What is your favorite, easy, just set it out appetizer/happy hour snack?

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1

I need some inspiration/new ideas for some super easy yet interesting appetizers/snacks to serve. Something nicer than just a plate of cheese and crackers. Maybe something that is, “pretty.” But, I am not interested in anything that has to be heated up or assembled at the last minute. Just things that can be made ahead and pulled out of the icebox during happy hour.

One of my go-tos (which I have shared before) is the stacking on a frilly toothpick of a cube of Manchego cheese, a piece of arugula, and a cube of guava paste.

I do like pick up individually things as opposed to dippy/spready things, but I am open to any suggestions.

2

Similar to your toothpicks - I do one that is a cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and a basil leaf. I usually bring a nice quality balsamic for dipping.

Another favorite that I grew up with is prosciutto and cantaloupe

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3

My family lives the oh so popular charcuterie board (we have great Italian delis), another simple go to are deviled eggs, there’s never any left. I recently made an olive tapenade for a get together.

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Cream cheese - not sure if it is called that in the States, Philadelphia is a trade name of it - in the middle of a large platter. Pour sweet chilli sauce over the cheese. Sprinkle with fresh coriander - cilandro? - and then surround the cheese with spicy baked rice crackers.

People pick up a cracker and scoop up a bit of cheese and sauce and coriander. An absolute marvel :blush:

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5

Manchego cheese, acorn-fed Spanish ham and quince or fig preserves.

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6

A mix of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. I buy them at Costco, wash them and put them in a big bowl.

7

That sounds interesting. I like cream cheese with red pepper jelly over it, served with Triscuits.

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I remember this concept was big in the 70’s, I think my mom used cocktail sauce.

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I have two.

  1. Take a block of cream cheese and put in the center of a plate. Mix some horseradish and apricot jam to taste (zingy but not too zingy). Spread crackers around the cream cheese thing… and serve with spreading knife.

  2. Cucumber sandwiches. Mix one packet of good seasons Italian dressing with one block of cream cheese. Spread on little cocktail rye or pumpernickel slices. Top with a slice of cucumber and either sprinkle with dried dill, or top with fresh. I use dried dill…works just fine. These are easy and delicious!

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10

If you are going for a Spanish theme- what about prepare ahead and (then pop in the oven later) bacon wrapped dates?

Or maybe do store bought spanakopita and just pop in the oven?

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11

I like to keep a jar of tapanade and a jar of Cowboy Caviar (both from Trader Joe’s) on hand as well as some chips and crackers. We frequently buy veggie and dip platters at Sam’s (I eat hummus and H eats the ranch style dip).

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12

The cucumbers reminded me - I’ll do cucumber slices with Boursin and smoked salmon.

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13

What is acorn-fed Spanish ham?

14

I like to chop up tomatoes, chop up fresh mozz, add some balsalmic, a few spices, marinate it all, then set it out with little bread sliced thingies for people to make brushetta.

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15

Pickapeppa sauce over cream cheese is popular in the South. Or Jezebel sauce. I forget what is in that - I need to look up a recipe.

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16

Oh, that sounds delicious!

17

The best kind of Spanish jamon serrano. The pigs are only fed acorns and they have black hooves. Jamon serrano is, IMO, 1000x better than prosciutto (of course I am biased and lived in Spain for years)

My favorite is Cinco Jotas jamon de Bellota. Latienda.com is a good website for Spanish foods.

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18

Thank you so much, my mom used that a lot and I couldn’t remember the name!

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19

I think I’ll do this for our neighborhood Halloween house crawl!

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Thin roast beef, grapes, and blue cheese. Either on mini skewers (roast beef is scrunched to fit), or make roast beef pockets with a toothpick to hold them closed.

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