Does anyone have any great, easy, crowd pleasing appetizer recipes for holiday parties?

Question

I love to cook and want to see what kind of good things you all have going on out there! Desserts and appetizer recipes would be great!

Answer 1

What about Rumaki? You can use chicken liver (or chicken if you HATE liver lol) - then you cube the meat and with each little cube, you add a slice from a water chestnut. Wrap it with bacon (maybe half of a slice) and stick a toothpick in it. Make as many as you need. Here's the sauce:
Brown sugar, soy sauce, sherry wine (if desired), a little chopped garlic, and ginger. Mix well and pour over the rumake, drain and then broil, turning frequently, until done. You need the bacon to be crispy and the meat to be cooked all the way through.
These are very elegant and impressive for a party.

Answer 2

I have this great dip I make and when i take it somewhere, everyone loves it. You can use it with tostitos chips or Ritz crackers, either way the dip makes it taste the best. It's easy and so fast.

(2) 8 ounces of cream cheese
(1) Jar of mild or hot salsa
(2) cups of shredded cheese
(1) tomato cut up into small pieces (small enough to put in your mouth.

This will serve at least 12 ppl...if you want to make allot just double up the amount of each ingredient. you won't be sorry!

You mix the cream cheese and the salsa together in a mixing bowl. Once you mix it all together you can put it in either a square dip pan or a bowl. You spread out the shredded cheese & tomato on top of the dip to make it look pretty. It is so good I make it for every party and for friends. Because the cream cheese is already cold you don't have to chill or warm anything. It's done in about 10 minutes.

Answer 3

Most of these answers are great, if you want to either add to one of the menus, or simply keep the appetizers very very simple, you can try the following:

PIGGIES IN A BLANKET
pkg small hot dogs
pkg pillsbury cresents

Simply boil the hot dogs, once the hot dogs are cooked, simply roll them into the cresent rolls and bake until cresents are done.


SIMPLE DONUTS

Buy the Pillsbury biscuit dough.

Open the package take an empty soda/water cap and bunch out the holes in the middle of a biscuit (a small cookie cutter will do). You can do one of two things (or get creative) you can fry the dough in the shape of a typical donut, or make donut holes (if its a party, I recommend the donut holes).

Fry on each side for about 45 seconds each.

Once cooked garnish with either powdered sugar, confectioners sugar, chocolate fudge with peanuts (or plain), sky's the limit on how you would like to garnish.

Also, another quick appetizer that people can pick on during the party would be buying sliced bread, luncheon meat of your choice, cheese of your choice.

Make a typical sandwich BUT cut each slice in fours (preferrably diagonal in both directions to give it that pretty triangle shape.

These may not be the fanciest appetizers, but if done correctly with a creative twist, they can be pleasing to both the eye and the mouth.....good luck

Answer 4

I just held a demonstration about holiday appetizers and served the following menu:

Greek Orzo Pasta Salad with Mustard Dill Vinagrette served in Martini glasses
Steak & Asparagus wraps
Caprese Kebobs
Smoked Salmon with Lemon Cream on a spoon.
Served all with Mocktail Champagne

Need the recipes - Email me! I'll be happy to share.

Answer 5

Stuffed Mushrooms!

You need a few cans of whole button mushrooms- scoop out the stems so you have a little hollowed-out cap.

Filling:

Combine the following to your taste-

one can of deviled ham
Worcestershire sauce
onion powder (or minced onion)
fresh or canned breadcrumbs (enough to give the mix a good texture and keep it from being too wet).

My mom adds a bit of seasoned salt as well but I think it's salty enough with the ham and Worcestershire.

Fill each cap with a bit of the filling, then bake at 400 (I use the toaster oven for small batches) until the tops are brown and bubbly, about 10-15 minutes.

Always a crowd-pleaser!


Spinach Dip (for people who Hate Mayo)

one package of Knorr vegetable soup mix
one container of sour cream (I use low-fat)
one cup grated Parmesan
one package thawed and drained chopped spinach

Combine and serve in a hollowed-out bread bowl. Everyone loves this and I can leave out my nemesis- mayonnaise!

Answer 6

This is a great recipe that always goes over well with everyone at the holidays.

Ham & Cheese Ball

1-8 ounce package cream cheese
1/4 cup mayo (not miracle whip)
2-8 ounce cans of flaked ham
2 tsp. chopped parsley
1 tsp. minced onion
1/4 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. tabasco sauce
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional.

Beat cheese and mayo until smooth (easiest if cheese is room temperature). Stir in the next 5 ingredients. Cover and chill for several hours. Form into 2 medium sized balls and roll in chopped nuts, if desired. Serve as a spread with crackers. Freezes well.

Answer 7

really good fruit pizza!!

1 to 2 rolls of premade sugar cookie dough
1 square of cream cheese
1 container of cool whip
a little dab of milk
bannanas, kiwis, strawberries, manderine oranges and anything else you may like

on a round cookie sheet, spread out the dough this will be the crust
bake the crust, and while it's baking blend together the cream cheese, cool whip, and milk, this is the sauce
cut up all the fruit into slices, (nice 'n thin), and stick em in the fridge
when the crust has cooled for an hour or so, add the sauce, and then top with the fruit!!
some people i know create cool little designs with all the fruit!
enjoy, and happy holidays!

Answer 8

How about deviled eggs? This is my favorite deviled eggs recipe:

Classic Deviled Eggs

Serves 12


INGREDIENTS


6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and sliced lengthwise
4 tablespoons mayonnaise. Light or reduced fat mayonnaise will also give great results
1/2 teaspoons mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
1 green onion, very thinly sliced (slice a little of the green and keep separate from white)
Few leaves of fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped, optional
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Paprika, optional for garnish

PREPARATION

Halve the eggs.

Scoop the yolks into a small bowl and mash well with a fork

Add mayonnaise, mustard powder vinegar until desired consistency is reached. Stir in white part of sliced onion and most of the chopped parsley. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste.

Using a small teaspoon or pastry bag, fill egg white halves with the mixture. Sprinkle with sliced green onion, remaining parsley and paprika.

You can prepare this dish in advance - cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before serving\

More great ercipes on my site (see below)

Answer 9

i make this every christmas as an appetizer.

Blue Cheese Turkey Rolls

INGREDIENTS
1 cup and 2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
3/4 cup cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons sour cream
1-1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
6 dashes garlic powder
12 slices thinly sliced deli turkey
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley


In a bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Spread over each slice of turkey; roll up each from a long side. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until chilled. Cut into 1-in. slices. Dip one cut end into parsley. Serve immediately.

Pigs in a blanket with cheese

Take mini hotdogs and wrap in cresent roll put cheese in middle.

Answer 10

DONE IN UNDER 15 MIN.
Great, EASY, crowd pleasing dessert: You can substitute many fruit choices. Add chocolate, get creative.

Quickie Cheesecake Delight

1 tube of crescent roll dough
1 box INSTANT cheesecake mix
1 can or frozen bag of your fav fruit topping (cherries, peaches, pineapple, etc)

Press the dough into a baking dish as if it were all one piece
until it takes the shape of the pan, rectangular, square, round
This dough will be flat, with a small folded over edge sort of like a pie crust. Prick holes in it.
Bake at 350 for a few minutes, keep checking. Depending upon the size of the pan it will cook more quickly or slower.
Just lightly brown, you don't want it baked rock hard.

Remove from oven and let stand to cool.

Make the INSTANT cheesecake filling.

Spoon onto crust and spread up to folded over edge. Leave the edges showing.

Spoon and spread fruit topping.

Top with whipped topping if desire. Refridgerate until serving time.

Cut and serve. MMMMMMM quick and tasty. Not too sweet not to cheesecakey. Just right. AND YOU CAN MAKE IT SUGAR FREE FOR DIABETICS AS WELL. JUST GET THE SUGAR FREE BOX OF INSTANT CHEESECAKE

:) Happy Holiday Eating