Need appetizer
 

I need to bring an appetizer for New Year's Eve. Need it to be simple, but delicious. Thanks everyone!

Hi Sandra,

I am sending you a cheese ball recipe which is different but delicious. I am not sure you would consider it an "appetizer" but it is especially good with the thicker pretzel sticks to use as a "dipping tool" rather than crackers. Although crackers work as well. Hope it helps as an "idea" for your gathering.

CHEESE BALL
 16oz cream cheese, room temp
 2 cups cheddar cheese
 3 tbsp minced onion
 3 tbsp salsa
 1 tsp ground cumin
 2 cups nacho cheese chips, crumbled
 top of 1 bell pepper for stem garnish
Combine ingredients; form into ball; place in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Before serving, roll in crumbled nacho chips.
Serve with chips, pretzels, or vegetables

I failed to remove the "bell pepper" ingredient. You use that if you want to use it for a Fall cheeseball and adding the top of the bell pepper makes it look like a pumpkin, since the Nacho chips are orange in color.

Here's one that's simple, looks super and tastes great.

Make a batch of carmelized onions.

Buy a package of 10" wraps, preferable a "colored" flavored one, like spinach or tomato. Spread alouette herbed cheese or the like on the wraps. Layer romaine lettuce, smoked turkey, precooked crumbled bacon and the onions. Roll up. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Cut into 1 1/2" slices and arrange on a plate. They look so special!

Wheel of brie, slather caramel sauce on the top and sprinkle liberally with chopped pecans or pistachios. Takes 5 minutes, if you go slowly. Leave at room temperature for a couple of hours to soften the brie. Slice up a baguette to smear it on. Crowd pleaser.

I take nutty grapes alot to parties. Always a hit! You need a bag of green grapes, toothpicks, 1 bag of carmels & dry roasted peanuts. Grind the peanuts so they are small pieces but not too fine. Unwrap the carmels, melt in the microwave til creamy adding 1 tablespoon of milk to make it thinner. Then stick the toothpick in the grape, dip the bottom half of grape in carmel then in roasted peanuts and stand them on wax paper until set. Place in frig until ready to use.
I use half a bag of carmels, a few crushed peanuts and get about 60 out of it. You do have to reheat the carmel to keep it runny occassionally. A bitesize snack that is somewhat healthy!!! My sister has used carmel ice cream topping & it works as well.

Shrimp Scampi Dip
 

I have made this several times and it is a big hit

Shrimp Scampi Dip
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 pound shrimp, shelled, deveined and coarsely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• juice of one lemon
• 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded
• 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated

Directions
1. Heat the butter in a pan over medium heat and add the shrimp and cook until it just turns pink.
2. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, cook until fragrant, about a minute, and set the shrimp aside.
3. Add the wine and lemon juice and simmer to reduce by half.
4. Mix the shrimp, pan sauce, cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, parsley, mozzarella and parmesan pour it into a 2+ cup baking pan.
5. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until golden brown on top and bubbling on the sides, about 15-20 minutes.

8 oz cream cheese
1 jar pepper jelly
Put block of cream cheese in center of serving plate. Pour jelly over top.
Add a small knife and a basket of crackers. Our DIL makes pepper jelly
but it can be purchased too.

If you like pickled beet eggs try pickled beet deviled eggs. You can do the pickled beet eggs 2-3 days ahead then turn them into deviled eggs. Colorful and flavorful at the same time. I like to use cream cheese (room temp) to the regular deviled egg mixture. Up to you!

I usually take meatballs in my slow cooker. You can buy them frozen .Google the sauce....most are very easy. Italian,barbecue......any sauce you like.Most ppl love meatballs.