheese and bacon to the mixture and blend. Transfer to a shallow casserole or baking dish. Bake untill golden and bubbly, approx.
15-18 minutes. Top with chopped smoked almonds. You may add 2 rounded teaspoons prepared horseradish when combining the cheese and bacon if you like.

 

[JennyMominRI]

Rachael Ray's Swiss and Bacon Dip This is so yummy; I actually saw it recommended around here somewhere and have made it several times since. I just stick it back into a warm oven when it gets too cool. Very tasty!

LOL..Must have been from me..Isn't it incredible?

 

[mommaU4]

My DH makes this for when we have company or we take the crockpot with us when we go out.

Very easy to make:

2 jars of chili sauce (I think their 10 oz jars)
1 20oz grape jelly (squeezable kind is really good for this)
Meatballs (homemade ones are good, I think he had about 40 of them made)
2 packages of kielbasa/mini hot dogs

Put those in a crock pot, add the meatballs and 2 packages of kielbasa or hot dogs and simmer until ready to serve. Make sure you stir it once in a while.

Just becareful how long you simmer on low for. After a couple of hours the sauce starts to taste burnt.

Okay don't laugh, but I don't think I've ever bought chili sauce before. What is it and where would I find it? Thanks!

Also grape jelly mixed with chili sauce and meatballs? Are you sure? Your not teasing me are you? I'm trusting you!
Would this work with just the meatballs or do you have to add the hot dogs? Just curious.

 

[Glynis]

Okay don't laugh, but I don't think I've ever bought chili sauce before. What is it and where would I find it? Thanks!

Also grape jelly mixed with chili sauce and meatballs? Are you sure? Your not teasing me are you? I'm trusting you!
Would this work with just the meatballs or do you have to add the hot dogs? Just curious.

Seriously, this is really good. It sounds really gross, but try it just once and you'll be hooked.

You can find chili sauce where you find your ketchup and mustard. Heinz makes a really good variety. I make this every year for our Christmas tree decorating party, and even my picky eater kids love it!