Easy appetizers for spring entertaining
Spring is here and that usually means that the invitations start
up for gatherings with family and friends. The last two weeks have
included a barbecue with friends from high school as well as a baby
shower for family.
Though most people who throw a party don’t ask the guests to
bring along a dish, I always like to bring an appetizer, side dish
or a dessert to share. I always appreciate it when I entertain
because it allows me to focus on the main dish. It’s also a nice
chance to try something new.
Easy appetizers for spring entertaining
Spring is here and that usually means that the invitations start up for gatherings with family and friends. The last two weeks have included a barbecue with friends from high school as well as a baby shower for family.
Though most people who throw a party don’t ask the guests to bring along a dish, I always like to bring an appetizer, side dish or a dessert to share. I always appreciate it when I entertain because it allows me to focus on the main dish. It’s also a nice chance to try something new.
For my friend’s barbecue, I decided to bring pigs in a blanket. Somehow I’ve managed to make it through life so far without making the kid-and-cocktail party friendly appetizer. The dish is simple, though there are a lot of different ways to make it. The basic recipe is some kind of dough wrapped around some kind of hot dog or sausage. My guest for the barbecue is the pigs in the blanket expert so I took his lead with using refrigerated crescent roll dough and Lil’ Smokies sausages. He cooked the dish in the middle of the day, and I allowed them to cool completely before putting them in a plastic container. Then when we arrived at the barbecue, we heated them up in a microwave for a minute. They were still nearly as good as they are fresh from the oven.
Salsa and chips are usually a crowd-pleaser at any gathering as well, but it can be kicked up from the standard bagged fare by making it at home. I found a few recipes for salsa, including a verde salsa that uses lots of tomatillos, which have a tart flavor compared to the sweetness of tomatoes. As for chips, the recipe below is a perfect way to use up extra corn tortillas. The chips are baked with just a little oil and seasoning, so they are crisp and healthier than other store-bought options.
Pigs in a blanket
Recipe courtesy of Pillsbury
2 cans (8 oz. each) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
48 cocktail-sized smoked link sausages or hot dogs (from 16-oz package)
Heat oven to 375°F. Unroll both cans of the dough; separate into 16 triangles. Cut each triangle lengthwise into three narrow triangles.
Place sausage on shortest side of each triangle. Roll up each, starting at shortest side of triangle and rolling to opposite point; place point side down on two ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, switching position of cookie sheets halfway through baking. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm.
1 Serving (1 Snack)
Nutrition facts: Calories 60; (Calories from Fat 35); Total Fat 4g (Saturated Fat 1g); Cholesterol 5mg; Sodium 230mg; Total Carbohydrate 5g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 1g); Protein 2g
Chili tortilla chips
Recipe courtesy of Ellie Krieger
12 six-inch corn tortillas
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tbsp. chili powder
½ tsp. salt
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Cut twelve six-inch corn tortillas into 6 wedges each. Toss the wedges with two tbsp. vegetable oil, two tbsp. chili powder, 1/2 tsp. salt and a pinch of cayenne. Working in batches, spread on two baking sheets; bake at 350 degrees F until golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts – Per serving (6 chips): Calories 80; Fat 3 g (Saturated 0 g); Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 106 mg; Carbohydrate 13 g; Fiber 2 g; Protein 2 g
Salsa verde
8 tomatillos (about 12 ounces)
1/2 c. chopped red onion
1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 tsp. salt
½ tsp. sugar
2 serrano or jalapeño peppers, seeded and quartered
1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles, undrained
Discard husks and stems from the tomatillos. Combine tomatillos and remaining ingredients in a food processor; pulse until coarsely chopped.
