Quick & Easy Appetizers

deviled eggs photo from allrecipes.comI have three favorite appetizers to make when I host parties or am asked to bring one to a baby shower, sporting event, or other get-together:

  1. Classic Deviled Eggs
  2. Vegetable Tray with Ranch Dressing
  3. Spinach Dip in a Bread Bowl

All three are tasty, easy to prepare, and relatively healthy. I especially love preparing deviled eggs (and eating the final product!) because I rarely make them since my husband isn't a huge fan.

not your mother's slow cooker recipes for entertainingI feel pretty comfortable with my repertoire of appetizers, but if you're looking to expand your options and try something new for your next celebration - you'll likely want to check out Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Entertaining by Beth Hensperger (The Harvard Common Press, 2007). You'll find all kinds of yummy-sounding recipes for pre-meal snacks: Hot Artichoke Dip with Pita Crisps, Maple-Glazed Pecans, Chocolate Chip Fondue, Creamiest Fudge, and more...all prepared in your Crock Pot! The cookbook also includes ideas for main dishes, punches, and savory sides. My only critique of the book is that it doesn't feature photos of each recipe. I'm a big "visual learner" - especially when it comes to cooking - so that is a definite downside. But the fact that you can make all of the recipes in a slow cooker definitely is a plus for a Crock Pot Queen like me.

homemade gourmet logoCooking in slow cookers is easy-peasy. But if you want something even easier still - you can always go with a dip mix from Homemade Gourmet. Choose from 11 different dips. Be daring and serve up the Jalapeno Bacon Chedder Dip or go with the classic Cool Cucumber Dip or bring sweetness to the table with the Raspberry Velvet Fruit Dip. These dips are super easy to make (just add a few ingredients, stir, and stick in the fridge to chill) and they're quite appetizing too. Serve with chips, veggies, bread pieces, or fruit on a fancy platter for an impressive display. Each dip retails for between $4.50-5.50 and can be purchased online or from a HG rep in your area.

YOUR TURN: What are your favorite appetizers {to make & eat}? 

WIN IT! There will be FIVE winners.

The Grand Prize Winner will receive a copy of Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Entertaining by Beth Hensperger ($19.95) AND a Homemade Gourmet Dip Sampler ($27.75 retail value, includes: Mock Spinach Dip, Jalapeno Bacon Cheddar Dip, Tropical Dip, Cool Cucumber Dip, Fire-Grilled Salsa, and Raspberry Velvet Fruit Dip). The Grand Prize Winner will be selected by me - I'll be selecting a commenter who leaves the most creative idea or delicious-sounding recipe for an appetizer OR party punch. Go ahead: impress me!

Four additional winners will be randomly selected to receive a copy of Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Entertaining by Beth Hensperger ($19.95).

To enter, leave a comment on this post prior to Tuesday, March 17 at midnight (Don’t forget to follow the rules…all generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified.). * Winners must provide U.S. mailing addresses.

*UPDATE* The Grand Prize Winner is #19 Mamatini. The four additional winners are: #123 Pamela S, #91 Deborah R, #51 Heather, and #6 Christine Jensen.

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221 comments on “Quick & Easy Appetizers”

  1. Just started reading and I know it's too late for the contest, but I wanted to say something anyway. The 3 things you listed were at every family gathering that I can ever remember. Are you sure we're not related. I'm totally having flashbacks of Nana's famous breadbowl dip. She's been gone for 8 years now and I haven't had the dip since. Thanks for bringing up some nice memories :)

  2. Appetizers...deviled eggs, kebobs of kielbasa and veggies and cheese which is my favorite.

    Crockpot cooking is coming back at my house. My youngest son really loves to cook and using the crockpot is a safe way for him to do that. Its amazing how great his meals taste and it gives him confidence to experiment. I know this...he will never one of those guys who ends up having to get married so he doesn't starve. He already knows how to feed himself.

  3. I cook with my crockpot 3 times a week at least.
    I also enjoy make snacks & appetizers.
    Homemade are so much better than just eating chip & candy.
    I can choose healthier recipes for me & my family.

  4. My sister-in-law loves my shrimp mousse so I make it whenever we have a get-together. I really enjoy it too, but no one else in my house will touch it. (Tough to be them!)

  5. Deviled eggs and sausage balls are my standard fare. But occasionally I'll splurge on stuffed mushrooms or grilled shrimp or scallops. Now you've made me hungry. :)

  6. I make an artichoke dip which is fantanstic. Insteado f justin using a jar of artichokes I used the jarred artichoke salad which has olives and pimentos in there also. More colorful and flavorful

  7. I love appetizers! My favorite is to put a chipotle jam over cream cheese and serve with crackers. I love the whole spicy/sweet combination. My sister-in-law serves up small tuna sandwiches with sliced pepperoncinis. Just the little hint of heat works really well with the tuna. Great giveaway - thanks for offering!
    ~Tanya
    the4moyers(at)msn(dot)com

  8. My favorite appetizer isn't the easiest but you can prepare it well ahead of time. I make small meatballs with ground pork and oriental seasonings. I make them a lot for potlucks and never have any left.

  9. I love appetizers and anything that you can make in a slow cooker would be great for work and family potlucks! I have a few good appetizer standbys as well, BBQ meatballs and this chipped beef bagel dip.

  10. Bufallo chicken dip - cream cheese, chedder cheese, blue cheese, chicken chunks, and Franks hot sauce mixed and heated, served with Fritos scoops, celery, or favorite crackers.

  11. I am usually asked to bring Sunset's Shrimp Cheese Stack. Mixed cream cheese base, covered with a seafood sauce and topped with small cooked shrimp. Served with assorted crackers.

  12. one of my favorites and it never fails to impress:
    take a small boboli pizza crust and spread with softened cream cheese mixed with a little horseradish, take some smoked salmon and layer on top of the cheese garnish with some fresh dill and capers if you want, cut into wedges and serve at room temp-so good

  13. I like to make sweet & spicy wings, rumaki(bacon-wrapped water chestnuts and pineapple chunks), and a big vegetable platter with hummous and ranch dips.

  14. I hate to cook so I don't have favorites appetizers other than the ones you get when you eat out at a restaurant. We could really use the slow cooker recipes as my husband loves to use it but we need some fresh ideas.
    [email protected]

  15. My husband has recently discovered the slow cooker. I am very tired of pot roast! Please help with new recipes.

  16. We love making bean dip out of Hormel vegetarian chili and cream cheese and cheddar melted together for a great dip with scoop style tortilla chips.

  17. Spinach dip is quick, easy and yummy. I'd love to win this cookbook. As far as I'm concerned, the slow cooker is the greatest kitchen appliance ever invented!

  18. I like to make stuffed mushrooms. I also like to make Ham Roll-Ups with cheese, cream cheese, ham, and pickles.

  19. I make a mean hummus and a mean spinach artichoke dip. Otherwise I totally cheat and use boxes appetizers.

  20. I love making spicy queso for parties (I'm from Texas!) or bruschetta on little slices of toasted french bread. Thanks for the giveaway!

  21. I love to make baba ganouj or hummus with pita bread-- if it is in summer, I get my bf to smoke the eggplant in his smoker- YUM! I am also fond of cheese fondue with crisp crusted artisan bread to dip in my electric fondue pot. I've also used the fondue pot to keep spinach artichoke dip warm.

  22. I like to take mini pigs in a blanket to morning tailgait parties. They make great finger food and breakfast munchies. My husband is known for his warm creamy artichoke dip.

  23. There's an onion tart that everyone loves so I make it when I can - perfect appetizer. Also, savory crepe rolls with different fillings and hummus with pita chips. Deviled eggs are my personal favorites though! :)

  24. We love pepperoni quesadillas in my house. We don't have many recipes for our slow cooker, so this would be so helpful to win.

  25. I love my slow cooker and I am always looking for new recipes to use with it. One of my favorite appetizers is making party wings. Thanks for the giveaway!

  26. I found a very easy to make, yet kind of elegant appetizer called Sun Dried Tomato and Goat Cheese. It is posted on the Pillsbury site and is just delicious. People think that you spent a lot of time and effort for the great results!
    It is wonderful if you are pinched for time an don't want to serve cheese from a can on a plain cracker.

  27. I just bought my first slow cooker and I have yet to use it...this would be so helpful!
    One of my favorite appetizers is my home made salsa.

  28. My favorite appetizers don't really have a name. I make them for every get-together I go to. I take hotdogs(cut in 3) and wrap them in a piece of bacon(cut in 3). Stick them with a toothpick and put them in a baking dish. When the pan is filled COVER them in brown sugar. Bake at 350 about an hour until bacon is crispy. These are a favorite anywhere I take them so make extra. They go quick. Also...if you're on a diet...don't even try one.. they are impossible to stop eating. Thanks for the giveaway!

  29. I would love this. I love cookbooks. They are my favorite. I dont have and havent read many slow cooker cookbooks so this would be GREAT. Thanks for the chance to win.
    Carrie
    [email protected]

  30. One of the apps I am always asked to make is sweet and sour meatballs. I got the sauce recipe from an app cookbook and use the small meatballs from the big box store. It's very easy and very tasty.

  31. I like to have a table laden with all the fixings fo a nice Mexican meal so that everyone can fix their meal any way they want.

  32. You mentioned deviled eggs. I love them, but haven't had them in a while. In terms of making appetizers, I like to make cheese dips. Many cheese dips recipes are passed around the family, especially from the Wisconsin branch.

  33. I like to take different Tortilla's, Cream Cheese mixed with Ranch, a little green onion, Ham, cheese, turkey and make little pin wheels.
    We also like to take Dill Pickle Spears, Cream Cheese and Ham. Spread the CreamCheese on the Ham wrap it around the Pickle Yummy.
    My sis in law makes the awesome Water Chesnuts wrapped in Bacon and then she makes some awesome sauce with Ketchup and Grape Jelly.. Oh wow are they Yummy.
    Great Giveaway, Thanks

  34. Using deli selections (pastrami, corned beef, etc.) we spread some cream or ricotta cheese on a wafer slice of meat and wrap it around a dill spear. Served chilled - if patient enough - they always turn out to be quite popular. ;)

  35. I love using my crockpot. I work late and that helps me make a healthy meal for me and my family. I also would love to learn new recipes. I've seen this book in the library and it looked like some very good recipes.
    Thanks

  36. The appetizer that everyone expects when they come to our house is a spicy cheese dip using sharp cheddar, pimientos, chipotle, and cream cheese. It's awesome!

  37. I love to make quick and easy steamed artichoke leaves with garlic butter dip. Tasty and a good way to eat your veggies!

  38. My favorite appetizers to make & eat are; shrimp cocktail, asst. gourmet cheeses with grapes platter, Brushetta with toasted baguette rounds. All easy peasy! Thanks for a great giveaway!

  39. My whole family loves these little bites. You only need 3 ingredients, and they are super easy to make. I suggest you make a double batch, as they disappear fast!

    1 pound sliced bacon
    1 package (16 ounces) miniature smoked sausage links
    1 cup packed brown sugar

    Cut each bacon strip in half widthwise. Wrap one piece of bacon around each sausage.
    Place in a foil-lined baking pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 30-40 minutes or until bacon is crisp.

  40. Whenever I'm feeling in the mood to impress I make strawberries filled with cheesecake!! They look beautiful and taste even better. There are never any leftovers as they all get eaten up within the first few minutes of a party or bbq! And the best part is they are SUPER easy to make. Here's how:
    --1 container of Large strawberries (I find it better to buy them at a healthy whole foods type store as the strawberries tend to be organic or larger than the store bought kind)
    --1 container of Philedelphia Cream Cheese Original Cheesecake filling
    --a little bit of hazelnut for garnishing

    cut the bottom off the strawberry then cut off the top and use a melon baller to take out the inside, creating a hollow area for the filling. I use a cake decorating bag to put the filling in because it adds that extra neat look. Put in the filling then sprinkle some hazelnut on top. Done!

    Here's Martha Stewarts version...all homemade of course.
    http://www.marthastewart.com/article/filled-strawberries

  41. I like to make a Greek Yogurt dip with drained Yogurt, cucumbers, minced garlic, a little olive oil, lemon juice and some chopped fresh Dill. I serve it with warm pita bread, olives, sliced tomatoes and chunks of Feta cheese.

    philfarms

  42. Like to make spaghetti sauce in the am, so that in the pm, after class, friends can come over and have a decent meal.

  43. Appetizers and finger foods are my favorites! I try to match what I serve to the crowd. My brother and I love chicken livers - no one else in the family will touch them - so I usually make some chicken liver pate with a touch of brandy for us to enjoy!

    I watch for frozen shrimp to go on sale and I stock up. Marinated cold shrimp (you can just use bottled Italian dressing) drained well on a bed of ice looks like you're a gourmet!

    A great summertime appetizer is to roll out a tube of crescent roll dough on a cookie sheet (seal all the seams) and bake according to instructions. Then top with softened cream cheese that you've seasoned with garlic or cilantro or your favorite herb flavors. Top with freshly diced vegetables - cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, zucchini - and cut into squares. I've done the same thing in the winter with olives or capers. EASY and good.

    Lastly, I love deviled eggs, too. But if I don't have time to make pretty ones, I make egg salad. I line a small bowl with plastic wrap. Spoon in my egg salad, pressing lightly to eliminate any air pockets. I leave that covered in the fridge for an hour or so. When I get to the party, I turn the bowl over onto a serving plate, peel off the plastic wrap and surround the egg salad with crackers or garnish with olives or parsley. For me, it is usually quicker that making each deviled egg.

    PS...I use my slow cooker at least three times each week. I actually have two and often cook ahead for those days when reheating is all I can manage!

  44. My favorite appetizer is spanikopita. They are very time consuming to make, but they are soooo delicious! Thanks for the great giveaway.

  45. Mmm, I love homemade bruschetta...just toast the french bread, and use the toast as a grater for fresh garlic. Then spoon some tomatoes and basil and oregano on top.

  46. I also love to make spinach in a bread bowl. But some others I like are a hot spinach/artichoke dip and little smokies with bacon wrapped around them and brown sugar sprinkled over them then baked. People actually fight over the little smokies. YUM!

  47. My favorite Slow Cooker item is boneless rib tips in bar b que sauce. After a day of slow cooking, there is nothing better

  48. I actually just made a cheesy chip dip in my slow cooker this past weekend. It was such a hit I'm going to have to make it every time I have company! Instant favorite!

  49. Blend 1 15 ounce can of refried beans, a cup of sharp cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup milk, and three teaspoons of hot sauce. Heat until melted.

    I usually do this in the microwave but I'm think that it would be perfect for a crock pot and you could use it as a party dip that way.

  50. I have a recipe for dilly dip and have fresh veggies to dip. I love fresh peas in their pods. takes me back to days of getting fresh peas off of the canning factory trucks, sitting in the shade and sharing with my friends.

  51. I just bought a crock pot, and don't know what to put in it! This would really help. Thanks for the giveaway!

  52. I work a 72-hour work week. Believe me, I would be at a total loss without my slow cooker. I am always looking for new recipes.

  53. I love making fruit dip and fresh fruit! It's so easy too. And my kids love the dill dip in a pumpernickel bowl that I make as well.

  54. In my drinking days I enjoyed Amaretto Sours, but now I limit myself to Almond Sour Punch:

    1 12 ounce can thawed Lemonade Concentrate
    1 12 ounce can thawed Orange Juice Concentrate
    2 cups Sugar
    2 or more tablespoons Almond Extract
    1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
    2 2-liter bottles Club Soda

    Orange Slices
    Maraschino Cherries
    Additional juice for Ice Molds

    Combine all ingredients except club soda, stirring to dissolve sugar, and chill until serving time. When ready to serve put half of base (½ liter or slightly more than 2 cups) in punch bowl and gently stir in one bottle of club soda. Mixture foams considerably--use a large container! Float Orange slices and ice molds in punch. Add a cherry to each cup of punch if desired.
    yield: 5 liters (about 6½ quarts)

  55. I love Avocados and Guacamole this is a new way to use the dip as an appetizer.

    GUACAMOLE BISCUIT BITES

    1 bag Pillsbury Grands frozen Southern Style Biscuits
    1 container (12 oz) refrigerated guacamole (or your own homemade)

    TOPPINGS, as desired

    Shredded lettuce
    Chopped fresh cilantro
    Crumbled cooked bacon
    Chopped fresh tomato
    Finely chopped onion
    Sliced ripe olives
    Grated Cheddar cheese

    DIRECTIONS

    1. Heat oven to 375°F. Bake biscuits as directed on bag. Cool 15 minutes.

    2. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. With serrated knife, cut biscuits horizontally in half. Place cut sides up on cookie sheet. Bake about 8 minutes or until cut sides are lightly toasted. Immediately remove biscuits from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

    3. When cool, spread each biscuit with slightly less than 1 tablespoon guacamole. Top with 1 or 2 of the toppings. (or do several toppings and let your guests choose their own)

    Hope you like it and thank you for the chance to win the book and appetizer sampler

  56. Bacon wrapped water chestnuts never make it to the table at our parties. There is always a crowd in the kitchen eager to burn thier mouths with that bacony goodness.

  57. How's this for quick and easy (and a little spicy and a lot of yummy)!

    Duck Dip
    2 blocks of cream cheese
    2 - 7 ¾ oz cans El Pato-one yellow can and one green can (El Pato is Mexican tomato sauce/hot sauce found with other Mex food in the grocery store...there is a duck on the can...El Pato!)

    Mix together in a blender or food processor.
    Serve with Ruffles potato chips or tortilla chips.

  58. I like to make cherry tomatoes stuffed with ricotta cheese and topped w/chives. I also make pinwheels as appetizers. The pinwheels are simple enough that my 4 year old can help. I also like grape tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil on a skewer as appetizer.
    [email protected]

  59. I don't cook much any more but I'm adventuroous and I'll eat almost everything (lot more than just five). I'd like to win this to give to my dd who is a marvelous cook.

  60. I wish I had those recipes for the baby shower I just threw. I'm just getting into doing some slow cooker recipes so this prize looks interesting to me.

  61. My favorite is an appetizer with cheese dip, salsa and hamburger mixed together and lots of dorito chips. Yummy!

  62. My favorite appitizer is a tray with cheese, cured meats, olives and peppers. Add bread and you've just made my favorite lunch!

  63. When we go out we tend to devour the bread products offered as appitizers while at home we have crackers, cheese, and pepperonis for guests.

  64. That's so funny. Your three appetizers are the exact same ones that I always take to parties/get-togethers, deviled eggs, spinach dip and and veggie tray with ranch dressing.

  65. I like to make various bruschetta's on toasts and fruit with a yogurt dip. I really need more simple appetizer ideas.

  66. Love my slow cooker , I would love the cookbook. And who doesn't love appetizers especially shrimp wrapped in bacon with kahlua coconut sauce.

  67. I love finger foods - anything that is easy to just pop into your mouth. But my favorite of all time - sushi. Although I could really make a meal out of it - and do often.

  68. One problem I find with vegetable platters no matter where I go is that there is never enough dip for all the vegetables. Once the dip is gone, everyone stops eating the vegetables. Caterers are the worse for this.

  69. Beth Hensperger rocks. I already own her Gourmet Potluck cookbook, which is packed with yummy crowd-pleasing recipes, so I'm sure the slow-cooker cookbook would provide many new tasty recipes for my family as well!

  70. I love using my slow cooker for easy family meals and appetizers. My favorite party appetizer is yummy sweet & sour meatballs made in the slow cooker with chili sauce and grape jelly. So easy and people enjoy them.

  71. Appetizers are my favorite food group! I make sausage balls (the Bisquick kind) a lot, and deviled eggs (easy and cheap!).
    I make an easy beef stew in the crockpot: frozen beef (any kind will do, the cheaper the better), frozen stew vegetable mix and an undiluted can of tomato soup. Turn it on and go.

  72. I love deviled eggs and I love wild mushroom brushchetta. I also love mushrooms stuffed with spinach, walnuts and feta cheese. I also make puff pastry pinwheels with spinach and feta. thanks!

  73. My favorite appetizers are some standard oldies that are surprisingly easy: shrimp toast (people go CRAZY for shrimp!), dates wrapped in bacon, and stuffed mushrooms.

    I YEARN for that Crockpot book! I've been really working the same 3 recipes in my crockpot and would like to explore some more.

  74. My crock pot is my best tool in the kitchen. I get off at 5 pm, hungry by 5:30. My husband gets home after dark, whatever time that might be in any given season. This book will help out to give some variety.

    Artichoke dip is my most favorite.

    Fav Punch recipe:
    BLACK CHERRY PUNCH

    2 packs BC Kool-aide drink mix
    1 cup sugar
    1 large can pineapple juice
    2 liters ginger ale or lemon lime soda (choice)

  75. My son and I just made Pot Stickers last weekend. YUM! They certainly didn't look very good, but the taste was perfect!

  76. Chicken livers wrapped in bacon, baked in a very hot oven. YummY! Oh - I know, so many people hate liver, and it's horrible for the colesterol levels! But, gosh are they good! My mom always made them for parties and they went like hot cakes.

  77. I love deviled eggs! We also have a dip mix that I buy, I'd tell you what it is but I don't have any on hand and can never remember who makes it. Anyway - it's a spicy artichoke spinach dip that comes in a jar and you mix 1/5 of the jar with a block of cream cheese - served it with corn chips. It is very yummy! Over Christmas I tried making crab ragoons and the filling part was really good as a cracker spread, my dough didn't taste so good but the insides were great. I need to try to make them again!

    I love cookbooks, I love stuff from homemade gourmet and I love winning prizes so... thanks for hosting this giveaway!

  78. My favorite appetizer is mushrooms stuffed with crabmeat. I, also, make a great crabmeat dip that is to die for.

  79. My favorite appetizer is muchrooms stuffed with crabmeat. I, also, make a great crabmeat dip that is to die for.

  80. I usually make artichoke/spinach dip for parties. But I love my crock pot, and am constantly searching the internet for new recipes. I'd love this cookbook

  81. I like to make the little cocktail wieners wrapped in dough and baked. My other creations are bowls of chips,pretzels and dip.

  82. A mexican bean dip that when we have it at family get togethers we all fill up on it and don't want much of the main dish.

  83. I love appetizers because they are so easy! I love tapas which are so close to appetizers too! Faves - seafood! Dips! anything fattening really! and always love little smokies for some really odd reason!

  84. ok I do lazy ones- cb sauce and smokies in a crockpot and warm and stick pretzel sticks out so they can use those to grab or I put them on a plate with the pretzels

  85. My brother makes and excellent dip... mix and heat on the stove 8 oz. cream cheese and a can of chili (any kind of chili works- vegetarian, turkey, chicken, etc.) Serve warm. We usually use tortilla chips for dipping. I have been known to ruin my appetite for dinner with this dip. Delicious!

  86. Mmm, honey, next time you make those deviled eggs I'll take care of your hubby's share of them. :) One of my favorite appetizers to make is a fruit and spice dip. The spice dip is really simple to make, but very yummy: it's whipping cream, nutmeg, allspice, and... something else ... I can't remember because it's in my cupboard and I don't feel like getting up. But it's tasty. You dip fresh fruit into it, and it's heavenly. For party punch I do a variety of things, but one touch I like to add is cute ice. For my girls' birthday parties I made letter and number ice from those silicone ice trays and put it in the punchbowl; it was so cute! You can also buy some that look like flowers or other various things to match the theme of the party.

  87. My mom used to make barbecue meat cups, which I love to take to gatherings at work. They are simple and quick to make with hamburger, barbecue sauce, refrigerator biscuits and cheese.

  88. I love making my little smokey jim's as my kids call them. You use little little smokey sausages and cover them in Puff pastry (store bought works fine) and bake them til they are crispy. Then we have warmed Cheez Whiz or Ranch Dressing to dip them in. Yummy.

  89. I always need ideas of what to bring. When we have to bring something I pray for the paper goods or chips. I can cook/bake or whatever but all of my creativity is generally zapped from my brain the minute I am called upon to bring something in, In other words, "I choke". HELP ME PLEASE... have a family reunion coming up would love the help on what to bring. These people only see me once a year I should make a better impression this year than last.

  90. WOW I would love to win. I love cooking in the crockpot but get bored easily with the cookbook I have.

  91. This would be cool to win - I am always trying to figure out new things to make in the kitchen. These recipes look like they would be great.

  92. I can't get enough of slow cooker recipes. I love using my crock pot but sometimes it's easy to get in a rut and cook the same recipes over and over again. Thanks for this sweepstakes.

  93. I would love to try Beth Hensperger's slow cooker recipes! While I'm still in my pajamas, I enjoy getting supper all prepared and ready to cook itself the rest of the day. The Raspberry Velvet Fruit Dip would be very popular with my family.

  94. I really love it when someone brings a veggie tray with good dip! I also like those little cocktail smokies in bbq sauce. :)

  95. My favorites to make are definitely cheddar stuffed mushrooms and lil piggies in a blanket. Thanks for the chance.

  96. I just ran across a recipe that probably everyone else knows about, but it's new to me...buffalo chicken dip! MMM! We love chicken wings and this is just like eating them, but without the messy fingers. I also like asian food, so egg rolls and dumplings are great appetizers, too!

  97. I love baked brie with pears and apples, different salsas and chips (my personal favorite is pineapple salsa) and I think hummus with pita crisps is great too.
    Thanks for sharing~ I'm a big fan of the slow cooker.

  98. My favorite appetizers are simple and can be made well in advance. I usually go for a sort of loosely-Mediterranian theme, with things like bowls of hummus and babaganoush (plus chunks of pita bread for dipping), stuffed grape leaves, tiny pastries filled with cheese and spinach, sliced tomatoes dressed with fresh basil & olive oil, fresh mozzarella cheese and assorted olives.

    Blather From Brooklyn

  99. Two of my all-time favorite appetizers are:
    Hanky Pankys
    1 lb Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage
    1 lb Jimmy Dean Regular Sausage
    1 lb Velvetta
    Brown both sausages and add velvetta in clumps to melt. Place a heaping tablespoon of sausage on party rye bread and place on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

    My husband loves those and we often have them for dinner.

    Chicken Salad in Puff Pastry.
    Make your favorite chicken salad recipe (I use cooked chicken breasts (cubed), Mayo, slivered almonds, celery cut into slices, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tsp Accent, and about 4 tablespoons sweet onion, minced.) Buy those Puff Pastry shells and scoop the chicken salad into them. Works great for parties.

  100. A must-have appetizer for any of our get togethers is Southwest Corn Dip - it's addictive, and simple to prepare. Mix a 15 oz can of Mexicorn, 1 cup of mayonnaise, 1 cup of Colby Jack shredded cheese, 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, and a 4 oz can of diced green chiles together in a medium microwave-safe bowl, cover and microwave on high heat for 5-6 mins, stirring halfway through. Serve with tortilla chips.
    The recipe for Brie & Walnut Tartlets on http://www.puffpastry.com is also very tasty, but a bit more time-consuming.

  101. An easy appetizer recipe that turns out really elegant is:

    ARTICHOKE BRUSCHETTA
    (makes 28 appetizers)

    *French baguette, thinly sliced into 28 rounds
    *2 cloves garlic
    *1 (12-oz.) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained, patted dry
    *1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
    *6 tablespoons mayonnaise
    *1/4 teaspoon white pepper
    *1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

    Preheat oven to 350*F. Toast baguette slices for 5 minutes, flip, and bake for two minutes more. Cool completely.

    Add garlic to the bowl of a mini food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add artichoke hearts and pulse a few times until roughly chopped. Place garlic and artichoke mixture in a bowl with Parmesan, mayonnaise, white pepper, and cayenne. Mix to form a thick spread.

    Preheat broiler. Top bread rounds with spread. Arrange bruschetta on baking sheets. Broil until spread is heated through and begins to brown, about 2-3 minutes.

    NOTE: Bread rounds can be baked and stored in an airtight plastic bag and spread can be prepared in advance. Allow spread to come to room temperature before assembling bruschetta and broiling.

    Two more of my favorites for impressive, yummy (and relatively healthy) appetizers that are easy to prepare are:

    Caprese on a Stick http://www.oprah.com/recipe/food/recipesappetizers/food_20060512_stick

    and Stuffed Strawberries http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Stuffed-Strawberries/Detail.aspx -- but I substitute 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract for the orange liqueur, and I find that the cream cheese mixture is enough to stuff TWO pints of strawberries rather than one

    My current favorite (and easy!) punch recipe is below:

    MOCK CHAMPAGNE
    (makes 40 servings)

    *2 (2 liter) bottles ginger ale, chilled
    *1 (46 oz.) can pineapple juice, chilled
    *1 (64 oz.) bottle white grape juice, chilled

    To make ice ring, fill a bundt pan halfway with ginger ale. Freeze until partially frozen. Place edible flowers or pieces of fruit around the ring. Top off pan with ginger ale and freeze until solid. Just before serving
    place ice ring in large punch bowl and add remaining bottle of ginger ale, pineapple juice and white grape juice.

    Okay...sorry to go overboard with the sharing! :) I love hosting parties and showers, so appetizers are one of my favorite things to make and serve. And as far as the slow cooker goes, I would estimate that I use it to cook about 75% of our dinners ever since having a baby! SUCH a timesaver...

  102. I love using the crock pot at this time of year... You prep it in the a.m. and come home to a nice hot meal.

  103. I love cookbooks and this one sounds awesome. One of my favorite appetizers is warm artichoke dip with flatbread. I just built a new log home so entertaining is looming on the horizon for me.
    Thanks,
    Tammy

  104. My slow cooker is my secret weapon for parties and holiday food prep. I would love another cookbook with a different perspective on slow cooking. As far as appys go I love stuffed mushrooms, tiny quiches and mini crab cakes along with 1 or 2 tried and true dips.

  105. I love all kinds of cookbooks and this one sounds awesome. Just built a new log home so entertaining is definately on the horizon for me.
    Thanks,
    Tammy

  106. If there is a chance to win a cookbook, I'm in! I'm not a frequent crockpotter, but I've seen the "Not Your Mother's" book and have been interested in checking it out.

    My favorite appetizers to bring are usually vegetable-based (to counteract all the usually heavy, cream- or cheese-based dips that are present.) One that always goes over well is my huge plate of grilled vegetables. It works well because it serves perfectly at room-temp.

    I grill up a bunch of colorful veggies: zucchini, yellow squash, asparagus, eggplant, mushrooms, green onions, red peppers (removing the blackened skin of course) and arrange them on a nice platter, then pour an herbed balsamic marinade over the whole thing. Yummy.

  107. My friend taught me how to make fried rice balls. They have cheese and meat in them. They are my favorite thing to make.
    I'm really picky so I usually just eat chips and dip at parties.

  108. I believe in simplicity, and THREE ingredients....well, it doesn't get simpler than that. Here is my party appetizer recipe, there are never any left, ever.

    Ham/Cream Cheese/Horseradish Rollups

    Have your deli man slice deli ham about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, it has to be strong and thick enough to spread cream cheese on. I generaly buy 10 slices.

    Buy 2 8-oz pkgs cream cheese (solid, not whipped) and soften to room temp so it's nice and spreadable. Put into a bowl, and add white horseradish to taste! Don't overdo it or underdo it, it has to have a little kick to it. Spread the cream cheese/horseradish mixture on the ham slices, roll up, then slice into one-inch pieces.

    Arrange on a pretty plate, and there you have it. Delicious, addictive, fun party food.

    Great giveaway, I'm making Tortilla Soup, I put it together this morning, in my slow cooker!

  109. I am always looking for new slow cooker recipes. I have never had a bad meal when using a crock pot. My favorite is chili.

  110. After going to the homemade gourmet, I was really impressed. For appetizers I usually do bacon wrapped shrimp, dips, and some type of fruit and angel food cake.

  111. Slow cookers are so great. I've been wanting to get a new one for a while (mine broke before our last move and I haven't replaced it yet), and this cookbook would be perfect as a motivator and to give me some fun new ideas for entertaining!

  112. I had the best stuffed red bell peppers at a fantastic restaurant in Tukwilla, WA. I "google" the restaurant and was able to find the recipe on their site!
    Basically its goat cheese and garlic and other wondrous things, baked into a red pepper and served with baked bread.
    Awesome.

  113. I'm with you on the deviled eggs - I could eat them all day, but I don't because my husband isn't big on them. I love to make appetizers! I make "Chicken Puffies"...mix cream cheese, shredded chicken, and parsley together. Spoon the filling into Pillsbury crescent rolls and bake. So yummy! I also love this simple apple dip: one block of cream cheese, 3/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. Mix it all together and that's it. You've got to try it.

  114. A great appetizer that we love is ground beef turnovers! Saute groundbeef with onions and all your favorite spices. Cut Pepperidge farm pastry sheets into triangles, fill center, fold and press firmly together. Paint with egg yolks. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees! Yum!

  115. OK, I am going to go with my super simple party punch. Seriously, so easy and nobody will know how easy it was if you don't tell them!

    Mix equal parts lemon lime soda (generic works fine here, 7 up is my fave though) and Orange juice. Add crushed ice (if you have a Sonic near you, they have the perfect ice for this!).

    That's it..Yup, that is all. And it is always a hit when I serve it!

  116. I don't make these often enough - Ham and Cheese Pinwheels.

    Take a tub of crossiants (not baked) and roll them out. Put a layer of mustard, slice of ham, and cheddar cheese. Roll the crossiants up and bake until golden brown.

    Yum!

  117. I'm really not good with original ideas for get-togethers. Recently, I had brie baked in a puff pastry with a honey-garlic-walnut sauce--it was divine, and reminded me of a garlicky baklava! I usually make tzatziki and pitas for a family get-together. Everyone loves them, even the kids. I'm with you on having pictures for recipes. I like to see what it's supposed to look like.

    My sister-in-law baked cupcakes in little paper cups for my niece's birthday. They were polka-dot, and so cute! You must make sure that the cups are JUST paper, though--no wax!

  118. I'm all about good flatbreads with a bunch of fabulous dips and spread! I also make a mean salsa!
    This cookbook looks fantastic, I'll have to check it out!

  119. I love an excuse to make appetizers and try out new recipes. Jalapeno Poppers (homemade, of course) and Veggie Pizza are two of my favorites.

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