These tasty bites will be a wonderful addition to your Simple Celebration table. You can experiment with different fillings using the same method.
Crab and Cream Cheese Wonton Appetizer
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 4 ounces lump crabmeat drained and diced
- 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp jalapeño pepper minced
- 2 Tbsp chives snipped
- 1 Tbsp dill chopped
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 24 wonton wrappers
- cooking spray
- Creamy Seafood Sauce* for dipping - see link below
Instructions
- Place a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in oven and preheat to 350°.
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Lay out each wonton wrapper on waxed paper.
- Scoop a heaping teaspoon of crab mixture into the center of each wonton.
- Moisten the wonton edges with water. Lift two opposite corners and pinch together. Repeat with other two corners to form a star.
- Transfer the wontons to the hot baking sheet and generously spray with cooking spray.
- Bake until golden brown, 16 to 18 minutes.
Notes
Click here for Creamy Seafood Sauce
We had so much fun playing around with different ways to decorate our “snowman.” We ended up going the tropical route and served him on a plate with brown sugar “sand,” a tropical drink umbrella, a beach ball, and a sand dollar. How will you theme your snowman?
Tropical (or not) Snowman Cheese Ball
Servings 10
Ingredients
- 2 8 oz packages cream cheese room temperature
- 1/2 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- 1/4 cup chives snipped
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan
- 10 peppercorns
- 1 piece red licorice
- 3 pieces dried cherries
- 2 wafer sticks or pretzel sticks
- 1 carrot very tip cut off
Instructions
- Put cream cheese, monterey jack cheese, spices, hot sauce and chives in a medium bowl. Mix.
- Place in the refrigerator for at least an hour or until cream cheese has set.
- Make 3 balls in varying sizes. Roll balls in the shredded parmesan cheese. Place on a platter. Secure with a wooden skewer cut to the height of the snowman.
- Decorate with peppercorns, licorice, wafer sticks, and dried cherries.
Notes
If you want to make it tropical put brown sugar or crushed graham crackers on the plate for "sand." Serve with crackers.
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Not only does this appetizer make a beautiful presentation, many steps may be made in advance of your simple celebration. You can either serve this as an appetizer or put 3 on each plate and make it a first course.
Shrimp, Avocado and Sun-Dried Tomato Crostini
Servings 9
Ingredients
- 1 sourdough baguette sliced into 18 pieces
- 1 ½ Tbsp olive oil
- 18 X-large raw shrimp shelled and deveined
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
- 4 ounces low-fat cream cheese room temperature
- 1 tsp fresh dill minced
- 1 tsp red onion diced
- 1/2 ripe avocado sliced into 18 small slices
- 18 pieces sun-dried tomatoes cut into small pieces
Instructions
Baguette (can be made earlier in the day)
- Preheat oven broiler.
- Place 18 slices on baguette on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Put 1 Tbsp olive oil in a small bowl and brush oil over each baguette slice.
- Broil until slices turn slightly brown. This will be a quick 1 -2 minutes.
Shrimp (can be made earlier in the day)
- Heat 1/2 Tbsp olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat.
- Add shrimp, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Cook shrimp until it turns pink and curls, about 4 minutes
- If you are not assembling the appetizer at this point, refrigerate the shrimp and take out about 30 minutes in advance to let it get to room temperature.
Cream Cheese Mixture
- Place cream cheese, dill and red onions in a small bowl and stir.
Assembly
- Place baguette slices on a platter. Spread the cream cheese mixture over each piece.
- Next place a shrimp, avocado slice and sun-dried tomato over the cream cheese and serve.
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If you need an appetizer that requires no cooking, comes together in less than five minutes and is easy to transport, this shrimp dip is for you!
Cold Shrimp Appetizer
Servings 6
Calories 140kcal
Ingredients
- 8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese softened
- 2 Tbsp light mayonnaise
- 4 1/2 ounce can deveined shrimp rinsed and drained OR cooked shrimp
- 3 Tbsp dried minced onions or 1/4 cup minced fresh onion
- 1 Tbsp fresh dill minced
- 2 dashes hot sauce
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Mix cream cheese and mayo until creamy.
- Add onion, dill, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce and stir.
- Fold in the shrimp and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Serve with your favorite crackers.
- Made with fresh shrimp
This appetizer can be as spicy as you want – it all depends on the level of heat in the salsa you use.
Hot and Spicy Shrimp Dip
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 1 can artichoke hearts 14 oz., drained and diced
- 1 can medium deveined shrimp 4 oz. or fresh cooked shrimp, drained and roughly chopped
- 1 package low fat cream cheese 3 oz., softened
- 1/2 cup low fat mayo
- 1/2 cup salsa - mild medium or hot can be used as well
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 3 green onions sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Combine all ingredients except green onions and put in a pretty pie or quiche plate.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Top with green onions.
- Serve with vegetables, vegetable chips (we like Terra Exotic Vegetable Chips) or whole wheat crackers.
By having a few ingredients on hand, you can put this appetizer together in no time. Purchase smoked salmon in the package and it will last several months before opening. Purchase a baguette, slice it, and freeze the slices in a freezer bag – it will last for about a month. Capers come jarred and have along shelf life. Cream cheese, red onion, and dill sprigs are all that’s left to buy. This elegant appetizer will get your simple celebration started in minutes!
Elegant Smoked Salmon Appetizer
Servings 12
Ingredients
- 1 package sliced smoked salmon
- 1 baguette
- 8 ounces softened cream cheese or whipped
- 1/2 jar capers
- 1 small red onion sliced very thin optional
- dill sprigs or chives
Instructions
- Slice the baguette into thin angled slices.
- Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on each baguette slice.
- Top with capers (about 6-8 per slice) and red onion.
- Add a piece of smoked salmon that covers about 3/4 of the bread.
- Top with a sprig of dill or chives.
- Place on a pretty platter and serve.