Appetizers – Cool & Creamy

I love a good chilled appetizer.  There’s something so fresh and crisp about them!  Whether it be a dip or a canapé, I’m in.  Here are some of my top picks for appetizers on the cold side.

Easy Party Slices (aka Cucumber Sandwiches)

1 pkg cocktail sliced bread

1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced (peeled, if desired)

8 oz cream cheese, softened

½ C mayo

.7 oz pkg dry Italian salad dressing mix

Dried dill weed

Combine cream cheese, mayo & salad dressing mix.  Mix well.  Spread small amount of mixture on each bread slice.  Top with a cucumber slice.  Sprinkle dried dill weed on top.

Mexicorn Dip

1 C Miracle Whip

1 C sour cream

2 cans Mexicorn, drained

1 can Rotel tomatoes, drained

2 C shredded cheddar cheese

Combine all ingredients & chill in fridge for a couple hours.  The longer the chill time, the more the flavors will blend.  (And the hotter the dip will become due to the tomatoes.)  Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.

Cool Spinach Dip

10 oz pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed & squeezed dry

16 oz sour cream

1 C mayo

1 pkg Knorr vegetable recipe mix

8 oz can water chestnuts, drained & chopped

Combine all ingredients and chill about 2 hrs.  Serve with crackers or bread cubes.  (Makes a great bread bowl appetizer, for those that like such things.)

Lemon Pepper Crab (or Shrimp) Canapes

1 pkg cocktail sliced bread or canapé French bread

8 oz imitation crab meat, coarsely chopped (or salad shrimp)

8 oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained & chopped

¼ C grated carrot

1 lemon

1 green onion, thinly sliced

1/3 C mayo

½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper (I think I usually use regular pepper)

1 medium cucumber, scored & sliced

Zest lemon to measure 1 T zest; juice lemon to measure 1 T juice.  Add carrot, green onion, mayo, pepper, crab meat & water chestnuts to juice & zest.  Mix well.  Top each bread slice with a cucumber slice.  Scoop crab mixture evenly over cucumber slices (I use a small cookie scoop).  Garnish with parsley, if desired.

Black Bean Corn Salsa

1 can black beans, rinsed & drained

1 can corn, drained

1 avocado, diced

1 small red onion, diced

Combine all ingredients.  Serve with tortilla chips.

Fruit Dip

8 oz sweet-flavored cream cheese, softened (I like strawberry, but honey nut or other fruit flavors would be good too)

1 jar marshmallow crème

Combine cream cheese & marshmallow crème until smooth.  Serve with fruit or graham crackers. 

And as mentioned previously, I do love a good veggie pizza, but I’m much too lazy to make it!  All that dicing of veggies is too much work for me.  So feel free to do the work for me, friends!