Tag Archives: appetizers

Often, at gatherings of family and friends, appetizers seem to be the most popular part of the meal—even more so than the entrees or the desserts. Especially during the holidays, it’s nice to plan for delicious appetizers that you can serve before a big meal or just as a snack while hosting out-of-towners. Here are Continue Reading

One of my favorite party appetizers is Seven Layer Dip. I’ve been making it for so long that I don’t even remember when I first tried it. But, I know I sure do love this tex-mex dip recipe.

Another plus with Seven Layer Dip is that it is super easy to make. You really are just layering the ingredients, so it’s a snap to make. No cooking. And – not even much of a mess in the kitchen.

I have eaten Seven Layer Dip warm, but it’s better and the flavors meld better if it’s chilled. I usually make the dip the night before or early in the morning when I plan to serve it in the evening.

It’s always good to have a quick, easy and inexpensive appetizer recipe in the files. One of my go-to recipes for Scouting events or if my sons’ friends drop over to watch a ballgame is Hot Dog Appetizers. The guys always enjoy them. I have the ingredients on hand – usually. And, it doesn’t take long to make these yummy little treats.

Super Bowl Sunday is a great time to host a party even if you’ve not had a lot of experience. The big football game provides the entertainment, and most people expect a Super Bowl party to be informal and relaxed. This reduces the stress load, and whatever you do is almost sure to be a success.

Throwing parties comes easy for some and not for others. I remember having a young wife over on a military base impromptu on winter afternoon and heated up some chicken noodle soup and made grilled cheese sandwiches. A couple of weeks later, she asked me and my young sons over, and she made the very same meal. I could tell that she was really nervous about hosting, and I made sure to comment on our nice lunch and the fun visit. She was able to branch out a little after that, but I know that entertaining was stressful for her. The positive feedback did give her more courage, and I hope that she has continued to have friends over and hopefully even hosts home parties now.

You’re hosting the gang for the football game. It’s going to be a big time. You have the house picked up, but you need some munchies. It’s not much a party without some yummy game day eats. With so many options out there, there’s something for everyone  – from the gourmet to the kitchen challenged. 

I’ve found that football fans eat a lot of food, but they really aren’t hard to please. If you have tasty food and plenty of it, then football fans are happy.  This can be sandwiches, chips, dips, pretzels , or other classic munchies.

But, since I enjoy cooking and entertaining, I like to make the munchies more memorable. Here are a few of my game day food ideas.

I’ll bet Hillshire Farms is glad when the holidays roll around. There certainly are a lot of people who love to make Lit’l Smokies, although many of them spell it Little Smokies. If you’re not familiar with this holiday favorite, then they’re little cocktail wieners in sauce and usually made in a crock pot.

How far back saucy Lit’l Smokies date back, I can’t tell you. I don’t recall holidays without Smokies, so they have been around a long time. One thing I do recall is that I’ve always loved these. When I was a kid, Mom had to watch to make sure I did not make a pig of myself.

Now, I still like them, because they taste great. But, I love that they are so simple to make, Holidays are always busy, and I’m thankful to have a quick and easy recipe that everyone loves.

Grandma gave me my first Lit’l Smokey recipe. It likely is the original, although I’m not sure on that. Grandma wrote lots of recipes down on slips of paper, and she also made little changes here and there. In any case, this taste combo is one that I’m most familiar with.

One of our favorite party dips is Hamburger Cream Cheese Dip. It’s a rich and thick dip made in the crock pot and served with nacho chips.

A friend of mine brought this meaty cream cheese dip to a party back when the boys were in Cub Scouts. Wow. That’s been quite some time back. Everyone was going wild over the dip, so I asked for the recipe. My friend laughed and said it was easy that she was almost embarrassed to even tell me the recipe, but she did. I’m glad, because we are still making and loving this dip recipe years later.

One thing I would note is that this is not a really pretty dip. With cream cheese being white and the meat brown, the overall color is kind of gray looking. But, it’s such a yummy dip that I don’t care if it is not the prettiest dip ever. So, perhaps this should be called “The Best Ugly Dip Ever.”

One of my favorite appetizers is the miniature ham and cheese buns baked with butter and seasonings on top. Since the little mini-wiches start with heat and serve mini buns, these are quick and easy to make, and there isn’t even a baking pan to wash afterwards.

The hardest part of making Ham Cheese Appetizers is finding the rolls. They come in a little aluminum pan and are little oblong rolls. The tops are already browned. And, they are cut (but not all the way through) in small slim oblong sections. Pepperidge Farm and Ranibo both make the rolls, but they are not always on the shelves in my area.

Once I have my pack of party rolls, then I melt the butter mixture and build these sandwiches. Then, it’s just “heat and eat” like regular rolls, but these are filled with ham and cheese, so they are great for a light meal or to take as an appetizer to a dinner or party.

My students know I love to cook, and one of the girls in my class brought some Pumpkin Dip that her mother had made. She had a zip lock baggie of ginger snap cookies, and we had a little office party with this flavorful fall-inspired holiday treat.

Of course, I had to ask for this recipe. It is really fabulous. Her Mom sent it over, and I’ve been making it ever since. My student’s Mom and I are now food buddies and share recipes. She has some great ones.  

If you’re looking for an easy and tasty party appetizer, then Cream Cheese Tortillas are just the ticket. These make-and-chill treats are also fine for the lunch box or for an evening snack.

Various wraps are all the rage these days, but there are times when you may want smaller portions. It could be that you’re having a party and just need finger foods, or maybe you want a little something sinful in your lunch bag but not something big enough to wreck your diet. Or, you may have little ones who can’t eat a full-sized tortilla wrap. Whatever the reason, you get the wrap effect with Cream Cheese Tortilla appetizers but smaller sized portions.