Party Food Ideas

        It's the holiday season! Let’s party!

MEATBALLS

·         Costco meatballs (beef or chicken), heat and softened

·         Sweet peppers, cut to squares, slightly pan fried with olive oil and salt

·         Each toothpick to fix one piece of sweet pepper and one meatballs.

PULLED PORK AND COLESLAW SLIDER

·         Pulled pork, topped with coleslaw, put between the slider buns. Fixed with toothpicks. 

·         Look for more slider buns ideas

BRUSCHETTA (2 dozen)

 INGREDIENTS  

•           1 baguette, cut diagonally into 1/4-inch slices

•           1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra light tasting)

•           1 onion, finely chopped

•           3 garlic cloves, minced

•           1 teaspoon coarse salt

•           1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

•           1 pint canned tomato a pezzetti

•           1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

•           1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, plus more leaves for garnish

•           3/4 cup ricotta cheese (galbani ricotta cheese fat free)

Directions             

1.     Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush 1/4 cup olive oil over bread, and spread on a baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly.

2.     In a large saute pan, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until onions begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, parsley, and thyme; increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring, until tomatoes start to dry and mixture is caramelized, about 10 minutes.            

3.     Spread a heaping teaspoon of ricotta over each toast slice; top with a teaspoon of tomato mixture. Garnish with thyme, and serve.

NO-BAKE GORGONZOLA CHEESE BALLS (20 balls)

INGREDIENTS  

·        4 ounces smoked gorgonzola, at room temperature

·        4 ounces low-fat cream cheese, at room temperature

·        1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped

·        1 tablespoon white wine

·        dash Worcestershire sauce

·        salt and pepper, to taste

·        1 cup nuts, slivered and toasted

·        rosemary sprigs, for garnish

Directions

1.     Combine all ingredients (except nuts and garnish), and blend until creamy. Then, refrigerate until firm.

2.     Scoop out the mixture and roll into balls, and refrigerate again for 15 minutes.

3.     Roll cheese balls in the crushed nut mixture, and garnish with sprigs of rosemary. Add salt and pepper.

4.     Refrigerate until you're ready to serve.

PARMESAN SPINACH BALLS RECIPE (30 balls)

INGREDIENTS 

·        1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and well-drained

·        1 small onion, finely chopped

·        1 1/8 cup herb stuffing or Italian-seasoned bread crumbs

·        3 eggs, beaten

·        1/4 cup melted butter

·        1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

·        1 teaspoon minced garlic or garlic salt

·        1/2 teaspoon black pepper

·        shaved parmesan, for garnish

Directions

1.     Combine drained spinach and whisked eggs with onion, garlic, stuffing, parmesan and butter. Mix well.

2.     Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

3.     Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until slightly crisp. Serve warm.

CAPRESE BITES

• On a decorative toothpick, skewer one cherry tomato, a basil leaf and a small ball of mozzarella. Serve with varieties of marinated olives, sliced Italian meats and breadsticks.

BACON-WRAPPED PINEAPPLE

• Simply wrap pineapple cubes with bacon. Broil, flipping halfway, until crisp (about 8 minutes).