Diamond Author
Whether you are planning one or attending one, you probably already know that the food and snacks are one of the biggest aspects of party preparations. While you will definitely want something good for guests to eat, you will also want foods that will not require hours of cooking or preparing.
Cold appetizers take all of the hard work out of finding something for people to enjoy especially when gathering outdoors. Use raw vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, green peppers, and tomatoes with a variety of cold dips for a refreshing appetizer. Cheese complements both fruits and vegetables and can be just the right addition to your appetizers.
Some fruits you might want to use as snacks and appetizers include apples, bananas, grapes, kiwi, oranges, strawberries, and tangerines. Also, consider cold soups and chilled salads for appetizers, as both are great for gatherings and parties as well as for those times when you want a little something extra with your meal.
Cold cucumber soup is refreshing and delicious not to mention healthy and full of vitamins. Peel and deseed cucumbers before adding to a food processor or blender with a large container of plain yogurt and a few cups of white wine. Chill the soup and add salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Bean salads are chock full of nutrients, leave guests full and satisfied, and they are also really easy appetizers to prepare. Combine different types of beans such as black, garbanzo, and red kidney with some diced onions and red and green peppers before tossing together with Italian salad dressing. Chill the salad for at least a half hour before serving.
Another cool and tasty treat to make as an appetizer is a mandarin, sunflower broccoli salad. Combine raw florets of broccoli, slices of mandarin oranges, sunflower seeds, mayonnaise, granulated sugar, and a few dashes of lemon juice. Mix all the ingredients well and chill before serving.
Recipe for Lettuce Bowl Carrot Dip
What You Need
- 8 ounces (1 package) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 medium sized carrots, shredded finely
- 3 green onions, sliced thin
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 small to medium sized head of crisp iceberg lettuce
- Crackers or vegetables for dipping
How to Make It
In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese and mayonnaise until well blended and smooth. Add the shredded carrots, the sliced onions, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt and pepper and mix together.
Chill the mixture for at least an hour in the refrigerator.
To create the bowl out of iceberg lettuce, hollow out the center of the head leaving the core in place at the bottom. You can do this by removing interior leaves a few at a time until about an inch thick shell of leaves remains.
Add the chilled dip to the lettuce bowl and serve with crackers or pieces of raw vegetables for dipping.
About this Author
Easy party appetizers take all of the hard work out of preparing a delicious array of foods for guests to enjoy. A cold appetizer recipe is the perfect choice for a hot summer day when you want something cool and refreshing.
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