One Teaspoon From Disaster

Par-tay!! Appetizers for holiday parties

• Posted December 1, 2008 11:30 PM
• 0 Comments

'Tis the season, so here are appetizers that are sure to impress. Some are new, some are tried and true -- all are quick and easy. In fact, you could whip them all up for a nice variety for your next get together. Stuffed mushrooms, pesto dips, cookies, snack mix -- all the best stuff is right here. Make in advance; a few require being served warm.

Crab stuffed mushrooms
Ingredients
1 - 1 1/2 pounds fresh mushrooms
7 oz. canned crab meat
3 green onions, finely chopped
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. ground savory
1/3 C. mayo
1/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese
a little paprika
Directions:
Combine all ingredients (except mushrooms) in a bowl; mix well. Pluck steams and their bases from clean mushrooms; push out remaining mushroom gills to create a small cavity for the filling. Fill mushrooms, allowing mixture to be rounded out of the tops. Sprinkle a dash of paprika on each and a little more grated Parmesan, if desired. Bake in a lightly greased baking dish at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Serve warm.

Wreath hors d'oeuvres
Ingredients
2, 8-ounce packages cream cheese (reduced fat or fat free)
4 ounce jar pesto sauce (not tomato based)
2 dozen cherry tomatoes
Directions:
In a small, shallow baking dish, spread cream cheese evenly. Pour pesto sauce on top and cover with cherry tomato halves (sliced side down). Bake at 200-250 degrees just until warm - don't actually cook the dip. Serve warm or cold with crackers or baguette. Dip can be refrigerated and re-warmed.

Cranberry pistachio cookies
Ingredients:
1 C. butter, softened
1 C. white sugar
1/2 C. brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. grated orange zest
2 Tbsp. orange juice
2 1/2 C. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 C. dried cranberries or dried cherries
1/2 C. chopped pistachios
Icing drizzle:
Mix:
1/2 tsp. grated orange zest
2 Tbsp. orange juice
1 1/2 C. powdered sugar
Directions:
Cream butter and sugars. Add egg. Mix in orange zest and orange juice. Combine remaining dry ingredients and add to orange mixture. Mix in cranberries and nuts. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 375 degrees. Once cooled, drizzle with icing.

Kris Kringle Krunch mix
Ingredients:
½ box Golden Grahams cereal
½ box Corn Chex cereal
1 C. cashews
1C. peanuts
1 C. almonds
¾ C. butter
1 C. Karo syrup
1 C. sugar
Directions:
Mix cereal and nuts in a large bowl; set aside. Combine and boil: butter, Karo syrup and sugar; pour over cereal mixture and coat well. Spread on wax paper to cool; store in air-tight containers.

Chutney Baked Brie
Ingredients:
1 medium to large wheel of Brie cheese
ground curry
1, 10-ounce jar chutney or mango preserves
chopped cashews
baguette, crackers, etc.
Directions:
Place Brie wheel in baking dish. Rub curry powder into the top and sides of the cheese rind. Top with jar of chutney/preserves, allowing some to seep over the sides. Add desired amount of cashew pieces on top. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes.