Easy Appetizers

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.

Those cute little stuffed cherry tomatoes are so cheerful looking. But best of all, they are delicious, adding a nice touch to your repertoire of simple appetizers. Even if you think you don’t like tomatoes, I bet you’ll change your mind just a little if you tried this easy recipe. These cherry tomatoes are tiny, and stuffed with great flavor. Basically, the tomato acts like a little holder or a cup. And, they present nicely. Try it, you tomato-haters might change your mind!

What you’ll need:
- 48 cherry tomatoes
- Salt
- 1/2 lb sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
- 3 oz. cream cheese
- 2 Tbsp cognac or other good brandy
- 2 oz. pimiento stuffed green olives(chopped)
- Tobasco sauce
- 1/2 cup parsley (minced)

What to do:
First, cut a thin slice from the stem end of each tomato and scoop out center pulp. Yes, it’s a bit labor-intensive and you are wondering where is the “easy” part of this appetizer recipe? Well, what’s easy about it, is the eating part. REAL easy.

Next, sprinkle inside with salt and invert the tomatoes on a paper towel for 10 or 15 minutes. Combine the cheeses and cognac. Blend until smooth and then add olives and 2 or 3 dashes of Tobasco sauce. Fill the drained tomatoes with the cheese mixture, sprinkle with parsley and serve it up!

Serve this easy appetizer on your favorite party platter. Enjoy!

Great Appetizers, Snacks and Man-food for Father’s Day

Dad’s Day is less than a week away. What are you going to do for the special Dad in your life? We’re going to our local airport (small airport) and watch a helicopter show. That’s what the Dad in our family wants to do so that’s what we’re doing. Can’t wait. (No, really!)

Actually, I saw the show last year and it was AMAZING to see the kinds of tricks helicopters can do! But, I’m getting off topic here. Let’s get back to great appetizers and recipes for your Father. Here are a few ideas to spark  your imagination. Even if Dad loves to cook, give him the day off and fill up his plate with some fun MAN-food. He works hard. He deserves it.

Starting with Breakfast:

Hashbrown Casserole
Oh yeah. This is a delicious small feast – bakes up like a dream.
The man in your life will love it!

Move on to lunch (here’s a few ideas to get the ball rolling):

Chicken Wings Recipes
What Dad doesn’t like good ol’ Buffalo Wings or other types of chicken wings.
Here’s a really nice variety of flavors.

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With summer just starting and the weather getting hotter every day, grilling your food outdoors is a lot more pleasant that slaving over a hot stove inside. I was reading Fitness magazine the other day and came across these fun grilling facts. Take a look:

- 76 percentage of women who like to grill
- 150 millions of hot dogs Americans eat over Memorial Day weekend
- 100 calories in a turkey dog
- 148 calories in a regular dog
- 49 percentage of grillers who think it’s acceptable to bring their own sauce to a barbecue
- 121 calories you save by grilling  a chicken breast instead of frying it

Now that you know all about the facts of grilling, here’s a really easy appetizer to grill while you are sipping cocktails on the patio.

Mushroom Bacon Bites

What you need:
- 24 medium fresh mushrooms
- 12 bacon strips, halved
- 1 cup of you favorite barbecue sauce

What to Do
1. Wrap each mushroom with a piece of bacon; secure with a toothpick.
2. Thread onto metal or soaked bamboo skewers; brush with barbecue sauce.
3. Grill, uncovered, over indirect medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes or until the bacon is crisp and the mushrooms are tender, turning and basting occasionally with remaining barbecue sauce.

This easy appetizer recipe makes 2 dozen. For more wonderful grilled appetizer recipes, visit our Simple Appetizer Recipes page.

I’m on a cheese “bender”. I decided I want to try different cheeses that I don’t normally eat or find in my local supermarket. So, I visited a great site that I love, La Tienda, and ordered a few different cheese types that I thought sounded interesting.

Here’s the first one that I must say, is delicious. It’s called, Idiazabal Sheep’s Cheese Lightly Smoked.

Wow! I have tried other smoked cheeses and sometimes the smokey flavor is just too overwhelming, but this cheese was perfect. Lightly flavored with just enough of the smoke essence and but not so much that it overwhelmed the natural cheese flavor. DEEEEELISH!

This is the description you’ll find on La Tienda’s website about this delicious finger food of cheese:

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Wow. Here is a beautiful easy appetizer recipe that will give your party table some extra ‘zazz. These shrimp puffs are easier to make than they look. A lovely appetizer recipe for either a friendly get together or works well as a fancy hors d’oeuvre for a cocktail party. Enjoy!

My friend, Cindy, is an awesome cook, baker, friend, wife, mother (did I say friend?) In fact, she and 4 other of our friends and I are all very close. Each of these incredible women adds a unique and wonderful perspective to my life.

The six of us have been getting together at least once a month for the last 10-12 years. I honestly don’t remember exactly how long it’s been. But within those years and those visits, we have formed a bond that I know will go on even past this life…Their friendships have carried me through tough times and each one of them has given me the gift of trust. A place that I can unburden myself and know that they support me. I sincerely do not know what I would do without them.

We’ve shared tons of laughter, some tears, weathered our children’s growing up days, the antics of our husbands, divorces, rekindled romances with past loves, more laughter, and of course FOOD! Our get-togethers are always about great food. If we don’t go out to some new restaurant, we meet at one of our homes and bring food that always amounts to an unbelievable meal. Cindy is a great cook, but so are Louise, Joan, Janet and Annie.

In this post, I wanted to share with you Cindy’s fabulous Texas Caviar Dip. This easy appetizer recipe is Heaven in a bowl. Since Memorial Day is just around the corner, this could work perfectly for a picnic or party. I added a couple of ingredients. Try it! You’ll like it! And tell the ones you are closest to how much you love them.

What you’ll need:
- 1 can of white corn, rinsed (or if you are really ambitious, cook your own corn and scrape off 16 ounces worth of corn kernals.)
- 1 can of black-eyed peas, rinsed
- green onion, chopped (to taste)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- red onion, minced (to taste)
- 2 ripe avocados (not too ripe!)
- tomatoes, chopped (to taste)
- 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 tsp. hot pepper sauce
- black pepper (to taste)
- 1/4 cup roasted pine nuts
- chopped cilantro (to taste)
- fresh lime juice

Mix all the ingredients and refrigerate or serve immediately. Serve with baked tortilla chips or corn tortilla chips. DEEEELish!

I think Brie cheese is the food of the gods. It is so creamy, so sweet, and so blendable with other flavors. I love making Brie appetizers and sharing them with friends and family, so in this post, I want to share with you, dear Foodie, my top 8 Brie appetizers. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

#One: Amaretto Brie Appetizer – There’s nothing like serving this yummy appetizer. Especially when you watch everyone diving into it without leaving a trace behind. Appetizer or dessert? You decide.

#Two: Apples and Brie Appetizer – Easy to make ahead, just pop it in the oven right before serving. My mouth waters even when I’m writing down the ingredients!

#Three: Apple Brie Appetizer Soup – Well, this recipe certainly surprised me! It’s reminiscent of a Brie appetizer that’s garnished with apples, but this recipe, made into a soup appetizer is a new twist on an old theme.

#Four: Brie and walnuts is such a rich, delicious combination and this recipe for baked brie with curried California walnuts is perfect for Mother’s Day, wedding showers or any kind of fun and elegant gathering.

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Take a look at Chef Jason’s video on how to make homemade salsa. Easy, easy, easy!

Want to make some great tasting chips to go along with this salsa? Simple go to our Baked Tortilla Chips page.

Here’s another tip from Chef Jason:

If you use the fresh tomatoes, just dice them into cubes along with the rest of the ingredients in our recipe. You will want to finely mince the garlic and jalapenos, and small dice the onion and rough chop the cilantro. When using fresh chopped tomatoes, you will want to stir by hand and not use the blender.

Need more inspiration for easy appetizers? Try our Chip Dip Recipes page.

Well, the Mexican Holiday of Cinco de Mayo is here and I have some really great appetizers for you to choose from if you are planning a party or celebration. Here’s a little Cinco de Mayo history…

The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day, but it should be! And Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday, but it should be. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.

So, why Cinco de Mayo? And why should Americans savor this day as well? Because 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862. To continue reading about Cinco de Mayo history, click here. Otherwise, take a look at the list below of great appetizers for this well loved holiday.

7-Layer Guacamole Dip
Baked Tortilla Chips
Black Bean Cheese Dip
Chiles con Caso Dip
Chipotle Salsa
Cilantro Lime Shrimp
Corn Tortilla Chips

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