Recipes for How to Make 3 Tasty Party Appetizers

Appetizers: Ideas to Whet the Appetite for Dinner or Fuel the Party.

© Larry Ervin

Nov 30, 2008

Winter is party season. Whether for a family gathering or cocktail party, whether you're hosting or contributing, here are three easy appetizers possibilities:

• Cool as a Cucumber Salmon Canapés
• Cranberry-Apricot Cream Cheese Porcupine
• Chile Relleno Party Pick-Ups

Cool as a Cucumber Salmon Canapés

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1 can (6 ounces) chunk-style salmon, drained
• 3 Tbsp good mayonnaise (see note)
• Zest and juice of half a lemon
• ¼ cup shredded carrot
• 1 Tbsp finely chopped onion
• 2 medium cucumbers in ¼-inch slice
• 1 Tbsp freshly snipped dill weed for garnish (optional)

Method:

1. Blend the cream cheese, salmon and mayonnaise until well mixed.
2. Stir in the carrot, onion, a teaspoon of lemon zest and 2 teaspoons lemon juice.
3. Transfer the mixture into a pastry bag (or into a 1 gallon zip-lock storage bag, then snip ~½ inch off one of the bottom corners).
4. Pipe a scant tablespoon of the mixture onto each cucumber slice. Garnish each with a small sprig of fresh dill, if using.

Cranberry-Apricot Cream Cheese Porcupine

Here's a fresh and seasonal variation on the jalapeno jelly topped cream cheese that was standard fair at parties back in the 80's. Frozen cranberries will work in this recipe when fresh ones aren't available in the store. Peach preserves can substitute for the apricot.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup each: water and sugar
• 1 pkg (12 ounces) fresh cranberries
• ½ cup apricot preserves
• Zest and juice of half a lemon
• 1 pkg (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup slivered almonds, toasted (see note)
• 1 radish and 1 baby carrot for garnish (optional)

Method:

1. In a medium saucepan over medium flame, bring water and sugar to a boil without stirring. Boil for about 5 minutes.
2. Stir in the cranberries and cook until the berries pop and the sauce is nicely thickened, about 10 minutes.
3. Stir in the apricot preserves, lemon zest and juice. Take the pan off the heat and let it cool.
4. Meanwhile, shape the cream cheese into a football shape. When the cranberry mixture is cool, spread it over the cream cheese. Finally, stud it all over with slivered almonds, poking out like needles on a porcupine.
5. Optionally, you can cut eyes in the radish for the porcupine's head and whittle the carrot to a point for the porcupine's tail.

Serve with a variety of crackers.

Chile Relleno Party Pick-Ups

Yield: about 48 bite-size appetizers

You will need: an 8”x8” pyrex dish (Double the recipe for a 9”x13” dish)

Ingredients:

• butter to grease the baking dish
• 5 large eggs
• ½ tsp each: baking powder and salt stirred into ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• ½ pound Monterey jack cheese, shredded
• 4 ounces chopped green chiles

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Grease the bottom and sides of the baking dish with butter.
3. Beat the eggs with the flour-salt-baking powder mixture.
4. Fold in the cheeses and chiles. Mix well. Turn into the baking dish.
5. Bake until the top begins to turn golden, about 15 minutes. A toothpick inserted int the middle should come out clean.
6. Cut into bite-size pieces and serve warm.

Look here for over thirty taste-tempting appetizer / starter ideas, including:

• Cucumber Salmon Canapés
• Quick Tuna Tapenade
• Hot & Cheesy Artichoke Dip
• Deviled Eggs: A Dozen Different ways
• Baked Brie with Shallots and Toasted Hazelnuts
• Camembert en Boite (Baked it its own Box)
• Pates: Brandied Chicken LiverRustic Chicken Liver Pâté with Pistachios

• The Perfect Cheese Plate: Irish
• Pakora (and variations) with Mint Dipping Sauce or Cilantro Chutney
• Mushrooms Stuffed with Smoked Salmon or Sturgeon

Cucumber

Cream Cheese

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