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Digital News Report – Pretty soon Christmas will be here and you may have to entertain guests either on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day. While you are waiting for the main course to be ready to eat you can have some great appetizers to serve your guests. Here are just a few Christmas Appetizers recipes that are online from various websites that should be easy to make and delicious to eat.
Pillsbury has a great collection of free appetizer recipes on their website using their pre-made doughs and products. There is a wide selection of delicious, fast, and easy appetizer recipes that would work well for Christmas or the holidays. The recipes I suggest for ideas are just a sampling. There are many other free recipes for appetizers on their websites and others. I liked that these recipes were able to be made in advance and reheated or were delicious and easy to make.
Holiday Appetizers for Parties
Potato and Bacon Mini Pizzas
These are bite sized appetizers which is loosely based on the pizza idea. But they are delicious with the bacon, potato, onion, and a spoonful of sour cream on top of a mini bread based bottom.
Potato and Bacon Mini Pizzas appetizer recipe is at http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/potato-and-bacon-mini-pizzas/94478107-bbb0-4e38-8d9e-d2ab471cd759/
Spicy Shrimp Pot Stickers
This recipe is not sticky and messy like the traditional ones that you would get at a Chinese restaurant. Instead you have the quickbread biscuit dough wrapped around an Asian flavored shrimp stuffing. You then bake these little appetizers bites. You can then make a dipping sauce for the appetizer and it would be a fun easy way to have a treat. If you want you could prepare them in advance and then reheat them on the day you are ready to entertain.
Spicy Shrimp Pot Stickers appetizers Recipe can be found at http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/spicy-shrimp-pot-stickers/2450de57-821a-4c09-9575-92c94a06792d/
Raspberry Baked Brie
This is a fancy way to entertain your guest this holiday. You can easily create a beautiful centerpiece with this baked Brie cheese. You serve this with crackers surrounding it so the guests can help themselves.
Raspberry Baked Brie Recipe can be found at http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/raspberry-baked-brie/7e5bb469-fe1f-439b-bdaa-fed3da9e1335/
Potato Bites
This is a vegetarian inspired appetizer that uses eggs and milk. You use mashed potatoes, peas, with spices which you then make into round balls that you coat with bread crumbs. You serve with toothpicks and you can provide either a chutney or a salsa to dip the appetizers.
Potato Bites Recipe can be found at http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/potato-bites/96c29ded-04b3-485d-83bf-355b73f86bc4/
Italian Antipasto Squares
This recipe would be great if you are looking for a casual party such as Christmas Eve or New Years Eve party. I think they will very likely disappear quickly though. It is almost like a layered pizza with many different cheeses, ham, and salami, minus the pizza sauce. You make the item as a whole then you can use a pizza cutter or knife to divide them up into individual servings.
This recipe can be found at http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/italian-antipasto-squares/c2654daf-8739-420d-b16a-45e76fc66e30/
All of these appetizer recipes and more can be found at http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/meal-course/appetizers
Other Options
If it gets really busy you can always buy pre-made appetizers and reheat them, add a dip or a sauce and you are ready to go.
Fondue pots with cheese dip is easy. All you have to do it melt the cheese and chop up bread into cubes that can be dipped. Also have some fancy mixed nuts are also a good idea to have available for snacking on. You can also add fresh vegetables to dip too.
You can also take French bread slice it in half so that you can add butter and olive oil on each side, then top with your favorite flavors such as parsley, tomato, onion, or black olives. Then sprinkle lightly with some shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake in the oven, then take out and cut diagonally one inch increments and there you have a simple appetizer for your guests.
These are just a few ideas to make your holiday entertaining easy. There is so many things to prepare when hosting that planning in advance makes it easier to host. If you can prepare in advance some of the menu items and reheat, it will be easier come the day when you are entertaining.
For healthy options serve up cubed fresh fruit such as pineapple, melons, or whole strawberries. You can also serve fresh raw vegetables such as carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, zuchinni, or radishes with your favorite flavored dip. To make a healthier dip, you can take cottage cheese and blend it in a blender and add a little bit of low fat mayonnaise and add your favorite powdered dip flavor mix. This will provide you will a healthier alternative for appetizers at the holiday party.
By Victoria Brown