NOT A DEBATE- Appy ideas

Barb - posted on 12/10/2010

Oh, and depending on the ages of the kids.. i caution anything with "skewers"

sword fights are contagious

Barb - posted on 12/10/2010

What an awesome thread! thank you so much Meghan, it's 6 am and i'm making a grocery list!

Laura you crack me up with bagels and lox, that's awesome, Jesus was Jewish and it's his birthday after all.

Kate, i never knew that is what capers were, marigold buds, huh? cool.

a helpful hint on the hashbrowns, when i make them, i don't even peel them, since most of the vitamins are in the skin. I just wash them and then run them over my cheese grater, makes perfect hash brown slices. Put a little lemon juice on them to keep them from browning and then put them in hot oil. But i absolutely love your recipes!

It's going to be an 'appy' dinner tonight!

Cathy - posted on 12/10/2010

Mini pizza bread.

Get a loaf of bread and cut circles out of each slice with a cookie cutter. Top with tomato sauce/paste and a little grated cheese and a sprinkle of herbs. Bake in the oven till the cheese melts and goes golden brown.

Nikki - posted on 12/10/2010

It gives it a nice flavour Jess, as long as you don't put too much in.

Jess - posted on 12/10/2010

I've never understood the point of the french onion soup ! Guess thats why I don't bother with it. At work because we don't have an oven handy we have the cob loaf pre made and eat it cold, not quite as nice but still very yummy and it will keep you coming back for more ! Loved by kids and adults !!

Kayle - posted on 12/10/2010

Didn't read the rest of the post so sorry if this is a repeat. Pinwheels. I take whole grain flour tortillas and spread Garden veggie cream cheese on the entire tortilla. Then I place two slices of very thin honey ham (lunch meat style). Also sometimes I add a couple strips of cucumber slices the long way then I roll them up and cut them into little bite size pinwheels. I love these.

Nikki - posted on 12/10/2010

I love cob loaf. Its like a giant round bread roll, called a cob loaf. You cut a circle out of the top (kind of like a pumpkin) scoop out most of the bread(to make it like a bowl) keep the bread you scoop out. Then you fill the inside of the cob with dip. I use cream cheese, sour cream, cooked bacon pieces, garlic, cheese, spring onions and about 1/2 packet of french onion soup mix. Once you have added the mix (just before you serve) you put it in the oven to warm through, break up the bread you took out of the loaf and bake as well. Once you have run out of the bread you can start tearing the bread bowl apart to eat. Sounds really gross, Aussie animals obviously.

Jess - posted on 12/10/2010

Its a round bun, quite large and you cut through the top in a circle and pull out the bread inside. then you mix in creamed cheese, sour cream, onions and spinach *anything you like really* and then you pull into little pieces all the parts of the bread you removed and people use that bread to dip into the loaf, and once the dipping bread is all gone people just pull apart the bread bowl containing the dip ! If you like I can find you a proper receipe

Meghan - posted on 12/10/2010

ok Jess, cob loaf?

Johnny - posted on 12/10/2010

I think I should print this thread, just for future reference. There are some great ideas.

Jess - posted on 12/10/2010

I think my favourite appetizer has to be cob loaf. So simple and heaps of healthy receips for it out there ! And its self cleaning because people start eatting the bread bowl !!!

Meghan - posted on 12/10/2010

wow went from having no ideas to way too many ideas. Knew I could count on you guys!
LMFAO @ Nikki! I have a spell check so I could have written appetizers ( :P ) I just like throwing you Aussie's off!

Nikki - posted on 12/10/2010

I have never heard of an appy before, did you make that word up Megs? Or couldn't you spell appetizers? lmao, I am joking, you know I love you :)



Pastry scrolls



Sheets of frozen puff pastry

tomato sauce

tomato paste

grated tasty cheese

dried mixed herbs



Spread the sauce, cheese and herbs on the de frosted pastry, roll up tightly, cut about an inch thick, place in the oven on non stick paper until golden brown. 180 degrees Celsius.



You can also use pesto instead of tomato sauce.

Johnny - posted on 12/10/2010

My favorite easy to do appy for potlucks is julienned veggies (carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, maybe red onion) and spinach leaves rolled up in a flavored tortilla (like sundried tomato or herb) spread with cream cheese (plain or flavored) and then cut in to little bite sized portions. They always disappear, despite the fact that I always make more hoping for leftovers.

Sharon - posted on 12/10/2010

Well, I'm honestly sick to friggen death of veggie trays.

not everyone likes pesto (I love it!)

What about olives, pickles and cheese tray? Green olives, olives stuffed with jalapenos, black olives, baby dills, sweet & hot pickle chips, regular bread & butter chips, clausen dill spears, those pickeled veggies? regular and spicy, mild cheddar, sharp cheddar... I love these trays.

SUPER Easy, no work at all. open the jars, lay it out attractively and set on the table.

I get the jars from costco - just found the jalapeno stuffed green olives there!

Becky - posted on 12/09/2010

I make this pesto torte - it's cream cheese and goat cheese mixed, layered with pesto and sundried tomatoes. I serve it with mini baguettes. It's always a hit with adults, but I don't know if kids would love it or not. The flavor is fairly strong. If you want it, I can give you the recipe - although it's basically what I just said. :)

Teresa - posted on 12/09/2010

Costco is my friend/hero. ;)

Amanda - posted on 12/09/2010

What about pickle wraps? They're tasty and yummy for any age! :)

Julianne - posted on 12/09/2010

veggie plates and a dip. they can be very quick and easy, like baby carrots broccoli cauliflower and cherry tomatoes are easy to make bite size, two actually are already :D

Hummus is my favorite dip, its so easy to make too, get a bag of chick peas(garbonzo beans) and boil them, throw it in a food processor when done, blend them up and add some lemon juice to make it creamy and as a natural preserve.

Isobel - posted on 12/09/2010

the wink is because it's a Christmas party, and it's traditionally Jewish food...sooooo yummy :)

Liz - posted on 12/09/2010

I like the rolled up tortillas too but I put cream cheese and ham in them. yummy

Kate CP - posted on 12/09/2010

Lox is smoked salmon. Typically served with a cream cheese spread and capers (pickled marigold buds). Very yummy.

A potato galette is kind of like a potato pancake. It's pan-fried in olive oil to give it a golden brown color and crispness. I usually just sear the outside and then toss it in the oven to finish the cooking and warm them through.

Ingredients:
1 lb Hash browns (yes, I cheat and buy the pre-made hash browns. I don't feel like peeling, slicing, and chopping for hours)
1 cup coarsely chopped green onions
1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary (fresh is best)
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl mix together ingredients until potatoes are shiny with oil. Measure out a 1-2 tablespoon helping of the potato mixture and place onto a preheated pan. Use a spatula and moosh it down into a flat shape (like a pancake) and cook on medium heat for 2-5 minutes or until golden brown on one side. Flip over, moosh again, and continue cooking for another 2-5 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately or save them and reheat before serving.

Chicken Waldorf Salad in lettuce wraps:
Several bunches of endive (http://www.endive.com/)
1 LB chicken breast: baked and diced into small pieces
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 cup diced grapes (red looks best in the salad)
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup peeled and chopped apples (I like granny smiths, but whatever you have is good)
1-2 cups mayonnaise (depending on how "wet" you like your salad)

Mix the ingredients together and spoon into the endive. Serve cold. Kids and adults love the stuff. I can't tell you how many people have raved about it.

Katherine - posted on 12/09/2010

7 layer bean dip is THE best!

Jenny - posted on 12/09/2010

My advice is to go to Costco. They have great appies. Veggies, fruit, shrimp or something like spanokopita if they have an oven. They have tons of options.

Meghan - posted on 12/09/2010

Thanks for the ideas ladies, keep 'em coming!
Kate, yea I have no idea what you are talking about so would LOVE the recipes and Laura...wtf is lox? haha

Isobel - posted on 12/09/2010

mini-bagels and lox? ;P

Kate CP - posted on 12/09/2010

I have two favorites that go over well every time I make them: mini potato galettes and a chicken Waldorf salad served in lettuce wraps. Lemme know if you want the recipes. :)

Caitlin - posted on 12/09/2010

Pick a spread or topping you really like (i'd suggest pb&j, but some daycares are peanut and nut free) but any topping works.. get a bunch of white tortillas and spread the spread on them, roll them nice and tight and then slice them about 1/2" thick, it'll make little swirls which look cute and depending on the spread, they taste pretty good too, kids like them cause they are easy to eat.. The sticker the filling the better to keep it all together..

September - posted on 12/09/2010

Artichoke dip....

3-5 cans of artichoke hearts (depending on how many you need to serve 5 cans serves about 15)

2 cans waterchest nuts

1 big bunch of green onions

1 bottle of grated parmesan cheese

1 bottle of real mayo



Chop up the artichoke hearts, green onions, and water chestnuts and add to an oven safe bowl. Then add almost the entire bottle of parm. cheese and about half the bottle of mayo. Ok so the mayo part not so healthy but it's SO good and everyone loves it!!! I'm always being asked for the recipe. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until warm. Eat it with crackers, carrots and or celery sticks. Mmmm it's delicious!

Jocelyn - posted on 12/09/2010

7 Layer Bean Dip with multigrain tortilla chips?