Cold prepare-ahead appetizer suggestions?

Question

Looking for appetizers (not just dips--I like to get creative) that can be prepared either earlier in the day or the day before (or even earlier then frozen) and don't have to be heated before serving.

Answer 1

Betty Crockers Cheese Balls:

Parmesan Cheese Ball
Your guests will want the recipe for this cheesy spread filled with crunchy nuts, chopped onion and garlic flavor. The chopped nut coating makes a good thing even better.

2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2/3 cup finely chopped nuts
1 small onion, finely chopped (1/4 cup)
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
Coarsely chopped nuts


1 . Stir together all ingredients except coarsely chopped nuts until well blended. Shape into ball; roll in coarsely chopped nuts.
2 . Wrap cheese ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 8 hours but no longer than 48 hours. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.

and

Havarti Cheese Ball
Made ahead and tucked in the freezer, cheeseballs become almost instant nibbles!

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shredded Havarti cheese (2 ounces)
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese (1 1/2 ounces)
1 tablespoon dry white wine or milk
3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh or 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
2 medium green onions, finely chopped (2 tablespoons)
1/3 cup chopped slivered almonds, toasted
Melba toast rounds or other crackers, if desired


1 . In medium bowl, beat all ingredients except almonds and toast rounds with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Beat on medium speed, scraping bowl frequently, until fluffy.
2 . Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm enough to shape. Shape cheese mixture into a ball; roll in almonds. Serve with toast rounds.

They are so delicious. Have a great party!

Answer 2

Ham & Cheese Tortilla Roll-Ups
1/4 cup soft cream cheese with chives and onions(philedelphia brand in 8 oz. tub)
4 Flour Tortillas (6-8 inches)
8 slices American Cheese
8 slices smoked cooked ham

Spread 1 Tbsp. cream cheese on each tortilla. Top with 2 slices of cheese and 2 slices of ham. Roll up tight. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate. Cut each roll into 6 pieces, Secure ends with toothpicks. Serve with any type salsa you like.

This is similar to some of the other recipes already submitted but the cream cheese with chives and onion adds great flavor. They are always a hit when I make them for parties or family get togethers!

Answer 3

Tortilla roll-ups: spread cream cheese on a tortilla and then lay thin sliced meat (like lunch meat or dried beef) on top. Roll up and use a toothpick to close. Tuck away in a ziploc bag until time for the party. Take out and cut into one inch pieces.

Meat and cheese tray - cut up meat and cheese into chunks. Throw into a ziploc and then throw on a tray with crackers near party time.

Answer 4

Stuffed Olives
1 8oz pkg cream cheese
1/2 tsp. seasoning salt
1 tbsp. minced onion
1/4 cup. finely shredded cheddar cheese
1 can jumbo black olives, drained

Combine first 4 ingredients, mix well. place in ziploc bag, snip off one of the corners. Pipe filling into black olives, slightly overfilling them.


DEVILED EGGS
* 6 eggs
* 1/2 teaspoon paprika
* 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
* 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

Place eggs in a pot of salted water. Bring the water to a boil, and let eggs cook in boiling water until they are hard boiled, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Drain eggs, and let cool. Cut eggs in half, lengthwise. Remove the egg yolks and mash them together in a small mixing bowl. Mix in the paprika, mayonnaise, and dry mustard. Spoon mixture into the egg shells, cool and serve.


BAGEL DIP
* 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
* 2 cups mayonnaise
* 2 tablespoons seasoning salt
* 2 tablespoons dried dill weed
* 2 tablespoons dried parsley
* 1 onion, chopped
* 2 (2 ounce) packages dried beef, chopped

In a medium bowl, mix the sour cream, mayonnaise, seasoning salt, dill, parsley, onion and dried beef. Refrigerate 1 hour, or until thickened and chilled.Serve with bagels cut into bite sized pieces.

Answer 5

stuffed cherry tomatoes...very good. get 25 cherry tomatoes..turn them over and slice a small "x" into the bottom and use a small squirter bottle or a spoon to put this mixture in them. 1/2 a package of cream cheese (softened), 1/2 a packet of dry italian dressing mix, a pinch of parsley. Mix all together and put into the tomatoes...very yummy.
other ideas:
veggie pizza
mexican dip
cheese and crackers
fruit tray
lemon bars
ham and cheese tray

Answer 6

I don't know what its called but it has ham, pickles, and cream cheese. Take a small piece of ham and spread cream cheese on it. Then place a pickle on top and wrap the ham around the pickle. Stick a toothpick through it to keep it together.
They are SO good!

Also this link has some recipes: http://www.bettycrocker.com/allabout/entertain/pguides/ssp_pg.asp

Answer 7

Appetizer Roll-Ups

ROAST BEEF:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro or parsley
3 tablespoons minced banana peppers
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 pound thinly sliced cooked roast beef

HAM AND TURKEY:
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup shredded zucchini
4 teaspoons dill weed
1/2 pound thinly sliced fully cooked ham
1/2 pound thinly sliced fully cooked turkey

In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cilantro, peppers and garlic. Spread about 2 tablespoons on each slice of beef. Roll up tightly; wrap in plastic wrap. In another bowl, combine cream cheese, carrot, zucchini, and dill. Spread about 2 tablespoons on each slice of ham and turkey. Roll up tightly; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. Slice into 1-1/2 inch pieces.
YIELDS: 6-7 dozen



Bacon Cheese Cucumber Slices
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 large cucumbers

In medium bowl, combine cream cheese, bacon, green onions and Italian seasoning; blend well. Using long, thin serrated knife, hollow out inside of each cucumber removing all seeds. Using small spoon, firmly fill each cucumber with cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. To serve, cut into 1/4" sliced.




Tortilla Roll-Ups

Yield: 24 Appetizers

4-1/2 oz Deviled Ham Spread
3 oz cream cheese, softened
1 c pepper Jack cheese, shred
3 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
4 flour tortillas, 8-10 inch

In small bowl, combine all ingredients except tortillas; mix well.
Spread 1/3 cup ham mixture on each tortilla, covering entire surface. Gently roll up each tortilla, jelly-roll fashion. Wrap each roll tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour or until thoroughly chilled. To serve, cut each roll into 6 slices. Garnish as desired.




Smoked Turkey and Corned Beef Roll-Ups

Prepare them in advance so that they may chill.

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons horseradish mustard
12 thin slices corned beef (about 6 ounces)
12 thin slices smoked turkey (about 6 ounces)

In a small bowl, work the cream cheese and mustard until smooth. Place a slice of corned beef on top of a slice of smoked turkey, trimming the meats so they are the same size, if necessary. Spread about 1 heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture over the corned beef. Roll up the meats into a tight cylinder. Repeat with the remaining meats and cream cheese. Refrigerate until serving time. Slice each cylinder into 1/2 inch thick pinwheels. Arrange on a serving dish.

Answer 8

Take cream cheese and mix with dry ranch dressing mix and spread on cocktail rye bread. Then top with any vegatables you like. I top mine with small pieces of broccolli, black olive and red pepper pieces.Then sprinkle with dried dill.

Answer 9

my favorite is place slice of ham down.Put a layer of soft cream cheese across it.Place a dill pickle along long side.Roll up then slice in 4 piece.Put tooth pick in each one.

Answer 10

shrimp coctail, shrimp,kraft Phyllidalphia cream cheese, coctail sauce, crackers


or wine and cheese spread, with fruit like apples and grapes

cheese or chocolate fondue

chocolate covered fruit ...strawberries, kiwi,mellon....