What's your favorite easy appetizer that always gets compliments?

Question

I am having some friends over this weekend and want to have appetizers, but am tired of the same old cocktail wieners, pigs in a blanket, chips and stuff...just want something new to try, something that's basic and pretty easy.... My oven is broken so preferrably things that don't need to be baked. Thanks!!

Answer 1

This is the ultimate in lazy party food... soften one 8oz. block of cream cheese on a large plate in the microwave (or leave it out for an hour) and dump one jar (about 15oz.) of chunky salsa on it (heat of your choice). Serve with a large bowl of tortilla chips.

I know you said you don't want chips, but every time I serve this it's gone halfway through the party.

Answer 2

Tell me about it...my oven in broken too. But you can still try this recipe. Its a fruit salsa. Instead of tomatoe, onion, cilantro, etc. use strawberries, kiwis, apples, blue berries, whatever you want to make the salsa and instead of using corn chips you can make some really good sugar and cinnamon chips (take flour tortillas, spray them with PAM cooking spray, stick them in the over to get crunchy, the cover then with the sugar/cinnamon mixture. But since you dont have an over I'm sure you can substitute for other things like sweet wheat crackers or maybe waffle cones broken up into chip size. I took them to an office potluck and everyone loved them.

Answer 3

This is incredibly simple, doesn't require any baking and is gone in seconds.

Tortilla rollups

Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on a small flour tortilla. Sprinkle on chopped green onions. Lay out a couple slices of ham to cover the tortilla as best you can. Roll up the tortilla and slice into 1" pieces. Secure each with a toothpick.

Answer 4

I just had a party at my house this past saturday night and i had every food imagineable...either catered or cooked and the biggest hit was sweet and sour meatballs and spinach artichoke dip with tortilla chips for dipping. If i was you, i would go to your local grocery store since your oven does not work and get some already made appetizers or order them from the store. they should have a booklet by the deli counter. they have small and medium and large portions and the prices are reasonable. have fun eating!!!

Answer 5

I have an easy Shrimp Dip.

1 can tiny shrimp drained but save the juice
1 small onion chopped
8oz of cream cheese

mash the shrimp with a fork and then add juice onion (to taste) and cream cheese. Mix until dip consistency

Scoop with Frito's or crackers

You can also just chop the onion in a food processor and then add the other stuff and blend until dip consistency

Answer 6

You can make the Pinecone Dip by roasting the almonds in a microwave or stovetop; directions on link...

How To Toast Nuts
http://baking.about.com/cs/hintsandtips/ht/toastnuts.htm

SUE's ALMOND PINECONE DIP:
1 1/4 cups whole natural almonds
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup mayonnaise
5 crisply cooked bacon slices, crumbled
1 Tablespoon chopped green onion
1/2 teaspoon dill weed
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Assorted Crackers for serving
Spread almonds in a single layer in shallow pan or cookie sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes, stirring often, until almonds just begin to turn color. Combine softened cream cheese and mayonnaise; mix well. Add bacon, onion, dill and pepper; mix well. Cover and chill overnight. Form cheese mixture into shape of pinecone on serving platter. Beginning at narrow end, press almonds at a slight angle into cheese mixture in rows. Continue overlapping rows until all cheese is covered. Garnish with artificial or real pine sprigs that have been cleaned. Serve with assorted crackers.

HAM PINWHEELS:
1 (8 oz.) package Cream Cheese, softened
1 Tablespoon prepared Horseradish
7-10 slices Deli Ham
Sweet Gherkin Pickles
Combine cream cheese and horseradish until smooth. Spread over ham slices. Remove stems and ends of pickles. Place two or three pickles down the center of each ham slice. Roll up tightly and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerated for at least 2 hours. Cut into 1-in. slices. Makes about 3-1/2 dozen.

Answer 7

Mushroom Dips

Ingredients

breaded garlic mushrooms
vegan mayonnaise
spring onions
crushed garlic (optional)

There is nothing nicer than breaded garlic mushrooms dipped in onion mayonnaise. I always cheat and buy frozen breaded mushrooms as it makes things much easier. You can usually either fry them or cook them in the oven. For a lower fat option cook them in the oven but frying them makes them a lot nicer.

For the dip whip up some vegan mayonnaise until it is smooth. Then add chopped spring onions. You can add garlic too if you like.

Answer 8

well, this will need to be baked for about 20 mintues, but it's soooo worth it!!!

www.copykat.com

they have recipes for all kinds of restaurant foods.

i love the olive garden's spinach and artichoke dip and it's soooo easy!

8 oz. room temp cream cheese
1/4 c mayo (not miracle whip!!)
1/4 c romano cheese
1/4 c parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic, minced (i just use a bit of minced garlic in a jar)
1/2 tsp basil
1/4 tsp garlic salt
pinch of salt and pepper

mix this in a bowl so it's well incorporated....

then, add

14 oz can of artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
1/2 c frozen spinach, drained and chopped (i squeeze it out in my hand, like wringing out a washcloth, if not then the juice will turn the whole dip green:)

stir everything until well incorporated.

spray pie pan or 8x8 casserole dish with cooking spray and pour in dip. smooth it out and sprinkle about 1/4 c mozarella on top.
bake 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until top gets a little golden.

you can serve it with toasted french bread or just buy a bag of tostitos scoops, like me!!!!

Answer 9

Here's a great (and interesting) salsa that some people at my party ate as a bean side dish:

Spicy Bean Salsa

- 1-15 oz can black-eyed peas
- 1-15 oz can black beans,rinsed & drained
- 1-15 oz can whole kernel corn, drained
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup Italian-style salad dressing
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

(The original recipe called for 1 4-oz can of sliced jalapeno peppers. I left them out as a personal preference.)

In a medium bowl, combine black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, onion, green bell pepper, jalapeno peppers and tomatoes. Season with Italian-style salad dressing and garlic salt; mix well. Cover, and refrigerate overnight to blend flavors


Here's an quick pimento cheese spread that's easy to jazz up:

Quick and Easy Pimento Cheese

- 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- 2 cups shredded Colby cheese
- 2 (4 oz) jars diced pimento peppers drained
- 1/2 (16 ounce) jar creamy salad dressing
- salt and pepper to taste

1 - In a medium bowl combine Cheddar cheese, Colby cheese, pimentos, creamy salad dressing (like Miracle Whip or mayonnaise), salt and pepper. Add more or less creamy salad dressing to achieve desired texture. Mix well.

2 - Worcestershire sauce, tobasco sauce, onion powder, garlic powder could be added for a little extra zing. Green peppers or onions finely chopped might also be a nice addition.

Answer 10

SHRIMP COCKTAIL SPREAD
1 8oz. brick cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup KRAFT Cocktail Sauce
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
TRISCUIT Rosemary & Olive Oil Crackers
Ritz Crackers

Spread cream cheese onto a pie plate, top with cocktail sauce. Place in fridge to chill. Top with cheese before serving, serve with crackers.


Appetizer Kabobs
Kabob skewers
40 cocktail smokies
20 cubes mozarella cheese
20 cubes cheddar cheese
40 jumbo black olives

Warm cocktail smokies. Cut kabob skewers in half. Thread each half-skewer in this order 1 black olive, 1 cube mozarella, 1 cocktail smokie, 1 cube cheddar cheese, 1 cocktail smokie, 1 black olive. Makes 20 kabobs.