Appetizers Anyone?

Are you looking for some delicious appetizers that will be a big hit with young and old?  Here are three easy recipes that will get you ready for upcoming football parties. 

 

Donna's Slammin' Guacamole

Let's start with a no-cook recipe.  This guacamole recipe is jump up and down delicious.  I kid you not!  The big flavor will really get your party rolling.

Ingredients

• 

  Guacamole Ingredients

  2 ripe avocados, mashed
• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 1 4-1/2 oz can mild chopped green chiles, undrained
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped fine
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1/4 c chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• Tabasco, a couple of dashes, or more to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Slice the avocados in half and remove the pits.  Scoop the avacado flesh from the shell and mash.  In a bowl, combine the mashed avacado with the lime juice to keep the avocado a lovely, bright green.    Remove the seeds from the jalapeño and chop fine.  You won't want big pieces of jalapeño in your dip.  Add the diced tomatoes, garlic, onion, jalapeño, chopped cilantro and chiles to the avacado mixture.  If you don't like cilantro, you can substitute fresh parsley, but you really need one or the other.   It's all about the flavor!  Stir to combine. 




Beautiful Color, Yummy Flavor!



Add a couple dashes of tabasco, salt and pepper.  Taste and adjust seasonings.  Refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving.  The heat will intensify and the flavor only gets better.

Slammin' Guacamole

Serve with your favorite tortilla chips and watch it disappear.

Want an appetizer option you can prepare in advance?  These jalapeño poppers can be made ahead and frozen until you need them.  Make lots and lots because these won't last on the platter.

Barbecued Jalapeño Poppers



Jalapeno Popper Ingredients

adapted from The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond

Ingredients

• 12 jalapeños, halved and seeded
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/4 c Mexican shredded cheese mix
• 2 scallions, chopped including green tops
• 12 slices of bacon
• 1/4 c your favorite barbecue sauce

Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F.

Cut the jalapeños in half lengthwise. With a small sharp knife, remove the seeds and light-colored membranes. Remember the heat comes from the seeds and membranes, so you can decide how carefully to remove them to get the level of heat you want. 

In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, Mexican cheese, and chopped green onion. I've used either regular cream cheese or the reduced fat cream cheese in the past and both work fine.  Mix the ingredients together using a spoon.  You'll want to be sure you've mixed well to distribute the flavors.  Stuff each hollowed jalapeño half with the cheesy goodness. 

Wrap the bacon slices loosely around each half, covering as much of the surface as you can. The bacon will contract as it cooks.  Brush the surface of the bacon with your favorite barbecue sauce. Secure the jalapeños with toothpicks.

At this point you can either freeze the poppers for future use, or pop them in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the bacon is sizzling.   Remove the toothpicks and serve hot or at room temperature.

Click here for the link to the Pioneer Woman's jalapeño popper recipe: 

Saucy Meatballs

Do you want an appetizer you can whip up without breaking a sweat?  These cocktail meatballs are also party pleasers.  Cocktail meatballs may seem like a been there, done that appetizer option, but these are addictive.  One taste and your guests will keep coming back!

Ingredients

• 2 lb frozen Swedish meatballs (if you don't make your own from scratch)
• 1 15oz can jellied cranberry sauce
• 1 16 oz jar chili sauce
• 2 T brown sugar
• 3 tsp lemon juice

Place the Swedish meatballs in a slow cooker.  Combine the remaining ingredients in a medium sauce pan over medium heat.  Using a whisk, stir to combine.  When smooth pour sauce over the meatballs in the slow cooker.  Warm the meatballs and serve with tooth picks.

Here are the links to the printable recipes for today's appetizers:
Donna's Slammin' Guacamole
Barbecued Jalapeno Poppers
Saucy Meatballs 

Here are some other posts about appetizers you may like as well:
Dips for Any Occasion
A Chardonnay Wine Tasting

Happy munching!

Go Team!


Donna