In need of quick picnic appetizer recipes......?!
In need of quick picnic appetizer recipes......?
I have a family picnic this weekend and need to bring a dish to pass. Anyone have any quick and easy recipes that I can make a day ahead?
Answers:
How about a veggie tray with a nice spinach dip? You can buy the veggies already washed and ready for the tray, or you can buy whole veggies and prepare them yourself to save money.
The dip can be prepared the day before and is better for having sat overnight. It can be served hot or cold.
Spinach Vegetable Dip
1 pk. frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry of as much moisture as possible
1 qt. mayonnaise
1 c. Swiss cheese
1/3 c. chopped parsley
1/2 c. chopped onions
Juice of 1 lemon
bacon bits (optional)
Place all ingredients except bacon bits in a food processor and blend until smooth. (Or beat with electric mixer.) Add more mayonnaise if needed for dipping consistency, and chill. Sprinkle with bacon bits before serving, if desired.
Hot dip: microwave until cheese melts, stirring every 30 seconds. Be careful not to overcook -- the cheese may not look melted, even though it is.
Pick something that you don't need to heat up, you don't need silverware for, and can pack in ice in a cooler.
Deviled Eggs--Hard boil eggs, cool, remove shells, slice in half, scoop out yolks and mix with mayonnaise until creamy, and a bit of dijon mustard, finely minced onion (or onion powder), and salt and pepper. Pipe it back into the egg halves and sprinkle with paprika.
Stuffed celery--Leave a package of cream cheese out to soften and mix in a container of blue cheese crumbles. Stuff into celery sticks. You can also stuff into cherry tomato halves (with the seeds and juice squeezed gently out).
Tortilla Pinwheels--Mix softened cream cheese and sour cream. Spread thinly on a colorful flour tortilla (you can get spinach ones that are green). Sprinkle with an even layer shredded cheddar, chopped olives, chopped green onion, chopped green chiles, and salsa. Roll up very tightly and chill. Slice into wheels.
Layered taco dip--Mix canned refried beans with a package of taco seasoning. Layer Guacamole, salsa, sour cream, olives, cheese and chopped green onion on top. Serve with tortilla chips.
I like to bring ham and pickle rolls, and they hold really well in the fridge for a couple days.....
Get a package of thick sliced (rectangular) deli meat ham (I think Farmland is ok). One jar of whole dill pickles. An eight ounce package of cream cheese. A bottle of Worcestershire sauce.
In a bowl, mix the cream cheese with the about 1/2 tablespoon of worchestershire sauce. Spread the cream cheese mixture onto one side of a slice of ham (it doesn't need to be very thick, just enough to cover the ham). Place a pickle on the ham (near the edge) and roll the ham over the pickle (the cream cheese will help it stick together). Then slice the roll into about one inch sections. Make as many as you can (I usually run out of ham first!).
Finally, you can just put them on a plate, cover them with plastic wrap and put them in the fridge. They'll be great!!!!