What's a good "lite" appetizer?!
Answers: Possibly something with shrimp or scallops? I have a cocktail party to go to and I need to make a nice app.
This is one of my favorite party recipes that you and your friends may enjoy:
Louisiana BBQ Shrimp
1 – 1 1/2 lbs. large shrimp
1 stick butter, melted
3 tablespoons Worcestershire
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground pepper
2 teaspoons fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon olive oil
Remove heads from shrimp but leave the rest intact. Place in a shallow dish (I use a pie pan). Mix remaining ingredients together and pour over shrimp. Cover and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 2-3 hours. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes. Serve on a platter with large, speared cubes of French bread to sop up all the wonderful juices. Enjoy!
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And....here are a couple of recipes for bacon wrapped shrimp that you might like:
Easy Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound medium shrimp, shelled, about 45
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
salt
15 slices bacon, cut crosswise into thirds
PREPARATION:
Sprinkle shrimp with garlic powder and a little salt. Wrap each shrimp in a piece of bacon. Arrange on a broiler rack. Broil bacon wrapped shrimp, turning occasionally, 3 to 4 inches from heat for about 8 to 10 minutes, until bacon is crisp and browned. Serve with cocktail picks.
Makes about 45 bacon wrapped shrimp appetizers.
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Apricot Glazed Shrimp & Bacon
Ingredients:
1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained
36 raw medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (about 1-1/4 pounds)
9 bacon slices, each cut into 4 pieces
1/3 cup barbecue sauce
1/3 cup apricot fruit spread
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Preparation:
1. Preheat broiler. Place 1 water chestnut slice on top of each shrimp. Wrap 1 piece of bacon around shrimp and secure with wooden toothpick. Repeat with remaining water chestnuts, shrimp and bacon.
2. Line broiler pan with foil; insert broiler rack. Coat broiler rack with nonstick cooking spray. Place shrimp on rack.
3. Combine remaining ingredients in small bowl. Brush sauce evenly over shrimp. Broil 2 minutes; turn. Baste and broil 2 minutes more; turn again. Baste and broil 1 minute more or until edges of bacon begin to brown.
mmmm Prosciutto wrapped melon. Ridiculously easy to make - cut up a Cantaloupe and wrap prosciutto around each slice.
Make the classic shrimp scampi appetizer
Melt a half cup to 1c of butter in a saute pan
two cloves fresh crushed/ minced garlic
2Tbsp parsley
1/4c white wine
allow to simmer then add the shrimp until pink (don't over cook them)
serve over white rice with garlic bread & salad (prefferably ceasar)
garnish your dish with sprinkled paprika
OR
Apples and Brie appetizer is always a hit.
its easy to make ahead, just pop it in the oven right before serving.
What you'll need:
- 1/2 stick of butter (melted)
- loaf French bread (sliced into 1/2 inch slices)
- 2-3 green apples (Granny Smith apples work well)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
- 1/3 cup walnuts (chopped) or use pecans
- small round of Brie cheese (12 or 14 oz.)
First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Toast the french bread on a baking sheet until the slices turn golden. Make sure you don't forget and over toast!
Next, remove the rind from the Brie cheese and discard it. Slice the Brie into 1/4 inch thick slices. Then cut your apples into nice, thin slices. Mix the walnuts, brown sugar and melted butter and set aside.
Next, put a slice of cheese on each of the toasted french bread pieces and top with an apple slice. Spoon a little of the walnut mixture on the top of the apple slice. After preparing all the french bread slices, place the baking sheet back into the oven, or store until ready to use.
Bake the Apples and Brie appetizer until the cheese melts. But PLEASE watch the cheese so it doesn't burn. You will love this tasty and simple appetizer!
Coconut fruit kabobs will please every fruit lover and make a believer out of those who don't like fruit that much (who would that be???) Make them ahead for picnics, BBQs and parties. They are healthy and everyone loves them. Make more than you think you'll need!
What you'll need:
- 1 medium-size red apple (unpeeled)
- 1 medium-size pear (unpeeled)
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 20 unsweetened pineapple chunks
- 20 seedless red or green grapes
- 20 fresh strawberries (capped)
- Coconut Dressing
- 20 wooden skewers
This simple appetizer takes about 20 minutes to prepare and you can make the kabobs ahead of time and store in the refrigerator.
All you need to do is cut each apple and pear into 20 bite-size pieces. Place the cut fruit in a bowl and toss with the lemon juice gently. Not only does this add great flavor, it keeps the pear and apple bits from turning brown.
Next, alternate an apple, pear, grape, pineapple, and strawberry on a wooden skewer. Do this until all skewers are filled up.
Place skewers on a beautiful platter and put the Coconut dressing in the center. See the recipe for the dressing below.
Coconut Dressing:
- 1 1/2 cup vanilla low-fat yogurt
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon flaked coconut
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon reduced-calorie orange marmalade
Simply combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and stir well. Serve with the kabobs. You can either drip a little dressing on each kabob, or make the dressing available for dipping.
Deeelish!
If you have never tried Focaccia bread, then start with this yummy carmelized onion focaccia snack.
This is an easy appetizer recipe that makes a great snack and everyone will love it.
If you find yourself running out of ideas for a different appetizer or snack at the 11th hour for a party, pull this recipe out, make it and bake it and you are good to go!
What you'll need for Onion Focaccia:
- 2 Tablespoons of butter
- 1 Tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 onions (chopped)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 8 slices of provolone cheese (or any kind of cheese)
- 1 focaccia (from the deli section) or Boboli cheese crust*
*horizontally split in half
First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Next, melt the butter and the olive oil in your favorite skillet. Then, cook the onions for about 15-20 minutes while stirring frequently. You want the onions to become browned and carmelized as this brings out the sugars in the onions and adds a wonderful flavor. Just make sure you don't over cook the onions so they burn.
Sprinkle the onions with a little salt and pepper and continue to stir.
Next, place the bottom of the split focaccia on an ungreased cookie sheet that you've lined with foil. Place half of the cheese on top of your focaccia. Now, you will finish off by sprinkling with the carmelized onions and the rest of your cheese slices.
The final step is to take the top focaccia slice and place it on top like a sandwich. Wrap the whole thing tightly in aluminum foil and bake it for about 15-20 minutes until you see that the cheese has melted.
Take out of the oven and cool for 5 minutes and then cut into wedges and serve to your hungry crowd.
You can also make this ahead of time, keep refrigerated and then heat it up in the oven before serving. Everyone will love it! Enjoy!
Try to use the best quality ingredients that you can afford,it makes all the difference.
Set as decoratively as you can on a platter or as individual servings:
Smoked salmon with a slice or 2 of avocado,a good sprinkle of black pepper and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.YUM!
Ring the changes-
*use cooked shrimp instead of smoked salmon
*or how about sliced baked chicken breast.
*cooked crab meat?
Best of all make up a few of each.Don't forget to add lemon wedges to the platter.
Everyone is sure to be impressed and best of all , these leave you completely stress-free.
Take a platter and spread lite creamcheese on it topped with shrimp sauce then spread crabmeat on top. serve with your choice of crackers.
1 pkg flour tortillas
1 pkg lite creamcheese
1 pkg dry ranch dressing
thin sliced ham (or other meat) lunchmeat
mix creamcheese and ranch dressing together, spread on tortillas. Lay ham on top and roll up tortilla. Slice into 1/2 to 3/4 inch slices.
My fave:
Bacon wrapped water chestnuts
INGREDIENTS
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups ketchup
1 pound bacon
2 (8 ounce) cans water chestnuts
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup.
Cut bacon in half. Wrap one slice of bacon around each chestnut. Secure the bacon with a toothpick. Arrange the water chestnut wraps in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Bake the water chestnut wraps for 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove from water chestnut wraps from the oven and drain some of the grease out of the pan. Pour the sauce over the wraps.
Bake for 30 to 35 more minutes.
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Fried Asparagus
INGREDIENTS
1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup canola oil for frying
1 egg
1 cup coarsely crushed buttery round crackers
DIRECTIONS
Bring about 2 inches of water to boil in a saucepan. Add the asparagus, and cook for about 3 minutes. Drain, and pat dry.
Heat enough oil to cover the bottom of a large heavy skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Whisk the egg in a small bowl, and place the cracker crumbs in a separate bowl.
Dip the asparagus pieces into the egg, and then coat with cracker crumbs. Fry in the hot oil until golden. Turn frequently for even cooking. If they are browning too quickly, reduce the heat a little. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate before serving.
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You should go look and try out my recipe for Chicken Salad....
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...
Hope you enjoy it!
chips and dip
veggies and dip
ritz , with salsa covered cream cheese
ritz pepperoni and cream cheese.
Shrimp skewers with onion, tomatoes, mushrooms, green peppers. Brush them with some italian dressing and grill.