Appetizers & Dips - March 2010

So March is gone, but my mind is still there I guess. March’s theme for our recipe club is Appetizers & Dips.

I very rarely ever use an appetizer for its intended purpose before dinner, so it’s always fun for me to have reasons to hunt down new recipes and try them. I’ve learned that finger foods make the perfect buffets for large groups. It cuts down on the need for full serving set-ups (knife, fork, spoon, etc), seating (everyone can stand, wander or sit as they choose), and serving (you can just “set it out”). And, guests can graze as long and as often as they want. Win-win for me. When I find myself required to serve very large groups (150 or more) it’s sometimes the only viable way to do it—especially with a smaller serving crew. It takes less people to restock and tend a buffet than serve dinner to a crowd.

One of our family-favorite buffets is the potluck appetizer buffet. Everybody brings “stuff”, whether it’s something they’ve always wanted to try, a new recipe, or an old favorite. We put it all out on the counter and dig in. It’s so much fun! There are sweet, savory, ethnic, wow…it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. No one seems to care if we are heavy on one type or have a huge variety. It’s a party. New Years Eve is our big one, but we also do an appetizer buffet in the Spring and the Fall, and sometimes around Christmas.

If you do this with family or friends it might be a good idea to bring recipes printed up for a recipe exchange.

Here’s my favorite part; my kids would eat food in an appetizer that I couldn’t get them to eat anywhere else. It became a really great way to broaden their taste horizons without making it an ordeal. Our favorite Tex-Mex Dip (that’s 7-layer to you) has at least one ingredient in it that every single person in my family dislikes, and yet we all love it and eat it without picking or scraping off. Try them on some hummus, add jicama to your veggie tray. Be brave! (Or, if all else fails, tell them it’s special and rare and you hadn’t planned on serving them any. They’ll be dying to try it.)

Tex-Mex Dip
Dill Dip
Cranberry BBQ Meatballs
Melanie's Cheese Ball