Easy, Yummy Appetizer Ideas

Well, here is what we are having (we do appetizers on Christmas and nibble all day rather than having a sit-down meal)...

Ham sandwiches (just thick-cut ham, rolls, mayo, mustard)
bacon-wrapped water chestnuts
deviled eggs
7-layer salad (with cheese, bacon, peas, red onions,iceberg, green onions, a sugar-mayo type dressing)
Sopapilla cheesecake (it is basically cheesecake stuffed into crescent rolls with cinnamon-sugar on top)
clementines
shrimp cocktail
cheeseball and crackers
Christmas crack (the saltines covered in toffee and chocolate)
Pumpkin spice cookies (the Betty Crocker package- I love to bake but have found that this packaged one is as good as homemade and is very fast)
mimosas, coffee, wine etc.
crockpot hot cocoa

Drain a can of black beans, dice some avacados, toss both w/a splash of olive oil and pinch of sea salt, and spoon in Tostitos Scoops (the little tortilla chips that look like little bowls).

I always do the artichoke dip & salami/cheese/crackers.

I now add TGIF spinach dip (in frozen section). I know it's cheating but....

Chili bean dip (Heat can of chili beans in pot on stove. Melt in a brick of
cream cheese. Serve w/tortilla chips)

Lil' smokies in crock pot w/bbq sauce

Carrot sticks, celery, red bell peppers w/Ranch

7-Layer dip w/tortilla chips

Mini quiches (from frozen section)

Cookies, fudge & candies!

Have fun & Merry Christmas!

I buy a round of brie. Remove it from its box/wrapper, and set it on phyllo dough. put some chopped pecans or walnuts on top of the wheel of brie, then sprinkle brown sugar and dried cranberries. then wrap the phyllo around the brie (so it's like a package - cut off any excess). Cut out little holly leaf shapes out of the leftover phyllo and put it on top, if you want (or skip this step - it's just for looks). Then bake the whole thing on a cookie sheet as per the baked brie instructions on the brie box. Serve it with little slices of french bread. I usually make 2, because they disappear instantly around here! It looks elegant and tastes great, but takes about 3 minutes to throw together (plus baking time, obviously). Happy holidays!

Sausage balls are easy and yummy. My 4 year old is always wanting us to make sausage wraps. You get the miniature sausages and wrap them with 1/2 of a canned biscuit and cook for about 10 minutes. My favorite is carrots and hummus.

hummus - the kids will love it. i like it best with pita chips.

on the not so healthy side - bacon wrapped lil smokies. smokies, wrapped in bacon, with a little brown sugar sprinkled in. hold together with toothpicks and bake. YUM.

merry christmas!

A favorite here:

Take mini fillo (phyllo) shells (available frozen as well as shelf-stable), fill halfway or so with goat cheese, top with a dab of red pepper jelly.
Put 'em on a cookie sheet, bake at 350 (ish) for a few minutes (like, about 5) until the jelly melts a bit. Take 'em out, put 'em on a plate & get out of the way. It's simple, delicious & looks quite elegant.

Trailer Park Pizzas - little rye bread slices, mix velveeta and sausage and top then put in the oven to bake for 10-15 mins.

Or take the rye bread and put cream cheese on it and top with a cucumber.

I love the brie idea from Catherine. I had it once and it's DELISH!

If you want something sweet - buy the peppermint marshmallows and melt chocolate (any kind) and dip the marshmallows in it. Place on wax paper and put in the fridge to harden.

This is one I started when i was short on time and wanted finger food, so it is not a tradition:
I place a piece of brie on an apple slice. Some with a walnut piece and some without (depending on the people's preference). I love when other people make the brie bowl (Catherine C. sounds amazing) with sour dough bread.

I have grown to love the anti-pasta plate more than the main dish.

A friend mentioned that she when to her in-laws and made fun of a bacon wrapped tater-tot they had for the kids' appetizer. That actually sounds really good to me.