Appetizers

You know I love to throw you guys tons of appetizers posts! (can you tell I am always thinking about food?!?)

What a great way to serve up veggies! I am thinking for a more casual party, serve up snacks in cozi things! Source

omg, I shouldn't admit it, but I could eat an entire dish of 7 layer dip! Maybe serving up this way will help with my portion control ;o)  Source

Use your mini cupcake pans to do mac and cheese bites! Source and recipe

Appetizers: Cherry Tomatoes

My tomatoes feel like they are taking FOREVER to grow this year!!! We do have a few cherry tomatoes finally ripening up... so I figured I'd let they yummy-ness inspire tonight's post!

Heaven to me - tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil - talk about a flavor explosion! Count me in! Source

Serving antipasta can turn into looking like slop on a plate... great solution - kabob it up! total genius... and everything is better on a kabob anyway! Source

ok, a little kabob obsessed, I know - but how hard is it to do salad and food in the same buffet trip?! Grab a kabob or two of salad and you can still hold a heaping pile of everything else! ;o) Source

Another great way to serve cherry tomatoes... stuff the babies! Great secret for stuffing items like cherry tomatoes, strawberries, etc... put them in an egg carton slot to help hold the suckers still until you can get them stuffed! Source

Party/Event appetizer ideas...

I am so obsessed with Pinterest right now! Everyone is KILLING me with fantastic appetizer ideas!!! My favorite party food is just tons of appetizers - let everyone pick and peck and not keep track of calories ;o)  p.s. don't forget about older (but still fresh!) ideas for appetizers here

I heart this idea!!! No need to wreck out a full spring roll! Make little bite sized wonton cups - LOVE! Source

I am a huge edamame fan - I love this pic because it shows how simple beautiful can be! Just a white container stuffed with the beans is just fantastic! Source  (appetizer dish - link)

Have you ever seen such a well dressed potato skin!? Super clever and mouthwatering! Source
(appetizer flat toothpick - link)

Super simple idea - stuffed cherry tomatoes! Tip - put filling into a pipping bag (or cut tip of a plastic baggie) to make for easing filling! Source and recipe

Party/Event appetizer ideas...

I have food on the brain! ...ok, I ALWAYS have food on the brain! lol... here are some more ideas for appetizers...

I HEART fun ways to serve ordinary food! Use a round cookie cutter, stuff it with pork friend rice and top with a shrimp! - your take-out leftovers never looked so fantastic people! Source

Cut a baguette on an angle, scoop out a little, fill with dip, add a few strips of veggies - YUM! Source

Roll out mac & cheese, add ground beef, roll up and cut into "sushi" pieces - kids will think you are so clever! Source and tutorial

Remember those spoons I got on sale at Pier 1? Serve each one with a dumpling and a little sauce! Source

Party food: Appetizers!

I could eat tapas style for life and never sit down to a full meal again! I never hold dinner parties, but love to hold gatherings that have tons of different food choices... plus it's a lot harder to keep track of the calories ;o) And remember, presentation is KEY!

How delicious do these mini crabcakes look sitting on a slice of lime?!? Dab a little tarter sauce, add a toothpick and make sure you save me 5 or 6 lol.... Source found via finestationary blog

How about mini egg salad sandwiches?!? You could add a long wooden tooth pick and put flag labels that say "onion" and "no onion" or whatever suits the theme! Source: Phyllis Hoffman Celebrate Magazine - Spring Issue

Another way to use eggs (remember, they are cheap!) is to fancy up your deviled eggs! Slice the tippy top off, then make another slice and save it... fill the rest of the egg, put the slice back on, little more on top, va-la - now you are alllll fancy! Source: Sandra Lee Semi-homemade magazine

Speaking of low cost options - how stinking clever is this -- can't guess? It's mash potatoes! She set up a mash potato "bar" with all the toppings and served the potatoes in margarita glasses! Genius! Source

I have seen this around a lot lately and I see why because it's amazing - hello! Have you ever seen grilled cheese and tomato soup look so fantastic? You could even keep these on a hot plate to help with temp.  And why not fancy up the grill cheese with specialty cheese and maybe a great focaccia bread! Source

Mmmmm... bite-sized fabulousness

Decorations are always eye candy, but so is how you present the food! Here are some deliciously prepared appetizers that will please any crowd!

I am open about being kabob obsessed! Have you seen tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, cucumber and some lettuce look so good!?!  Kabobs are also easy for your guests to pick up, snack and mingle at the same time.  Source
p.s. AND it's healthy, hello!!

Lettuce wedges - local restaurants do it, why can't we!?! I love the idea of the dressing on the wedge and surrounded by toppings.  This should make salad serving easier, quicker and much more fun!  Source unknown

Use a baked won-ton or tortilla shell to create a small carrier for something delicious like taco dip or spicy chicken! Source: Book: Practial Gourmet - Small Plates for Sharing

Instead of just serving regular shaped biscuits - cut them apart and put them back together in a fan shape (or make from scratch)! Use a muffin tin to keep them under control in the oven! Source and recipe/tutorial

How beautiful are these scallops!?!? If it weren't snowing, I would SO be trying this tonight! Source









Previous Appetizer Post....Just remember, whatever you serve, just serve it pretty!

Appetizers

I hate to admit it to all my fellow women out there, but if I had to chose between dessert and appetizers, I'm SO picking appetizers! I know, I know! Cheese over chocolate? but it's true!  We host game night twice a month at our home and constantly looking for new ideas of appetizers to serve to wow our friends.  Here are just a few that I have on file...

Hello! I'm Irish so I HAVE to be in love with these mini reubens! The double-stackingness has my mouth watering almost as much as the fantastic presentation.  I have SO many serving dishes, but I don't have one of these, so the hunt will begin! I love the idea of mini sandwiches, especially when you are having an event that really will serve as people's dinner, as well.  Source

These eye-pleasing tomatoes make me crave my veggie garden! (another 2 months till we even start the seedlings, ugh).  I love LOVE the taste of fresh basil with tomatoes... take a tomato and don't slice alll the way thru.  Stuff inbetweens with mozzarella and basil, ta-done!  If you don't want to crank these out like a sweat shop - take one large tomato and hook it up - place it on the plate that has cherry tomatoes, slices of mozzarella and basil.  Source

This is a pic from my kitchen.  I was inspired by this Source to create these.  They were so simple and went like hotcakes! I took a potato peeler and ran it down the cucumber to make "stripes".  I then ran the cucumbers thru our meat slicer on the thickest setting.  Once cut I took a little spoon I have for serving and carved out the middles (but not all the way thru).  On my bff Kitchenaid, I threw in cream cheese, a little mayo, chopped onion and some crushed dill.  Once mixed, filled each slice.

OMG! Those that were at our gingerbread building party can attest that I threatened death to anyone that ate any - I wanted them all for myself! I painstakingly used a mini cookie cutter to cut out the shape of leaves out of Pillsbury biscuits - recommendation - just cut them up and stick them on the dang toothpick! and save yourself the trouble ;o)  The Source recommends a certain dipping sauce - I just served with Grey Poupon and loved it!