APPETIZERS FOR ALL OCCASIONS

I really wish I had Pics for all my recipes, but until recently I never planned on doing a Food Blog, so there you go! These Appetizers are ones I've takin to different things and every time, they get gobbled up! So you won't go wrong around the holidays with these.

MINDI'S VERSION OF "ITALIAN DUNKERS"

Refrigerated Biscuits (Quanity depends on how many you're feeding), String cheese or mozzerella Cheese. Butter, melted, grated Parmesan cheese. Pizza sauce for dipping
I cut the biscuits in 1/2 (long way) to get more. I also cut string cheese into 1/2 or even 1/3, depending on how big biscuits are. Put a piece of cheese in the middle of each biscuit, fold over and pinch sides. Dip in melted butter and then in parmesan. Put on sprayed cookie sheet. Bake according to package directions. (golden brown) My pics not very good, but my son loves these and he says they kind of taste like the schools.

GRILLED CORN & AVOCADO SALSA


You can grill the corn in this recipe, but I omited that step and it still tasted good. Everyone finished it off on the 24th without it, so save time if you can. I'll do both instruction.

Grilled Corn Recipe: 4 Ears corn, in husks, 2 jalepeno peppers, 2 vined ripe tomatoes,, stemmed, and diced, 1/2 C diced red onion, 1/2 t minced garlic, 3 T fresh cilantro, chopped, 1 T fresh mint leaves, 1/4 C fresh squeezed lime juice, 2 T olive oil, salt to taste.

Soak ears of corn in their husks in a deep bowl filled with cold water for 1 hr, placing a plate or lid ontop to keep corn sumbmerged. Pre heat grill to med, lay corn on grill and cook for 20-25 min, turning frequently, until leaves are blackened. Grill the jalepenos for 5 to 6 min, turning periodically. Remove the corn and jalepenos, set aside until cool. Once corn is cool, remove husks and silk. cut the kernals off the cobs and place in a lg bowl. remove seeds in peppers and chop finely. Add all the other ingredients, mix well together. This didn't have avocado, but you can add it. wait until ready to serve though or they go brown.

MY VERSION: 1 Bag frozen corn or cut corn off the cob (without grilling), 2 Serrano peppers, seeded, however many tomatoes you want to add, 1/2 red onion, 2-3 garlic gloves, Some cilantro, juice from 1 lime, 2 T OLIVE OIL, salt, I omited the mint leaves. Avocados

Let the frozen corn thaw. In a Food processor, add peppers, onion, cilantro and garlic to make a paste. Put in a bowl and then chop up tomatoes, add corn, squeeze lime juice, add oil, salt to taste. Mix together and Add avocado just before serving. Serve with tortilla chips.


SAUSAGE DIP

What you Need: 1 lb sausage (browned & drained), 1 16 oz Sour cream, 1 8oz Cream cheese, 1 Can diced green chilis, 1 Can sliced black olives, 1 Lg Block Veleveeta cheese.
Put all ingredients in a corck pot until melted and hot. Serve with Tortilla chips or crackers.


HOT PIZZA DIP

WHAT YOU NEED: 1 8oz cream cheese, 1 t italian dressing seasoning, 1 C shredded Mozzarella cheese, 3/4 C grated fresh parmesan, 1 C pizza sauce, 1/4 C diced green bell pepper and some sliced green onions. (optional)
Heat oven 350
Combine cream cheese and italian seasoning together. Spread on the bottom of a mini-baker or pie dish. In a small bowl combine cheeses. Spread 1/2 on top of cream cheese and then top and spread with Pizza Sauce. Sprinkle rest of cheese. Top with pepper and onion if you want.(I never do, but I bet other pizza toppings would be good). Bake 15-20 min until bubbly. Serve with yummy breads (baguettes, french, sourdough, etc) or crackers.


SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP

WHAT YOU NEED: 2 T unsalted butter, 1 Med onion, chopped, 6 cloves garlic, chopped, 1 pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry, 1 jar (6oz) marinated artichokes, drained and chopped, 1 Pkg cream cheese, cut into cubes, 1/2 pint sour cream, 1 1/2 C shredded sharp cheddar, 1/2 C grated parmesan, 1 t paprika, 1/2 t black pepper, 1/2 t salt, 1/4 t red pepper flakes.
Heat oven 350
In a Lg skillet, melt butter and onion and cook for about 8 min, stir occasionally. Add garlic and cook for 1 min. Stir in spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, sour cream, 1 C cheddar, the parmesan, and seasonings. stir well. Place in an oven proof 2QT dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 10 min or until warmed through. Serve with chips or crackers. Easily doubled. You can also omit the red pepper flakes if you don't have them on hand.


CRANBERRY SALSA
I have to give the credit of this recipe to my friend Lindsey. She made this for Bunko one time and everyone was asking for copies.


WHAT YOU NEED: 1 12oz pkg fresh cranberries (you can use frozen, but fresh is better), 3/4 C sugar, 1 Med, jalepeno, remove seeds, 1 green onion, 1 t dried cilantro or 1 T fresh, 1/4 t cumin

Put all ingredients in a food processor. Process until mixture is coarsely chopped. Store in refrigerator overnight, so flavors can blend. Serve with tortilla chips or crackers. it is also very yummy to spread cream cheese on a platter and pour salsa over it. It's also good to serve with pork or poultry.