Simple Appetizer Ideas for the Holidays

Dec 18 | Recipes

The other day I put a plea out on Facebook and Twitter for some easy appetizer ideas.  Appetizers aren’t usually my thing.  Don’t get me wrong, I love eating them, I’m just not used to bringing them to parties!  I’m usually in charge of a dessert. 🙂  So when I was supposed to bring two appetizers to an event on Wednesday, I panicked.  But I must say, that you all on Facebook and Twitter saved me!  And I’ve now got ideas to last me quite a few more parties!  Here’s are all the ideas I received:

From Twitter:

• @SAHMum – “Baked brie recipe is: 1 brie round, 1/2 cup orange marmalade, 1/2 cup chopped pecans, 2 tbsp. brown sugar.  Spread on top of cheese. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes in uncovered corning dish! Serve hot w/crackers!”
• @HappyGeek75 – “Pioneer Woman’s jalapeño poppers. 3 ingredients, total yum.”
• @candiceservais – “tortilla pinwheels: Google for variations on recipe. Basically cream cheese + extras spread on tortillas, rollup, chill, cut!”
• @hemsgems – “stick of cream cheese, pour some red pepper &/or jalapeño jelly on it. Throw some crackers around it. Easy and Christmasy!”
• @allieGP – “spread butter over pita shells, sprinkle with parsley and/or shredded cheese, slice into strips, bake for a few minutes, serve with dip. Voila done! “

From Facebook:

• Rachel D –  “Bruschetta with goat cheese:  Lightly toast sliced baguette in the oven. Top with a smear of goat cheese and marinated tomatoes (chopped & seeded tomatoes, splash of olive oil & balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, dried basil, & fresh pepper). …Warm in oven once topped, if desired.”
• Sherri– “A taco dip is always a hit so is a 7 layer one. If it is a hot one you are looking for a bacon and carmelized onion dip is INCREDIBLE :)”
• Lesley– “Moinks. Its a meatball wrapped in bacon. Bake in a 350 oven for 30 minutes and they’re ready to go :)”
• Lori– “Get a small wheel of brie or camembert, top with cranberry sauce (whole berry) and walnuts, or carmelized onions, pop in the oven until cheese is just nicely warm and slightly melting. Serve with melba toast. If serving wine, choose something on the medium dry side to balance the lovely fatty flavour of the cheese, like Pinot Grigio or for a red, Shiraz for the peppery-ness of it. Hope this helps!”
• Staci– “Cheeseball!! Make with cream cheese, white cheddar, chopped pecans and dried cranberries….yummm”
• Bev– “take mini bocconcini, grape tomatoes and basil leaves – thread on toothpicks – cheese-basil-tomato – dip in balsamic”
• Diane– “How ’bout Spinach Dip in a sourdough bread bowl, or Artichoke Dip topped with parmesan and heated until bubbly?? mmmmmm… feeling snacky now!!!”
• Lisa– “frozen meatballs, grape jelly and Heinz chili sauce-throw in crock pot a couple of hours done. Ummm go to kraftcanada.com lots there I cannot remember my fave’s from the past. There is a holiday dip I think cranberry sauce, mayo and cheese maybe a festive dip ? Hot artichoke dip is easy too. You can do bruschetta is very easy or even buy it and then just get the baguette and cut it up.”
• Lisa– “if you are making punch I made one a few times with a Christmas wreath made out of cherries, limes, and lemons….and I also made one with raspberry sherbet, you add it at the end and it fizzes and turns bright pink…good tasting punches. Another appetizer idea is baked brie with fig jam or strawberries, pretty easy….or pick up pate and crackers. I seen today at Superstore they have beef wellington appies and some asiago ones which the lady buying said are great.”
• Lisa – “there are a few recipes for appies on Triscuts too…if you like that cracker they are easy.  cheese ball is good too…see Kraft there is a few types of cheese balls you can do”
• Brenda– “Another easy meatball recipe – take frozen meatballs, put in a slow cooker – add equal amounts of ginger ale and ketchup (ie 2 cups ketchup and 2 cups ginger ale). Put on for a couple of hours – sweet and sour meatballs – very yummy!”
• Lisa O – “Tzatziki sauce and you can dip anything in there, just toast some pita bread and slice into little wedges”
• Carla– “take a can of chick peas throw in in the blender or food processor add lemon and your favorite spice like curry or chili powder if you have fresh cilantro or basil or parsley chuck some in … serve with pita chips (bake in oven cut like pizza), or baked sliced baguette or crackers under $3 appy!!!”
• Desiree – “Okay ladies, this is always a favorite! Buffalo Chicken Dip!
  2 chicken breasts diced and cooked
  1 block of cream cheese, softened & diced into cubes
  1 cup Tex Mex shredded cheese
  1/2 cup Frank’s Red Hot sauce
  1/2 cup 3 Cheese Ranch dressing
  Mix it all together, grated cheese on top and bake 350 for 30 mins”
• Sherri– “Or how about a fruit salsa. Kiwi, apple, strawberry or whatever combination you want. Throw into a blender until just mixed together. Serve with tortillas that have been lightly sprayed with Pam cut into wedges and sprinkled with sugar and then baked. Beautiful festive colour amazing summer taste”
• Simon– “Western Family Asiago artichoke dip & tortilla chips!! ALWAYS a HUGE hit!”
• Rachel – “pamperedchef.com has an amazing recipe for artichoke dip in a baked wonton wrapper.”
• Ariane – “Pillsbury Crescent Rolls with a piece of Brie stuffed in the middle of each one, bake for 10 minutes DONE 15 min total!”

Image source here.