Hi Mandy,I need your help! I am hosting a retirement party for a staff member next Friday and I was wondering if you had a EASY appetizer recipes I could use?
Thanks,
Brooke
I love to serve simple recipes when I am hosting a party, stuff that I can make ahead of time so I can enjoy myself. Check out the frozen food section at the supermarket, if you have a trader joe’s near by I know they carry lots of premade appetizers, I love their carmelized onion tarts. It is always safe to cut up veggies and cheese to serve with crackers and simple store bought dips. I did find some recipes online that I cannot wait to try myself, they look easy and delicious.
Easy Spinach Dip
Ingredients
1 10-ounce box frozen spinach, thawed
1 1/2 cups store-bought hummus (from two 8-ounce containers)
Directions
Squeeze the spinach to remove any excess water. In a food processor or blender, puree the spinach and hummus. Spoon into a dish and serve with the pita chips.
Black Bean Salsa
Ingredients
3 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (11 ounce) can Mexican-style corn, drained
2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, partially drained
2 tomatoes, diced
1 small red onion, diced
2 bunches green onions, chopped
1/2 tsp. cumin
cilantro leaves, for garnish
In a large bowl, mix together black beans, Mexican-style corn, diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, tomatoes and green onion stalks. Garnish with desired amount of cilantro leaves. Chill in the refrigerator at least 8 hours, or overnight, before serving with tortilla chips. This recipe makes 3 cups of salsa, you might want to double it.
Star Puffs
I saw this recipe on the food network website and I love the idea. You could use any cut out you want. I haven’t tried it yet but I think this recipe would make about 24 servings, depending on your party size you might want to double it. I would serve them along side a cheese platter.
Ingredients
1 box puff pastry (found in your freezer section, allow enough time to thaw)
olive oil
pepper
grated parmesan cheese
Directions
Cut a sheet of puff pastry with a star-shaped cookie cutter. Arrange the stars on a parchment-lined baking sheet; brush with olive oil and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and pepper. Bake at 400 degrees until puffed and crisp, about 15 minutes.
Sausage Rolls
These are a little bit more sophisticated that meatballs or little smoky’s in the crock pot. I think they look delicious and I can’t wait to try them.
Ingredients
1 pound raw bulk pork breakfast sausage (16 links)
1/2 cup finely minced onion
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 (17.3 oz.) package frozen puff pastry, thawed
2 tablespoons plus 2 tsp. smooth Dijon mustardDirections
Using a sharp knife, cut off ends of sausage casings. Squeeze out meat and discard casings. In a bowl, mix sausage, onion, thyme, sage and crushed red pepper. Set mixture aside.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Working on a lightly floured work surface, unroll 1 sheet of puff pastry so a long side is near you. Divide dough horizontally into 2 long rectangles. Repeat with remaining sheet of puff pastry.
Brush each rectangle with 2 tsp. mustard. Cut 6 vertical 1 1/2-inch strips from each rectangle and discard any excess pastry. Place 1 Tbsp. sausage mixture in center of each strip and, beginning at one end, roll dough around mixture, pressing seam to seal. Place each roll seam-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining strips and sausage.
Bake rolls until pastry is puffed and golden, 20 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Makes 24 rolls.
Creme Puffs
Pick up a couple boxes of frozen creme puffs from the grocery store. Place them on a pretty cake stand or in a trifle dish and drizzle them with chocolate syrup and powered sugar. They are a no-stress crowd pleaser.
3 comments :
Mmmm…I'm definitely going to try that black bean salsa…sounds yummy! And my kids would LOVE the star puffs! May have to do those as a special snack on one of my days off…
Thanks for sharing…these sound yummy!!:)
oh wow it all looks so good! must try some of them out
~Emily N. from “too Blessed to Stress”