I need appetizers, dips, munchies.....(Update in post #24)

[XUfan]

...well, I just need the recipes for now!

Every year, we plan a traditional, family Christmas dinner, but it seems like everyone (other than us!) is either coming from, or going to another dinner. And everyone seems to cook the same things! (Last year, my son had 4 houses to go to, and my daughter had 3!!)Besides...the kids hate stopping to eat, when they're playing with the new toys!!

So...my husband and I were thinking that we'd try a very informal option this year. I want to make several appetizers, wraps, dips, etc. and just put them out for everyone to munch on while they're here.

But...I need some recipes!!!

Here are the guidelines:
*Some of them should be kid-friendly
*Some should be meatless (for me!!)
*ALL should be "coupon-friendly" and "budget-friendly" (no super-expensive ingredients, please!!!!)
*I'm looking for some of them, to be things I can make a week or so in advance, so I can freeze them, then pop them in the oven.

Some things I've thought of:
*Chicken salad on mini dinner rolls
*Cream cheese/salsa tortilla pinwheels
*Chinese fried nuts
*Sausage & Cheese crockpot dip
*Stuffed mushrooms
*Mini crab cakes

OK....give me some more ideas!!!!

[Jessi]

In a crock pot or even on a pan on the stove.....mix BBQ sauce(one or two bottles depending on how many things you are going to put out.), one jar of grape jelly and Hillshire farm smoked sauages (again I would do 2 packages and go from there.)let it cook all day or for a few hours and you have an appitizer.(on medium high to medium heat.) They are good...we have them every year.

[Jessi]

Oh and the old stand by...Sausage balls. You could also put out fruits and veggies with just plain old ranch dip with maybe some bacon bits mixed into the ranch...Just my 2 cents.

[frugalphoebe]

Well, this one can't be made in advance..but it is budget friendly, kid friendly, super easy and delicious! :)

It is a Christmas Wreath Appetizer

It takes a tube thing of crescent rolls
cream cheese
sr. cream
garlic salt/pwdr
dill weed
celery/finely chopped
red/green bellpeppers/finely chopped
plum tomatos/chopped

You take the cresents and without unrolling them you cut each section in half. This should make (I think) 16 sections. Take these sections and form a big circle, like a wreath. Bake. Take the cream cheese (softened) and mix with a dab of sr. cream, your liking of dill and garlic. Spread this on the "wreath" once it is cool and top with chopped veggies.

We LOVE this! I make it all year around.

[extechy]

I found a new recipe for dip that looks great but I haven't tried it yet. It's much like rotel but instead of ground beef, you used ground pork sausage. In place of the Velveeta cheese, you used cream cheese. Add in the same seasonings and rotel vegetables.

It sounds good to me.

[XUfan]

These are great ideas!!!! Keep 'em coming!!

Oh...and don't forget...we'll be wanting some sweets to munch on too! I know I'll make Christmas cut-out cookies, and homemade caramel corn...but how about some other sweet finger foods?

Ummm....can anyone tell me why we're overweight??? LOL!

[extechy]

These are great ideas!!!! Keep 'em coming!!

Oh...and don't forget...we'll be wanting some sweets to munch on too! I know I'll make Christmas cut-out cookies, and homemade caramel corn...but how about some other sweet finger foods?

Ummm....can anyone tell me why we're overweight??? LOL!

Finger sweets? I just love lemon squares/lemon bars.

[XUfan]

Finger sweets? I just love lemon squares/lemon bars.

MMMMM!!!! Lemon squares!!!! I love those!! They're going on my list!

[jen523]

I make chocolate truffles. I just use a package of oreos, a block cream cheese, put it in the food processor. Smoosh it all up. then roll into balls and dip into chocolate (i just melt dark chocolate bars). OMG so goooooood! And makes alot!

[heyaheather]

Here's one that can be meaty or meatless--wrap [fake] hot dogs in cresent rolls. You can eat them all by themselves w/out any condiments, or your can put the condiments in small dishes for dipping (well that might invite dbl-dipping...but if you don't mind)!

How about a stew or "stoup" in a crockpot? I made a yummy lentil soup this week that was so tastey. I think we're going to have leftovers tonight for the second time. I got the recipe off allrecipes and added more veggies and spices. Here's the non-measured rundown:
1 Diced Onion, 4 Lg Sliced Carrots, 2 Sliced Celery Stalks--cook onion in pan until soft and add other two till tender.
Mix in 2 C Lentils (I used brown, but you could use red to be more holiday-like), 4 cloves garlic (I used chopped refrigerated and just dumped some in) and 32 oz Liquid (I used mushroom stock, but you could use veg stock or water).
Add in spices: Oregano, Basil, and 1 Bay Leaf. (Again I just dumped a bunch in. It was probably 2 Tbs. each or more. I thought it smelled really strong, but it was delicious).

You could serve this in mugs with homemade crackers.

Another standby for a friend is putting a block of cream cheese on a plate and topping it with red pepper jelly. Serve with crackers of your choice--wheat thins work really well and I'm sure you must have some in your stockpile!

My MIL makes a curry dip for veggies. It is sweet, but I don't have the recipe.

A sweet treat that is sooo bad for you but delicious can be made by slicing cream horn about 1/2" thick. Place on them on their side and top with a 1/2 marachino cherry. You could add a slice of a little green mint drop for a festive touch. Or put on a green plate.

HTH!