Need to impress your friends this holiday with a fabulous appetizer but you're strapped for time? Try one of these tasty, simple recipes that are sure to please.
Easy Cheddar-Chive Sausage Bites
Ingredients- 1 pound uncooked lean breakfast sausage
- 2 cups (8 ounces) grated light cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh chives
- 2 cups all purpose baking mix (can be found in your baking aisle; comes gluten free too)
- Pinch of cayenne (optional)
- 2 large eggs
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Combine the ingredients in a large bowl; mix well. Roll into 1-inch balls and place 1 inch apart on the baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes; cool slightly before you serve. Yields 35 bites.
More: Easy, Tasty, Stress-Free Holiday Recipes for People Who Hate Cooking
Spiced Popcorn
Ingredients- 1 cup popcorn kernels
- 2 to 3 tablespoons seasoning (can use seafood seasoning like Old Bay, herbs de Provence, pizza seasoning, parmesan and garlic powder, smoked paprika)
- 1/4 cup melted butter
Pop popcorn and transfer to large bowl. Drizzle popcorn with melted butter and mix well. Add seasoning one tablespoon at a time and mix in well; add desired amount, depending on how flavorful or subtle you like it. Yields about 16 cups.
More: A Healthy Makeover for Holiday Desserts
Homemade Pita Chips and Hummus
Ingredients- One package pita pockets
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Grated Parmesan
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut pita bread into quarters, then cut into eighths. Place pita bread in a single layer on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, salt and grated parmesan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Serve with hummus, carrots and celery for a healthy treat.
More: How to Indulge This Holiday Season and Not Gain Weight
Smoked Salmon Crackers
Ingredients- 1 sleeve butter crackers (like Ritz)
- 4 ounces softened light cream cheese
- 3 tablespoons fresh chives
- 1 tablespoon horseradish
- Pinch of coarse salt and ground pepper
- 4 ounces smoked salmon, sliced thin
Mix all the ingredients except for salmon together in one bowl. Spread thinly onto a butter cracker and top with a piece of sliced salmon. Repeat. Yields 24 bite-sized snacks.
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Goat Cheese Pops
Ingredients- 8 ounces chevre goat cheese
- 5 slices crispy cooked bacon, crumbled to make vegetarian, add chopped, rinsed, patted-dry sun-dried tomatoes and sliced, patted-dry olives in lieu of bacon)
- 1/4 cup chopped basil
- 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
- 24 lollipop sticks
Roll cheese into balls. Mix bacon, basil, and pecans in a bowl. Coat the cheese in bacon, pecan, herb mixture. Insert lollipop stick into each ball and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
More: 10 Store-Bought Holiday Foods That Taste Good
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