Cheap and Easy Appetizers?

Here's a couple really yummy and easy appetizers everyone loves :)

Pesto Crostini

3 cups fresh basil leaves, washed, dried

1/3 cup KRAFT Classic Italian Vinaigrette Dressing

1/3 cup KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese

32 baguette slices (1/4-inch thick), toasted

1 container (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread

1/4 cup KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese

PLACE basil leaves, dressing and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese in food processor or blender container; cover. Process until well blended.

SPREAD baguette slices evenly with cream cheese spread, then with pesto mixture.

SPRINKLE evenly with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

Bacon Cheddar Dip

1 container (16 oz.) BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream

1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/4 cup OSCAR MAYER Real Bacon Bits

RITZ Toasted Chips Original

MIX all ingredients except chips; cover.

REFRIGERATE at least 1 hour before serving.

SERVE with the chips.

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, finely chopped

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained

3/4 cup KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese

3/4 cup KRAFT Mayo Light Mayonnaise

1/2 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Mozzarella Cheese

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients until well blended.

SPOON into 9-inch pie plate or quiche dish.

BAKE 20 min. or until heated through. Serve with TRISCUIT Reduced Fat Crackers and assorted cut-up fresh vegetables.

Little Ruebens

2 cans (8 oz. each) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

1 cup CLAUSSEN Sauerkraut, drained, patted dry

1 pkg. (16 oz.) OSCAR MAYER Little Smokies

1 cup KRAFT Thousand Island Dressing

1 tsp. KRAFT Prepared Horseradish

PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Unroll dough into 16 triangles; cut each triangle lengthwise into thirds. Place 1 Tbsp. sauerkraut and 1 Little Smokie on wide end of each triangle. Roll up; place, point sides down, on ungreased baking sheet.

BAKE 12 min. or until golden brown.

MEANWHILE, mix dressing and horseradish. Serve as a dipping sauce with the appetizers.

Petite Quiche

Pastry for 1-crust 9-inch pie

1 cup KRAFT Shredded Swiss Cheese

1 Tbsp. flour

2 eggs

3/4 cup half-and-half

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

4 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled

PREHEAT oven to 325°F. Divide pastry into 24 balls; press 1 ball onto bottom and up side of each of 24 miniature muffin pan cups.

TOSS cheese with flour in medium bowl; set aside. Beat eggs, half-and-half and seasonings with wire whisk until well blended. Add to cheese mixture along with bacon; mix well. Spoon evenly into pastry-lined cups, filling each cup 2/3 full.

BAKE 30 to 35 minutes or until filling is set and lightly browned.

Cheese n Ham Spirals

1 egg

1 Tbsp. water

1 sheet frozen puff pastry (1/2 of 17-1/4-oz. pkg.)

1/4 cup KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided

1/4 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)

8 slices OSCAR MAYER Shaved Smoked or Brown Sugar Ham

PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Beat egg and water with wire whisk until blended; set aside. Unfold pastry on lightly floured surface. Roll into 14x10-inch rectangle; cut in half lengthwise. Brush both pastry halves lightly with some of the egg mixture. Sprinkle 3 Tbsp. of the cheese and the pepper evenly over 1 of the pastry pieces; cover with ham slices. Place remaining pastry piece, egg side down, over ham. Roll gently with rolling pin to seal. Brush with additional egg mixture.

ROLL jelly roll fashion to make 14-inch log. Cut into 24 equal slices. Place, cut side down, on parchment-covered baking sheet. Brush with remaining egg mixture; sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. cheese.

BAKE 12 to 14 min. or until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Small home-made potato triangles, also called Samosas. You'll need some olive oil, water, potatoes, some seasoning, and Chinese thin sheets of dough(they come in a package). Put enough oil in the pan so that the triangles will submerge just barely. Don't heat it yet, first make the potato triangles. Take a sheet of the dough(if its a large square, use a knife to cut the sheet into 2 to 4 smaller triangles; depending on how small you want them to be. Then take the thin-slices of potatoes (you can add some peppers and your fave. seasonings w/ the potatoes if you want it to have some more flavor) and place a tablespoon in the center of the triangle. You can add more if deemed necessary, but make its not too much or else the triangles won't fold. Once you're don't stuffing, to fold; take one corner and fold-over onto the stuffing, then take the other end and do the same. It should be diamond shaped now, then take the last point in what was a triangle and put a drop of water on it and fold it onto the stuffed triangle. Make as many more as needed and place in the pan, let it cook over medium and flip when it looks ready(it'll smell Really good too). I hope you enjoy this recipe. It isn't really expensive,but it does take some preparing.

Here's another recipe just in case,

You'll need bread, pizza sauce, and grated mozzarella cheese.

The steps are so easy and anyone who likes pizza will like this. Toast the slices of bread, spread an even layer of sauce over them, and sprinkle generously w/ Mozzarella. Put them in the oven(I'm not sure of the time for this so try a small batch for 15 mins, see how it is and edit the time from there) or even the microwave(4-5 mins should do it depending on how strong ur microwave is) and you'll have a delicious appetizer. Good Luck w/ your appetizers!

Europeans have a less complicated take on appetizers. A plate of two or three different cheeses with some good sliced french baguette with a dish of green and black olives and a bowl of flavored or plain nuts (almonds are good) Try a Gorgonzola (blue cheese from Italy) a Gouda and a brie. Crackers are OK, but fresh sliced thin baguette (can be toasted) is better. Hopefully you live near a Trader Joes, if not these simple items are available in the grocery store at reasonable prices. Very sophisticated and a good prelude to dinner.

Take crackers or melba toasts, put a spoonful of salsa on it and then top with a shrimp (buy a shrimp ring - quite inexpensive, plus they're already cooked). You'll have a fancy looking appetizer with very litte effort or cash required!

Cheap and easy indeed!

Pizza Rolls.

Or, for a fancier affair, a small wheel of brie, topped with a glob of apricot jam with a little brandy mixed in. Microwave a minute or so til soft and warm--near melting. Sprinkle some chopped almonds on top. Serve with crackers or pieces of French bread.

The Shrimp Thing

1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened

1/2 bottle cocktail sauce

1-2 cups of salad shrimp, defrosted

Crackers

Spread the cream cheese over the bottom of a pie tin or on a plate. Cover with cocktail sauce and then sprinkle with shrimp. Serve with a knife and spread dip over crackers.

It's cheap because you use the salad shrimp instead of bigger ones. It's also the easiest recipe I know.

Spinach and artichoke dip is awesome! Easy too. Combine 1 12 oz. pack frozen spinach with 2 8 oz. packages of lower fat cream cheese, drained jar of diced artichokes, 1/2 cup mayo, 2 tbs lemon juice, a few sprinkles of garlic powder, and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Spray a baking dish before transfering dip into it, sprinkle more parm on top, cover with foil and bake for 20 min. at 375. Can also ommit artichokes in case you just want spinach dip. It is great with crackers, pita bread, and vegetables.

Oh yeah!

Take a loaf of bread, the small hard kind, I can't think of the name...anyway, slice the bread about 1/8" slices...slice some tomatos and put a slice on each or red peppers work also...sprinkle some mozzarella cheese and olive oil over that and bake. They are yummy.

sandwiches are always good.. just with regular bread and cut into fours..

and i kno this great dish.. always a hit!

you take cream cheese( the block kind) and a tub of sour cream..

soften the cream cheese(let it sit in room temp for about an hour)

then add about a quarter of the sour cream with all the cream cheese and blend til completely soft.. use an electric blender.

once thats all soft, take some taco seasoning mix (the ol el paso one is good.) add some to taste (about half the pkg) and mix well.

once that is complete.. spread onto a platter a little bigger than the average dinner plate..

spread very slightly drained salsa over the mix and sprinkle shredded cheese over it.. line the sides with some peppers and tomotoes if you like, serve with corn chips or tostitos.. and its a hit!... ive had total success with this dish..

Pour some red pepper jelly over a block of cream cheese. Serve with crackers. Delicious

Bruschetta

INGREDIENTS:

2 large tomatoes, coarsely chopped

garlic, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil

1/2 (1 pound) loaf Italian bread, cut into 1 inch slices

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

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DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, oregano, basil. Place bread on a baking sheet, and top with tomato mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until bottom of bread is browned. Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving.