Easy Appetizers

Lordy, Lordy! It’s been way too long since I’ve contributed to this little ol’ blog… life gets busy and mine could get into the Guinness Book of World Records for the busiest… or so it feels like.

But we can’t stop eating good food just because we’re all busier than God! Try this delicious and satisfying Acorn Squash Soup. Serve it up for the holidays or just because it sounds like good comfort food.

Make it a whole meal or serve it in tiny cups to whet the appetite. However you do it, do it NOW! It’s a great time of year for it. Enjoy!

Read the rest of this entry »

Well, I took some time off from blogging but now I am back with a vengeance and armed and ready to give you some more ideas for delicious treats and easy party appetizers – just to name a few things! Keep reading and stay tuned for more deliciousness!

One of my favorite subjects (obviously!) is all about appetizers. So, let’s talk about them for parties… It doesn’t matter whether you are planning a BBQ in your backyard or a beach party to watch the sunset, when your party starts, you should have plenty of “starters” to get things going. People love to eat and in my experience, they love food that comes in small packages.

You can lead off the party with imaginative easy party appetizers that you can find all over the Web and particularly here! Depending on what kind of party you are throwing will determine what kind of appetizers you serve. This won’t be a problem because there are literally HUNDREDS of ideas you can find to use outright or to adjust or just to make up your own tasty treat. Read the rest of this entry »

That day of Independence that means just a little bit more than just BBQs and picnics is in a couple of days. I love 4th of July. I love the sunny days and the sparkly fireworks and the great food. But this year, I’m giving a little more thought to what it means.

We live in a FREE country. Most of the time, we don’t give that a second thought. But, when you stop to think about all the things we take for granted that some countries aren’t allowed to do. Like vote. Like speak our minds freely. Like having as many or as few children as we choose. Wow. Can you imagine any of those things taken away from you? I can’t.

When I watch the fireworks on July 4th, I’m going to be celebrating the freedoms we have. Thank you Founding Fathers. Thank you for your courage and your foresight. Let us always remember that freedom is a right, but it’s also a priviledge.

Happy July 4th. Happy Independence Day. And have some delicous simple appetizers to help celebrate! Visit our July 4th Appetizers page.

For more great easy appetizer recipes, check out our Holiday Appetizers page.

Warm weather is here. Get out the shorts and outdoor dinnerware! Uncover the pool and get the suntan lotion out.

Summertime to me means, backyard BBQs, pool parties, and GREAT food! Get stocked up on some great summertime appetizers that are fun to make and fun to serve. Your guests, friends, and family will love you for it and think you are “Da bomb”!

Here are some ideas to get started. Enjoy the warm weather and the freedom that summer brings and where sunscreen!

Veggie Tarts – These mini muffin-size appetizer tarts are the perfect party food. Refrigerated Crescent roll dough makes it easy to create a finger food that even kids will like.

Spicy Roasted Chickpeas – Perfect for a BBQ party! Adding a dash of cayenne gets the mouth watering for these crispy, crunchy chickpeas.

Smoked Salmon Spread in Sourdough Bowl – These easy party appetizers are quick to make and low-fat, too. The cream cheese and salmon mixture is presented in a bread bowl for an extra festive look

Roast Beef Crostini with Horseradish Cream - Spicy horseradish gives these warm appetizers a hearty kick. The combination of warm French bread toast and cool roast beef creates a party food that complements any gathering.

Mushroom Caponata on Bagel Crisps – This caponata appetizer recipe blends eggplant, tomatoes, mushrooms and onions for to create vegetarian party food that everyone will enjoy.

For more great ideas for party planning and delicious easy appetizers, visit our Simple Appetizer Recipes page.

I was “digging” at Digg.com for some great ideas to share and came across this article about salsa… Nothing better than freshly made salsa with your favorite tortilla chips and this article tells you how to do it.

From eHOW.com
The best homemade salsa is made with fresh vegetables right out of your garden. This is a recipe I have made for years during the summer when I have fresh tomatoes. It’s quick and easy to make and delicious.

read more | digg story

My Top 5 Ways to Appreciate Memorial Day

Memorial Day signifies the beginning of summer. School is almost out, and the weather has turned warm. People take the long weekend to travel, have bbq parties, swim, bike, and spend it with friends and family. But there’s a deeper meaning to Memorial Day that we often times forget. Yes, it is a legal holiday but the original intent was to set aside a day in which we commemorate the members of the United States armed forces who were killed in war.

In this day and age, you would be hard pressed to find someone who hadn’t had a family member killed or at least know someone who did in one of the wars our country has been involved in. Even if you, personally, don’t have a family member who died while protecting our country, there are thousands who have.

To read the rest of this article, simple go here.

Happy Memorial Day and don’t for get to be prepared with great ideas for Memorial Day Appetizers.

Memorial Day weekend is here and besides spending a few quiet moments to remember the brave men and women who died for our country in the line of duty, there will be picnics, BBQs and parties to get ready for.

Here’s a little help in that area… I’m listing 5 of my favorite Chicken Wings Recipes for you to try out. Chicken Wings – when done right, are a wonderful simple appetizer that everyone loves. Watch. You’ll see. They will disappear before your eyes!

#1. THE Original Buffalo Chicken Wings – Take a peak at the first recipe that started the popularity of chicken wings. Simple and easy appetizer to make.

#2. Apricot Onion Chicken Wings - I like this one because it blends the sweet with the tart and the combination will make this a real party pleaser.

#3. Coffee Chicken Wings – Ooo la la! This recipe is exotic, but oh-so-delicous!  You’ll love the smokiness the coffee flavor adds to the wings.

#4. Dragon Breath Chicken Wings – These wings you grill and they will spice up any party you might throw. The nice thing about this recipe is that they are as delicious served cold as they are straight from your grill.

#5. Diablo Canyon Chicken Wings – This is a wonderful simple appetizer recipe for the spicy-shy adult and kid. The flavor is a nice mixture of sweet and salty.

Enjoy your holiday and remember to be SAFE!

Summer holidays are special. Not only are they a celebration of our country, but they are a celebration of the wonderful foods at their best during the warm summer months. Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day all demand delicious and easy foods you can serve anywhere, from the backyard barbecue to a boat.

Here are the top 10 best recipes for Memorial Day and really, any time this summer will work!

#1. Grilled Steak with Herb Butter
A grilled steak is the perfect splurge for a holiday entertaining menu. Even if it’s just you, your spouse, and kids, grill at least one steak this summer to make some great memories. The Herb Butter is filled with pistachios for even more flavor and texture.

#2. Brownie Flag
This gorgeous dessert has the best texture. Combining two small brownie mixes to make a large pan makes the brownies super chewy and moist. And the two different kinds of frosting add wonderful flavor. Let the kids decorate it for the most fun!

#3. Dilled Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a fabulous side salad for everything from grilled steak to burgers to chicken. And you can use the coleslaw leftovers in such fabulous ways! Oh, and don’t worry about the mayonnaise in the salad. Yes, you should keep it cool, but mayo is an acidic food, so it’s less likely to be a problem with food safety than other salad ingredients.

To get the rest of the top 10 great recipes, simple click here.

Have a wonderful, SAFE Memorial Day!

Warm weather brings picnics, barbecues, and potlucks, and none of these important eating occasions would be complete without a big bowl of potato salad! Your mother and your grandmother may have their famous recipes for this summertime staple, but what makes a perfect potato salad is different for everybody.

Once you understand some of the basics regarding the composition of this beloved side dish, you’ll be ready to invent your own soon-to-be-famous recipe!

Though there are as many different kinds of potato salad as there are people who make them, most of these spud concoctions fit into one of two categories: creamy, or vinegar-based.

Keep reading for more potato salad tips…

Well, Mother’s Day has come and gone… sigh… mine was a really nice one. My wonderful hubby and son went all out and provided all the meals – beautifully cooked and presented, allowed me to stay in bed and catch up on my reading, and then took me to my favorite place to buy plants. I spent the rest of the day in the garden. Pure heaven! I hope all you Mom’s out there had a nice day as well.

Mother’s Day also signifies that warm weather is here or about to be here… so it got me to thinking about what are some great appetizer recipes for warm weather? Parties will be outside for the next few months, what kinds of easy  appetizers work well when the weather turns hot? And with Memorial Day heading our way, I decided it’s time to start making my favorite salsas again.

There are so many different kinds of Salsa and you’ll find a few of those recipes here on this blog. But, this recipe for Fresh Corn Salsa is a wonderful combination of color, sweetness and texture. Everybody seems to love it – I never have any left over! Serve this beautiful Fresh Corn Salsa with some warm homemade tortilla chips and WOW! You’ll have a hit on your hands.

What you’ll need:

• 2 cups diced ripe tomatoes
• 2 cups fresh corn kernels
• 12 oz-can black beans, rinsed well, drained
• 4 green onions, sliced thin
• 1 or 2 green jalapeño, seeded, diced fine
• 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 fresh lime, juiced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

What to do:
Toss all ingredients in a large glass or stainless steel bowl to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Toss well before you serve it.

This easy appetizer recipe can be made up to 8 hours ahead of time.

I got this recipe from About.com and have loved it ever since. You will too.

*photo by Flickr user Luke Wisley