When putting together a menu for a cookout, I like to have appetizers for guests to munch on as they arrive. Then, while grilling hot dogs and burgers, everyone is satisfied, talking, and having a good time. These quick and easy apps for the 4th are tasty additions to the menu.
“Most people think of cocktail sauce when serving a shrimp platter,” explains Garrison Wayne (La Quinta, CA). “Remoulade sauce is a New Orleans-style sauce and is a notch above anything else.”
Garrison’s Zippy Shrimp Remoulade Platter is full of spice but not spicy.
Super creamy, his remoulade sauce includes lots of seasonings, a few secret ingredients, and horseradish. But the horseradish isn’t overwhelming. If you don’t like horseradish, you’ll still enjoy this.
The shrimp are delicious when dipped in the remoulade sauce. The hardest part about making this is waiting for it to chill for two hours.
“An easy but yummy treat,” is how Debbie Sue describes her Awesome Avocado Dip.
Cool and creamy, don’t confuse this with guacamole… it’s nothing like it.
You taste the cream cheese base that gives this dip richness. Avocados add flavor and more creaminess. They also give his easy dip a lovely light green color. Red onions add a nice bite and a little texture.
Another fresh-tasting dip option is Teresa Bowman’s (Cassville, MO) Nine Layer Greek Dip.
“By chance, I ran across a recipe for a 5 Layer Greek Dip which sounded wonderful,” reveals Teresa. “And then I found a 7 Layer Greek Dip so, of course, I had to add my touch, and now I have made the 9 Layer Greek Dip.”
It’s layered with roasted red pepper hummus, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, green onions, and avocado. Also incorporated are Greek dressing and Feta cheese.
You can taste all nine layers in each bite. Tortilla or pita chips are perfect for dipping.
One of my favorite snacks is salsa. Jenni K.’s (Hermantown, MN) Garden Fresh Salsa is flavorful.
“This is such a bright and fresh-tasting salsa,” shares Jenni. “There are rarely leftovers when I bring this to get-togethers.”
Tomatoes are the base for salsa. Green, yellow, and orange peppers add color and a nice crunch. For testing, I opted to add jalapenos and green chiles and loved the heat from the combination. Lemon and lime juice adds a tartness and balances out the flavors.
This salsa recipe makes a huge bowl and can be customized to suit your taste buds. Much better than anything store-bought.
Monica Keleher’s (Methuen, MA) Tomato Mozzarella Salad With Balsamic Dressing is fresh and yummy and uses summer tomatoes and fresh basil.
“Super easy, super flavorful,” Monica thinks of her salad. “This is a great way to get my boys to eat tomatoes; they love this salad.”
Using prosciutto makes this a little different, and I love the savory addition. Monica created a tangy balsamic dressing that is easy to prepare. When drizzled over the tomato, mozzarella, and prosciutto, it adds a final punch of flavor to this simple summer appetizer.
Quick and easy apps for July 4th are a great way to start a cookout. Bursting with flavor, each of these Blue Ribbon recipes will be a delicious way to celebrate the day. Happy 4th of July and Happy Pinching!