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By Carol StanleyFebruary 03, 2023Lifestyle
I have changed the way I entertain friends over the past several years. I rarely have dinner parties and large groups to my house.
Many of my friends are on special diets or have certain health concerns, so I choose to entertain with a variety of appetizers. I still ask people ahead of time if they have any issues with different foods.
Suggested pantry and fridge items to have on hand:
several cans of garbanzo beans
a carton of sour cream
mayonnaise (made with olive oil)
a block of cheddar or pepper jack cheese
a small box of whole grain crackers
a large bag of grated Parmesan/Romano cheese
a small can of crab meat
green and black olives
red and white wine
a few cans of beer
flavored water (for non-drinking friends)
This recipe is delicious and loved by almost everyone.
Ingredients
Grated Parmesan/Romano cheese
Black pepper/lemon spice (optional)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Line a large cookie sheet with foil.
Pour the cheese over the foil making sure it is as flat as possible.
Bake in the oven until the top is totally brown and no longer bubbling.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Break the cheese in small pieces.
Ingredients
Approximately 1/4 cup of olive oil, sesame seed oil or avocado oil.
You can vary the amount of some or all of these spices to your particular taste.
Directions
Preheat oven to 350
Pour the oil in a small bowl.
Add the seasonings of your choice to the oil and blend well.
Pour the nuts in a separate bowl and slowly trickle in the oil.
Stir the nut mixture until the nuts are fully covered.
Spread the nuts on a cookie sheet.
Bake the mixture for about 20 minutes.
Turn off the oven and leave the nuts in the oven for about 15 minutes.
Remove the nuts from the oven and allow to sit about 1 hour.
Store the nuts in a container with a lid.
I often have a batch of this delicious Hummus in the fridge, as we love it. Occasionally, when I don’t feel like cooking dinner, this hummus – served with veggies and a glass of wine – does the trick for dinner. The dip keeps in the fridge for about 6 days.
Ingredients
1 medium can of garbanzo beans
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
1/4 cup of sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon of curry powder, oregano and garlic powder
salt and pepper to your taste
Directions
Drain the beans and rinse.
Pour all ingredients in a blender and blend until very smooth.
Serve with cut up celery, peppers, carrots and small crackers.
Ingredients
1 cup of sour cream
1/2 cup of mayonnaise
1/4 cup of chopped green onions
3 large green olives or 5 black olives, chopped
juice of one lemon
1 small can of crab meat
1 teaspoon of garlic salt, oregano, marjoram, tarragon and cayenne pepper (optional)
Directions
Blend together the sour cream and mayonnaise.
Add the chopped green onions.
Add the seasonings.
Drain the crab meat and add to the blend.
Mix the dip thoroughly until everything is blended well.
Serve with celery and small crackers.
Serving appetizers and finger food is an easy way to entertain. People love to pick and choose without feeling obligated to eat everything.
Do you have some favorite appetizers to share? Do you think this could be a new way to have a dinner party? Please share your thoughts below.
I think it’s a fabulous idea! As I’ve been aging, I find I just can not eat as much as I used to. I imagine some others feel the same way. This is more casual than a dinner party and could be served with a glass of wine as a buffet arrangement. Lovely!
Carol Stanley has many interests in life including writing, reading, cooking, biking and speaking. However, she feels most passionate about her painting which she says keeps her centered and content. Her art appears on Fine Art America at https://bit.ly/2vnFulN. You can also visit Carol’s website athttp://feelbettereveryday.blogspot.comwhere her book, Feel Better Every Day, is available for sale.
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Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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