Appetizer ideas?

Question

We're catering a Christmas party at the end of the month and I'm looking for new appetizer ideas rather than the same old stuff. Any ideas? (Preferably simple and not too time consuming!) Thanks!

Answer 1

Try this:

Mix together:

Mascarpone cheese
Chopped olives
Roasted red peppers
Mint and flat leaf parsley chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Cut a french bread bagette into half inch rounds, drizzle with olive oil and grill.

Chop and toast walnuts.

Top the cooled bread rounds with the cheese mix and the walnuts.

It is tastey, colorful and can be prepared ahead and assembled at the party.

Answer 2

A Food & Wine Magazine had a recipe last fall for a persimmon appetizer which I have made several times to great success.

Roughly:
toast some pecans let them cool and chop them up very finely
mix the chopped pecans into some chevre
slice fresh persimmons (The oranger the sweeter) into rings (like you would slice tomatoes)
spread the chevre onto half of the persimmon slices and top with the other half
slice the chevre/persimmon sandwiches into quarters and arrange onto a white platter
drizzle with a balsamic glaze
yum!

---
tzatziki spread from Trader Joes blended in a food processor and then served with Terra veggie or sweet potato chips and fresh veggies

---

Toss some sliced apples into a bag with some lemon juice and water. Remove and serve next to a cup of homemade burnt or salted caramel (choose a recipe with a lot of cream which will make the caramel viscus at room temp)

---
The fattening but delicious rout with my grandmother's cheese bread:
mix 2 cups mayo with 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese and a few tbs of chopped chives
Slice a loaf of sourdough bread lengthwise (like you would if you were making a sandwich) and top both sides with 1/2 cup butter which has been cut into little chunks
close the bread back up and wrap with tin foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes or till heated through and the butter melts. Spread both sides with equal parts of the mayo/cheese mixture and place open faced under a broiler until the top of the mayo mixture starts to brown. Slice and serve at room temp. I guaranty that it won't last long on the buffet.

Answer 3

I love appetizer parties and do one every xmas eve.
I always have the basics, Veggie tray, cheese cubes, crackers and cheese ball, but each year I add different things to this. A big favorite is twice baked potatos and they are really easy.
Take a bunch of smallish potatos and bake them (I do it in the microwave).
Cut them in half, scoop out the inside and mash it and mix with different yummy things.
Sour cream, chopped chives, butter
Cheddar, bacon bits, butter
Garlic, butter, cheddar cheese
Ranch, cheddar, bacon
Really, do whatever you like. Scoop the mashed stuff back into the skins, sprinkle with cheese and bake until melted. They fly off the table!
Mini pigs in the blankets are fun too and the kids really like them, so do the guys.(wrap cocktail weenies with crescent rolls and bake)
Roll up sliced meats and toothpick them, have sliced cheese and rolls too. If people want to they can make sammies, if not they can eat the meat and cheese and rolls.

all of this stuff can be done ahead and replenished as needed.
keep it simple so you can have lots of fun!

Answer 4

Cocktail weiner in sauce. Sauce recipe is 1 jar of Chili Sauce ( also called Ketchup w/a kick) and 1/4 of mustard may need a little taste to see let heat and serve very easy and very good.

Answer 5

Crabbies!
they are very simple. just take english muffins and spread with a little softened butter, add crab meat, and then cheese, put them in the toaster oven until the cheese bubbles a little bit, take them out and slice into triangles like a pizza. they are so good and very easy!
good luck

Answer 6

Here are some ideas:

1. Mushrooms in puff pastry: core large crimini mushrooms and fill with boursin herb and garlic cheese. Wrap in puff pastry, brush with egg wash and bake until golden and puffed.
2. Brie en Croute: place wheel of brie in center of puff pastry and top with a mixture of chopped pecans and caramel ice cream topping. Fold pastry over the top and tie with bakers twine. Arrange top of pastry in decorative fashion and brush with egg wash. Bake until golden and puffed.
3. Peppered Salami rollups: on large, thin slices of peppered salami spread cream cheese. Place a cornichon in the center and roll up. Secure with toothpick.
4. Cut Chedderwurst into quarters vertically and spiral wrap a piece of breadstick dough around it. Bake until golden and cooked thru. Serve with sweet hot mustard or bbq sauce.
5. Top 1/2 inch English cucumber slices with creme fraiche (mixed with a little wasabi) and smoked salmon with a sprig of dill.
6. Masa toasts topped with green chili and Irish cheddar
7. Endive topped with curried egg salad
8. Skewers of cheese tortelini and sopressata with a marinara sauce.
9. Teriyaki pork tenderloin, sliced thin and served on sushi rice.
10. Japanese soup spoons filled with chicken and pineapple salad.

Answer 7

maybe do a smoked mozzerella fonduta....i think it would be festive b/c you top it with diced tomatoes and parsley...green and red which are christmas colors...hehehe!!!! heres the recipe:

AT-HOME RECIPE FOR OLIVE GARDEN'S SMOKED MOZZARELLA FONDUTA

Serves Eight
Wine Pairing Recommendation: Beringer PVS White Zinfandel

Ingredients:

1 loaf Italian bread, such as ciabatta or semolina, sliced into ¼ inch slices
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon thyme
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 cups shredded mozzarella or smoked mozzarella cheese*
3 cups shredded smoked provolone or provolone cheese*
(* This recipe calls for one of these two cheeses to be smoked and one to be regular)
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
8 teaspoons fresh diced tomatoes
Fresh chopped parsley

Preparation:

* Arrange sliced Italian bread flat on a baking sheet and cover with foil. Set aside until ready to use.
* Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
* Combine sour cream, thyme, red pepper, cayenne pepper and four cheeses in a large bowl and blend thoroughly.
* If serving family-style , spray an 8” x 10” casserole dish with pan spray, then use a spatula to transfer the mixture. For individual servings, spray eight individual heat-resistant serving bowls, such as soufflé cups, with pan spray and fill each with ½ cup of mixture. Place individual bowls on a baking sheet.
* Using a large spoon, spread cheese mixture to create an even surface.
* Place casserole dish or baking sheet with individual bowls on center rack in oven.
* After five minutes, place baking sheet with bread, still covered, on top rack in oven. Bake for an additional five minutes.
* Remove bread and fonduta from oven.
* Garnish casserole dish with diced tomatoes and parsley in center of fonduta or divide evenly among smaller bowls.
* Arrange bread slices around bowl(s) and serve immediately.

Answer 8

bruschetta
meatballs in marinara in slow cooker
brie/crackers

vegetable pizza: rolled out canned crescent rolls - cook per directions, top w/ mix of sr creme/ranch dressing mix (dry)
add chopped veggies - chopped broccoli, onion, mushroon, pepper, etc
cut into squares

Answer 9

turkey meal balls, cut tomatoes with cucumbers in Italian dressing,stuffed eggs with baby shrimp,cream cheese balls with parsley, and wheat crackers, raw veggie plate with carrot sticks,pea pods, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini sticks, baby corn with ranch dressing with a pinch of horseradish...

Answer 10

I like bread bowls.... You can always get fun, spicy foods, like quasadias and poppers. <3