I’ve had many comments from readers who thought the idea of knowing how to prepare one easy appetizer really well was a great idea. It’s that time of year when we’re invited out and it’s nice to take something along to share. So, I sat out to make a list for us with the rule being that I can’t link to a recipe. Rather if it’s truly simple, I can explain it in a few words and you can replicate it.
flickr.com/photos/ceanandjen/3133691882
1. blue cheese and figs – Mentioned in an earlier post as my old standby. Slice a baguette lengthwise. Brush both sides with olive oil. Lay sliced blue cheese, sliced figs and basil on one half. Put them back together. Wrap the loaf in foil and warm at 300.
2. cheese board – Although I’ve claimed the first one as my regular, I actually do more cheese boards than anything. Select three different varieties of good local cheese. Go for three that are visually different. Unwrap them and put them on a board with a smattering of fresh fruit such as grapes or berries.
3. cherry tomatoes with pesto – from Hannah, the Wayfaring Chocolatier, a great suggestion. Hollow out cherry tomatoes. Fill them with a good pesto. Serve.
4. deviled eggs – Grandad’s favorite. Boil 8 eggs. Meanwhile mix together 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 Tbs mustard, 1 Tbs vinegar, some diced shallot, and a few dashes hot sauce. (I also like horseradish) Peel eggs, and halve lengthwise. Remove yolks and mix with mayo mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Mound yolk mixture into whites. Sprinkle with paprika and refrigerate.
5. hummus – This is another standby. Put beans, tahini, a couple cloves of garlic, olive oil and perhaps some parsley into the blender. Done. Be creative and use everything from black beans to garbanzo to tepiary. At Thanksgiving I used parsnips for a delightful result.
6. quesadillas – Slice or grate some cheese. Place it between two tortillas. Warm it in a pan with a bit of butter. Use corn or flour and try a variety of cheeses. Serve with fresh salsa that you dreamt up or purchased locally.
7. guacamole – Mash the meat of 3 avocados with the juice of a lime. Add 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cumin and 1/2 tsp cayenne. Add 2 chopped roma tomatoes, 1/2 onion chopped, 1 minced garlic clove and chopped cilantro to taste. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve.
8. olives – We are fortunate to have six olive trees but this is not about curing them. Buy some but buy a variety. Stuff them with almonds or blue cheese or chili peppers and service. I’ll post later on about olive trees.
9. salmon spread – have left over salmon and some cream cheese. Spin it in the processor and serve with bagel chips or crusty bread. Will work with other fish equally well.
10. roasted garlic – preheat oven to 375. Using a sharp knife, slice 1/2-inch off of the pointed end of a garlic bulb so that the individual cloves of garlic show. Pour 1/2 tsp olive oil over the top and wait 2 minutes for it to sink in. Repeat. Place on a baking sheet and cover with aluminum foil. Bake approx. 50 minutes.
There are so many other simple fruit and vegetable trays with tasty dips. What’s your favorite? Add it in the comments.
Agrigirl's Blog 
nrhatch
/ December 17, 2010Excellent list, with most of my favorites. A few more:
* raw veggies (celery, carrots, red pepper, and blanched broccoli or cauliflower) with dill dip or curry dip.
* layered bean dip with sour cream, salsa, lettuce, tomato and olives, served with fritos or tortilla chips
* nachos with melted cheese and salsa for dipping
* cheese ball (cream cheese, pineapple, nuts, onion, red pepper) with crackers
* cheese fondue or cheese dip served in a hollowed out bread bowl
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010Wow, it took me a long time to write up 10 and you rattle off 5 in a second. Good job Nancy.
nrhatch
/ December 18, 2010Perhaps it’s because I’m overly focused on food . . . while you have a more balanced life. 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010Funny~)
John
/ December 17, 2010You might want to balance the list out with an animal protein based dish. One you might add to your list would be Broiled Spam Cubes – a real party favorite!
Ingredients:
1 (7-ounce) can SPAM luncheon meat, finely cubed
1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
Toast triangles, party rye slices, or crackers
Directions: In bowl, combine all ingredients (except toast). Spread mixture on toast or crackers. Place on baking sheet. Broil 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Makes 32 appetizers.
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010You are a very sick man. I feel sorry for your wife.
Sally Mom
/ December 17, 2010I always have prepared pastry dough in the frig or freezer. It is easy to layer with colorful left overs like roasted vegetables to fresh spinach, etc. Sprinkle cheese and or spread cream cheese and left over meat, like chiken, lamb, seafood,whatever, including beans, add favorite appropriate spices roll up and bake then slice in pin wheels. While it is baking you get ready and it is hot and perfect, for a spur of the moment or good with soup! EASY!
Spam? John!
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010Great idea Sally. I’ve never used it and I know that Trader Joe’s has it.
Hannah
/ December 17, 2010Oh gosh, I’m so honoured that my easy-peasy idea made it onto your list! 🙂 Quesadillas is a fantastic idea, and something that I’d never have thought of myself (Australia is lacking in good Mexican cuisine, so I tend to forget about it). I still love the blue cheese and fig idea best 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010You are welcome. I thought it as a bang-up idea.
Rena
/ December 18, 2010I love the simpliity of it all….no drama, just fabulous ingredients assembled and savored….sort of like elements of a great life too…
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010Way to take us to a bigger context Rena! I love it.
Paula Tohline Calhoun
/ December 18, 2010A SUPER easy last-minute thing to do: cover an 8-oz. brick of cream cheese with a jar of green or red pepper jelly. Serve with crackers. It’s lovely at Christmas time to use both colors. A good pepper jelly is both sweet and hot!
nrhatch
/ December 18, 2010I’ve been enjoying that sweet and spicy treat all week ~ a few crackers at lunch with habanero hot pepper jelly. 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010Oh yes! I forgot about this one. A friend did this at her home this week and it was scarfed right up.
Amy @ Soul Dipper
/ December 18, 2010Tammy – I’ll pop by for instant hors d’oeuvres any day! This is so yummy and it’s my bed time. I’ll drool my way to the quickly brush my teeth! 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010Enjoy!
kateshrewsday
/ December 18, 2010Hurrah! Perfect timing for our lantern party this evening, Tammy. Many thanks, what a festive post!
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010I really hope you can use something from the list. Lantern Party?
Cindy
/ December 18, 2010Lovely ideas, I like a French loaf stuffed with smoked oysters, sliced vertically until almost to the bottom; cover in tin foil and just heat through.
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010That sounds delicious. I love the stuffed loaf concept.
nursemyra
/ December 23, 2010Oh my…. that idea makes my mouth water
Tammy McLeod
/ December 23, 2010Yes, it does.
Martha
/ December 18, 2010I also use a brick of cream cheese but cover it with cocktail sauce and chopped up shrimp or lobster. I will have to try the blue cheese and figs next summer, maybe add a layer of prosciutto.
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010Welcome Martha. Yes, I should’ve mentioned that the source of the recipe actually does call for prosciutto. I’m not a big meat-eater but others love it. I like your idea also. Have seen the brick of cheese although usually with a sweet-hot sauce.
croquecamille
/ December 18, 2010I’m a big fan of caramel corn – pop some corn, toss with caramel and maybe some salted nuts. Yum!
My other go-to appetizer/snack is homemade caramelized onion dip (with or without bacon, depending on the crowd). It foes like this: caramelize onions. Mix into sour cream or crème fraîche. serve with bread, chips, crackers and/or crudités.
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010I wouldn’t have a clue how to do the popcorn but I can handle the onions. A couple of great readers taught me to carmelize them in a crock-pot.
Kath (Eating for Living)
/ December 18, 2010Oven-roasted winter sqaush is great! I use kabocha or kuri squash (butternut will also work, I think), remove the seeds, cut it into slices, and put it into the oven on a baking tray, spread with spices like cinnamon, black pepper, dried basil, etc. Simply bake at 200 °C / 390 °F for around 30 minutes. So good! 😀
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010Now that is definitely the healthiest idea! Thanks Kath.
thehungryscholar
/ December 18, 2010That roasted garlic sounds fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010Roasting it mellows it out beautifully and you can spread it on anything.
Todd Pack
/ December 18, 2010What thehungryscholar said. Unroasted garlic is great. Roasted, it’s just incredible. Also, cheese trays in general don’t get the love and appreciate they deserve. These are all excellent suggestions!
Tammy McLeod
/ December 18, 2010Yes and I forget about roasting it periodically. Then when I do remember… unbelievable.
Estrella Azul
/ December 19, 2010These are so great!!! Thanks for sharing, especially since I do love garlic so much 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ December 19, 2010I hope that they work for you.
Lisa H
/ December 20, 2010Great list Tammy! I will definitely try the cherry tomato with pesto. I like to put out candied pecans or just bowls of different types of nuts. Never thought of quesadillas as an appetizer, but what a great idea!
Tammy McLeod
/ December 20, 2010I remember that a few years back I found an easy way to make some spicy pecans in a pan but haven’t done that for a while.
Geni - Sweet and Crumby
/ December 22, 2010I would not take one thing off this list! The blue cheese and fig one sounds positively DREAMY. Mmmm. I would add a new fave at my house lately…brie and green apple tartlets. I posted them if you want to peek (make sure to scroll down) http://sweetandcrumby.com/2010/11/07/suit-up-hot-dogs-youre-going-to-a-party/
Tammy McLeod
/ December 22, 2010They look good and like you can make them without a recipe! Thanks.
ashrowell
/ December 24, 2010These are great ideas and they all sound delish. I can’t wait to try number 1…it sounds interesting. I look forward to hearing about your olive trees!
Tammy McLeod
/ December 24, 2010Let me know if you do try them. I’d love to know how they turned out for you.
Ollin
/ December 24, 2010Oh my god. That sounds so delicious. 🙂 Happy Holidays to you and yours, Tammy!
Tammy McLeod
/ December 24, 2010Back at you Ollin. I hope your Christmas is wonderful.
Naomi
/ December 26, 2010Ooh, too delicious, Tammy. You have a bunch of my favourites in here, as well as Nancy’s nachos. Enjoy!
Tammy McLeod
/ December 26, 2010My kids make Nachos so often that I forgot to include them.
Sophie
/ December 31, 2010All great & tasty appetizers. The 1st one , I also make from time to time!
MMMMMMMMMMMMM,..I hope you & your family had a lovely Christmas!
Tammy McLeod
/ December 31, 2010You too Sophie.
OysterCulture
/ December 31, 2010Great cheatsheet when in dire straits, thank you!
Tammy McLeod
/ December 31, 2010Exactly what it was intended to be!