New Year’s Eve is just around the corner, and I’m working on planning our celebration for the evening. We celebrate the holiday in a Family Friendly sort of way – we invite a few people over and set the children up with movies, games and snacks and then the adults hang out together and catch up. My favorite way to plan the menu for the evening is to forego a meal and just have appetizers to graze on all evening. You see, I love appetizers, I think that given the right combination they can create a perfect meal. My husband doesn’t agree (he’s a meat + potatoes kind of guy), but he endures it on New Year’s Eve, and often-times I’m able to come up with yummy finger foods for him to fill up on.
This year I wanted to add some new recipes to my collection and so I asked the ladies at Family Friendly Cincinnati to share their favorite appetizer recipes. I thought I would share them with our readers in case you are party planning and looking for recipe inspiration!
Enjoy! And please be sure to leave links in the comments section with your favorite recipe, I’d love to add some new dishes to our menu for the evening.
Karen‘s Appetizer :: it’s a cheese ball of sorts. I don’t think it has a name, it’s something my neighbor made up. It’s not something most kids would eat. It looks odd and sounds out, but it will be the first thing gone on the appetizer table.
Katie’s Appetizer :: I had a really hard time choosing just one favorite, as I said before, I’m a bit of an appetizer addict. I went through all of my favorite appetizer recipes I have collected on my blog, and finally decided on the Basil Pesto Rounds. They are quite perfect, and simple to make, and they are always a crowd pleaser. I found the recipe on AllRecipes.com.
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup basil pesto
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt to taste
Directions:
1.Preheat oven on broiler setting. Arrange bread slices in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Place under broiler for 5 to 8 minutes, or until lightly toasted on one side. Watch carefully to ensure they don’t burn. Remove from oven, and flip bread slices so that the toasted side is on the bottom.
2.Set the oven temperature for 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, pesto, garlic, Parmesan and salt. Spread evenly over un-toasted sides of bread slices. 3.Bake in the preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes. Set the oven to broil, and place the rounds under the broiler just until they begin to bubble and turn golden. Let cool slightly before serving.
Kristin‘s Appetizer :: Easiest recipe ever…..block of cream cheese, unwrap and put in nice serving dish then cover with either red or green pepper jelly. Serve with Ritz crackers. Enjoy.
Amy Q’s Appetizer :: Here’s the one that everyone asks for, every single event – 7 Layer Taco Dip. It’s not “mine” per se, I actually stole it from my sister and I have no idea where she got it (and I’ve tweaked how I make it here and there…really you just slap it together, so you are really free to your own interpretation), but it’s become the one dish everyone wants at parties.
Ingredients:
4 cups refried beans (or 2 cans of refried beans. I heat these up and add about .5 cup of jarred salsa as well)
1 cup sour cream
1 packet taco seasoning, low sodium
2 cups guacamole or 2 avocados mashed with 2 Tbsp. of lemon or lime juice
4-8 oz. sliced or chopped black olives (depending on how well you like them)
4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 bunch green onion, chopped, green and white parts
2 cups finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Phyllis’ Appetizer :: She shares this simple yet delicious recipe with us – 
Tomato and mozzarella with basil and balsamic
Michelle’s Appetizer :: This one is super easy and best of all….no baking.
Directions:
Slice one loaf of French bread.
Mix 1 cup sour cream with 1 cup cream cheese. Mix in about 1/4 cup fresh basil (Fresh is very important!). Spread mixture on each piece of bread.
Top each piece with one small slice of tomato.
What are your plans for New Year’s Eve? Are they “family friendly” or are you escaping for an adult’s evening out?
Yummmmmm I am so gonna try this recipe,
it looks mouth watering.
Yummmmmm I am so gonna try this recipe,
it looks mouth watering
One of the best cheese appetizers I ever tasted is fried eggplant slices rolled around garlic-flavored cream cheese. It is a Mediterranean-style appetizer.