Ideas for Snacky Foods for a Party

I do this a lot and it is fast and easy

1 bag pretzels
1/4 - 1/2 packet of hidden valley ranch dip mix
a little vegetable oil
1 large bag of M&M's

put the pretzels in a large bowl with a lid or a large paper bag. sprinkle about 1 cap-full of vegetable oil over pretzels and shake to coat evenly. sprinkle ranch dip powder and shake to lightly coat. Continue with oil and ranch dip until all pretzels are lightly coated. Add M&MS and mix up.

It's the perfect combo of sweet and salty. It's very addicting!

Our all time favorite dish to bring to parties and such is Fruit Pizza. It takes a bit to make but it is so worth it!

Fruit Pizza

Crust
1 cube of margarine
1/2 cup of sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup of flour
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
pinch of salt
Mix and pat on greased pizza pans (makes 2)
Bake at 350 degrees for 3 - 5 minutes or until golden brown

Topping
8 oz of cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
2 Table spoons of fruit juice from canned fruit
Beat together and spread on the cooled crust. Over this you put:
1 8oz can of chunked pineapple or tidbits
1 can of mandarin oranges
1 lg banana
Fresh or frozen strawberries sliced
seedless grapes cut in half
kiwi fruit

Glaze
Drain Juices of the pineapple and oranges and add 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 rounded table spoons of cornstarch in a sauce pan. Cook until clear and thick. Cool. Then spoon and drizzle over pizzas, especially the bananas to keep them from browning.

This suggestion takes a little time, but I always get rave reviews!!!
Pinwheels
2 cans Crescent dough (or Pillsbury recipe creations)
1 package cream cheese, softened
1 Red Pepper, chopped
1-2 cups Green onion, sliced
1 package bacon, cooked and crumbled

Combine all ingredients(except the dough) together. Seperate out the crescent dough by rectangles. Roll to eliminate the crease. ( I have found that parchment paper on the counter makes the rolling process easier) Spread cream cheese mixture on the dough, and roll up from long side, like a jelly roll. Repeat this with each rectangle. Slice each "roll" into 8 slices and lay flat on a baking sheet so they are not touching. Bake for 10 minutes or until brown in a 350 degree oven. Serve warm.

I have used this recipe for various occasions. The pinwheels can be made ahead and frozen, and warmed when needed. They also are great at a come and go occasion as they don't have to stay heated and taste great at room temperature also.

You can also make a Mexican one that doesn't need to be baked.
Mexican Pinwheels
1 can Refried beans
1 package taco seasoning
green olives, salad slices
red onion, diced
shredded cheese
8 tortillas
Combine 1st 5 ingredients together, spread on a tortilla, and roll. Repeat with 7 more tortillas. Each tortilla can be sliced 8 times and laid flat on a serving tray. Refrigerate until serving.
Have a great party!!!

This stuff is SO good. I mean, it's butter a sugar - how can it not be good? I try to only eat it at parties. :)

Caramel Puffcorn - http://www.olddutchfoods.com/recipe/recipe.php?id=18

Ingredients:
1 Bag of Old Dutch Puffcorn
1 Cup of Butter (Not Margarine)
1 1/4 Cups of Brown Sugar
2/3 Cup of Light Corn Syrup
1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

Preparation:

* Preheat oven to 250°F.
* Combine butter, brown sugar, and light corn syrup in a 2 quart sauce pan.
* Cook on medium heat until mixture has melted.
* Once mixture has melted add the baking soda. (Note: This will cause the mixture to foam)
* In a large roaster pan pour Old Dutch Puffcorn and pour caramel mixture over the Old Dutch Puffcorn and stir until mixed.
* Place in oven for 45 minutes, stirring at least every 10-15 minutes.
* Remove from oven, pour on wax paper and break apart.
* Let cool and ENJOY!

Recipe Variations:

* For a scrumptious addition to this already delicious recipe drizzle melted chocolate over the mixture after you remove it from the oven!

Here's my fall appetizer recipe - it is easy and people really like it...
apples and dip
I buy apples and slice them up - you can put some lemon juice or sprite on them so they don't brown
Dip -- 3/4 of a tub of caramel apple dip (light or regular)
Mix with an 8 oz container of cream cheese -softened
Add half of a bag of Heath toffee bits (find them near the chocolate chips, etc.) you can use plain or chocolate toffee bits.
That's it! :)

Here is a simple conqueso recipe!

1 block of Velveeta cheese
2 cans chili w/out beans
1 small can of diced jalepeno's
Tortilla scoops

Put everything but the jalepeno's in a crockpot (you can add the jalepeno's right away if you like a little kick). Cook on low until melted and smooth. If you haven't already added the jalepeno's, you can add them and cook a little bit longer to get them warm. That's it! Scoop and enjoy!! :)

cocktail sausages wrapped in a 1/3 of a strip of bacon (held together w/ a toothpick) sprinkled with brown sugar....bake at 350 for 45 minutes!!!!

or you could use water chestnuts!!!

Something that I take to parties that gets lots of rave reviews is corn dip. It is best made a day ahead so that the flavors will blend. Serve with Scoops.

Corn Dip

2 16 0z. cans Mexican corn, drained
8 oz. sour cream
8 oz. mayonnaise
1 4 oz can chopped green chiles
2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped
3 green onions,finely chopped
10 oz. grated cheddar cheese

Mix all together and refrigerate overnight. Jalapenos are optional, or you can use just one. They really do add to the flavor, though!

Hope you enjoy!

This is a snack that I've always liked. I don't remember the name of it. I don't like rye bread typically but this is delicious and easy.

Mix cream cheese and some italian dry seasoning mix to taste. Buy the already cut little square serving pieces of rye bread. Spread the cream cheese mixture on each piece of rye bread. Cut slices of cucumber and put one slice on each piece of rye bread on top of the cream cheese. Sprinkle dill on top. It is great!

Another thing is an italian sandwich pasta salad. It's not finger food but it's awesome. Cook box of medium shell pasta. Add chunks of ham and american cheese (get 3 or 4 half inch thick slices cut at deli of each). Add big chunks of different colored peppers. Also big chunks of pickles, tomatoes, olives, and onions. Then toss with italian dressing. Wait to add the pickles, tomatoes, and dressing until ready to serve because they can make everything else soggy. Big chunks of everything is best because people can work around any ingredients that they don't like. Cold is better also.

Black bean and corn salsa dip, YUM! You take a jelly roll pan, mix together cream cheese and sour cream and spread that on the bottom of your pan, pour black bean and corn salsa on top and sprinkle with shreaded cheese.Serve with any salsa chip's of your choice, I like the lime chip's. I promise you won't have any left over's. J.

T.; brownies with icing, chocolate chip cookies, fruit tray with the dip, pretzel salad, i dont have the recipe for it but i love it andits really good, its made with jello, hahaha also taco salad goes over big, D. s

I have guests over a lot, and the most popular snacky food I've made is the pinwheel rolled flour tortilla ones with cream cheese, a little garlic, and green onion, with ham. You spread on the cream cheese mixture, layer a peice of ham, roll it up and put back in the fridge wrapped in saran wrap, and then just cut them up prior to your guests arriving. You can also add a little chopped jalepenos for a little kick. Otherwise, you can never go wrong with brownies:)

Pickle roll-ups

1 box of hy-rollers
soft spreadable cream cheese
deli ham
cut up piecese of dill pickle (or use the mini ones)

spread a layer of the cream cheese over the entire roller sheet, lay 1 layer of ham over the cream cheese, cut a long strip off, lay the pickle down and roll up, insert a toothpick to hold together. These go over so well at parties. Sometimes I have sprinkled a layer of cheddar or colby jack over the cream cheese, before adding the ham. th

My first thought is chocolate!!
www.foodnetwork.com always has good ideas

have fun!
N.

T.,

Chips and queso goes over well. Take a block of Velveeta and at least a cup of salsa and melt. I keep mine in one of those $9 mini crock pots. Veggie trays are always a good choice. Cream cheese and cucumber in the blender makes a yummy dip. Fruit trays are also nice.

Snack wraps are really good. Mix cream cheese and dry salad dressing mix and spread on tortillas. Add deli meat (and deli cheese if you like.) Sprinkle with fresh chopped tomatoes and shredded lettuce. Wrap and hold in place with a toothpick. Each tortilla can be cut into 3-4 little wraps.

If budget is not tight, fondue is fun. Anything is good dipped in chocolate - fruit, sponge cake, pretzels, etc. A trail mix or Chex mix is yummy, too. Here is the recipe...

3 cups Corn Chex® cereal
3 cups Rice Chex® cereal
3 cups Wheat Chex® cereal
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup bite-size pretzels
1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or Club cracker sticks
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

Hope your party goes well,
S.

I just brought sourdough bread (store bought) and garlic-artichoke dip (homemade) to a party. It was a huge hit! The garlic-artichoke dip was sort of a hodge-podge of other dip recipes I've made in the past: a package of cream cheese, a cup of mayo, and about a half cup of sourcream with roasted garlic and artichokes. YUM!

Mini quiches are always a big hit--any grocery store will have them.

How about chocolate covered strawberries?