H-app-y days are here! I’ll be spending a lot of time with family and friends over the next couple of weeks. I’m looking forward to catching up and eating lots of food. I’m going to a holiday party and I’ve been asked to bring something. Since I’m always looking for easy, I’m making an appetizer. Appetizers for the holidays are always a winner.
“This is totally addicting,” thinks Deb Kotansky (Minden, LA) of her I Could Have Been A Cheese Ball, But The Pecans Let Me Down recipe. “You will lick the spoon, you will lick the beaters, you will search frantically for a cracker!”
Many cheese balls are wrapped in nuts. But those can get soggy, so Deb’s left those out of this recipe. It is so creamy and delicious, you’ll never miss them.
It’s savory from the cheddar and cream cheese, but pineapple gives the dip a pop of sweetness. All of the other ingredients round out the flavors and make this very addictive. The perfect appetizer for any occasion.
Another cheesy dish that’s always a favorite is baked brie. Suzanne Larsen has shared her delicious Baked Brie Appetizer recipe.
“I first had this at my brother’s house when my family was there for Thanksgiving,” explains Suzanne. “I just served this at a ladies’ lunch last Saturday at my house, and it went over like gangbusters.”
Suzanne uses a pizza crust in this recipe rather than crescent dough or puff pastry. It makes this baked brie a bit more rustic.
Adding Grand Mariner to the apricot preserves is a great topping. The preserves are sweet and you taste a hint of the orange liquor and pair delightfully with the creamy brie. This will be a hit whenever you serve it.
Nicole Darty’s (Redmond, WA) Crab-Artichoke Dip is a classic crab appetizer that can be used for any occasion.
“A co-worker brought an extra dish of this into the office a few months back and I talked her into giving me the recipe,” reveals Nicole. “Now I am sharing it with you with a few changes of my own.”
Full of sweet crab meat and chunks of artichokes, serve as a fantastic New Year’s Eve or holiday appetizer. Rich and creamy, Parmesan cheese adds flavor and makes this super savory.
At first glance, Terry Criscione’s (The Villages, FL) Deviled Eggs look like regular deviled eggs but one bite, and you’re hooked.
They’re creamy and full of flavor. The faint flavor from horseradish sauce is enough to know something’s different from the spice but you can’t put your finger on it. The same goes with the Romano cheese. It’s faint but adds a bit of savoriness and zest to these deviled eggs.
“Most people think of cocktail sauce when serving a shrimp platter,” shares Garrison Wayne (La Quinta, CA). “This recipe is for an elegant shrimp platter. I served this at my anniversary party recently, and everyone wanted the recipe.”
Garrison’s Zippy Shrimp Remoulade Platter puts a tasty twist on a shrimp platter. Traditionally shrimp cocktail is served with cocktail sauce. This version, though, is served with a zesty remoulade sauce. It’s full of spice but not spicy.
Any of these appetizers will be delicious on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or even New Year’s Eve. They’re all simple and delicious. If you’re asked to bring an appetizer to a holiday event, any of these will be very popular. Happy Pinching!