Most Popular Appetizers 2014

So last year I did my top 5 viewed appetizers of 2013, this year I thought I better keep that tradition and share with you my most viewed appetizers of 2014! (but I see that all the bloggers seem to have this brilliant idea too LOL!)
So Happy New Year to you all and thank you so much for sticking around and continuing to read my not so perfect blog, I am still learning!
I love to cook and especially appetizers!  I am far from the best photographer so that is my new years resolution to work on my photography skills.
I also what to share with you that I have been trying to think of a new blog name because I eventually would like to expand my blog into more then just appetizers and restaurant reviews!
What do you think, would you like that?!
Any suggestions on names??
I have been thinking about a revamp of the whole page!  Even down to a Logo, I have had my Mom helping me with that she is an awesome artist :)

Ok back to the top 5 appetizers you guys read in 2014!

#5 Fried Chicken and Waffle Sliders

I have to agree these mini sliders are awesome, very tasty!! I like that they are light and not to filling..  (you can eat more!)

#4   Salsa Verda Chicken Dip

So, not my best picture here! haha!  But a tasty dip!  And do you like my mini cast iron skillet?!  I love this I found it vacationing with the family this summer, at a cute antique store.

#3  Cream Cheese Philadelphia Roll Dip

I came up with this dip for a House Party I had this year for Triscuits.  Very good!

#2  Shrimp Toast

Oh a copy cat recipe of Lien Chins Shrimp Toast mmmmmm........

#1  Bacon Caramel Puff Corn

Heck ya good choice people!  This savory treat is loved by all I have made it for, I have been requested to bring this to many a get togethers!  Try it you will love it & it's SUPER easy to make!

Now if it were me, my top liked appetizers I shared in 2014 would be:

#5 Bacon Caramel Puff Corn 

Your #1 is in my top 5! I want some now, thinking about it so much now!



#4  Slow Roasted Tomato and Feta Spread

This one totally reminds me of summer, kinda starting to miss summer as I hear the wind howling against my house and see the snow blowing about

#3  Rosemary Cheddar Crackers

Rosemary is one of my new favorite herbs, I have some growing in my kitchen, I love that I can cut them fresh whenever I want!  These crackers are totally worth the wait in making them!

#2  Vegetable Pizza

This fresh vegetable pizza with a flakey crust is so awesome, I could eat the whole pan of this, so good!!  People have been making this appetizer for years!

#1  Low Fat Taco Bean Dip

I love an easy go to taco dip, so full of flavor and this one is better for you than most, I really like this!  And who doesn't like taco dip!?

I wish you all the best in 2015! Happy New Year! 

Cheesey Bacon Goodness

Another one of my holiday get together appetizers I served when we had a gift exchange with our friends was this delicious cheesy bacon bread bowl with torn bread pieces and crackers for dipping super good!
Now this is our best friend couple we had this evening with but let me tell you it is a bit tricky catering to their diets!
She is a self proclaimed vegetarian (but she will eat fish, some chicken and a bit of bacon!?)
And he recently became gluten free.
So he did not eat this and she ate it because there was little bits of bacon oh and she doesn't like cream cheese but she liked this! HAHA!  They kill me!

OKEDOKEE This is what you need:
8oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
8oz shredded cheddar cheese
5 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
4 green onions, diced (the whole thing.. well except the end...)
1 Tablespoon of wishishere sauce
A dash of pepper
1 Round loaf of bread ( I used sourdough, hubbies favorite)

How to make it:
Super easy!
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
Cook your bacon, drain on a paper towel to get rid of all that icky grease
Chop your green onions

Mix together cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheese, green onions, wishishere sauce and pepper, mix that up well.

Next fold in the bacon into your cheese mixture
Take your bread bowl and cut into the center making a bowl shape

Save the center of the bread!
Scoop the cheese dip into the bread bowl, set that onto a baking sheet and bake at 350 for 30 minutes
In the mean time rip apart the bread from the center of the bread bowl and serve that along with crackers when you dip is finished.

Enjoy!

Cranberry White Cheddar Cheese Ball

Tis the season to make a cheese ball falalalala - lalalala!!!
This holiday cheese ball is just a beautiful deep red and white, very festive for the season.
I will be making this for my family for our Christmas celebration, I'm sure it will be gone in seconds flat!
This year we are doing a traditional holiday meal, I will be hosting.
I will be providing the main dish, one side and the appetizer.  Everyone pitches in and brings a side dish and BYOB!
Otherwise that is a ton of work, I very much appreciate them all helping out :)
A couple of Christmas's ago we had an appetizer Christmas, that was pretty fun!
Ok so back to this cheese ball, it's very popular over on Pinterest so I know it's going to be good!

Here is what you need:
8oz cream cheese, softened
8oz shredded white cheddar cheese
2 Tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
1/2 Cup pecans, chopped and toasted
1 Tablespoon Wishishere Sauce
1 Cup dried Cranberries

How to make it:
Lay your pecans out on a plate and microwave for approximately 2 minutes, set aside

Mix together the softened cream cheese, shredded white cheddar cheese, I used a good block of white cheddar that I shredded by hand.  And to that the chives,Wishishere Sauce and nuts.

Mix this all well now roll that into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 1 hour.

Once your hour is up unwrap and by hand press in the cranberries.

(I had the cutest presentation but I forgot to take a picture of it, to busy with all the people at my house!)

Serve with crackers!

I was right it's all gone, everyone liked it!   (I should have made 2!)

Cheesy Phyllo Cups

Oh boy I just was on my hubbies case for spending to much money on home repairs at the holiday time and I just spent $80 on cheese (well not all cheese but, mostly!)!!!
I mean I had to,  my grocery store was having a huge sale and my uncle was talking all about it on Facebook all day & I could not stop thinking about cheese I just had to!!!!
I bought all sorts of fun stuff, so Im totally ready for any unexpected guest to stop in (so we don't eat it all ourselves)!!
I wanted to come up with something new and Christmas-e.
These little cups are very visually appealing with red and green , tis the season to eat to much, dang it just after I said we need to quit snacking late at night while watching tv and I have a house filled with treats!
Watch out treadmill you're gonna get a serious workout!

What you will need:
1/4 Cup Gruyere, shredded
1/8 Cup Fontina, shredded
2 Tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
4 slices bacon, fried and chopped
1 Package Mini Phyllo Cups, 12 cups per box


How to make them:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
Start off by dicing up your bacon and frying that up into crumbles, drain and set aside

Chop up your chives set aside

Shred your cheeses

Mix those ingredients saving a tablespoons of chives for garnishing

Remove your phyllo cups from their packaging place on a baking sheet

Fill the cups with your with the cheese mixture

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes and sprinkle with your remaining chives

They are have a nice textured crunch to them with a gooey cheesy center.
If you don't care for the cheese's I used use what you like, they will turn out just great, you can't go wrong with cheese!
They are so easy to make and make a nice presentation and you can just pop them into your mouth!

Enjoy!

Stuffed Mushrooms

I was playing in the kitchen today I needed to use up some of these items soon and came up with this wonderful stuffed mushroom!
Chad,  this one's for you!  Chad is my wonderful brother in law, he revealed to me recently that he frequently reads my blog, I'm totally flattered!
But I'm only kidding he hates mushrooms so I don't think you will like this one Chad.


What you will need is:
10 mushrooms, washed and stems removed
4 strips cooked pancetta
4 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
Approximately 7 brussel sprouts, chopped
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

How to make them:
Start with preheating your oven to 350 degrees
Wash your mushrooms, pull those stems out (I save them for pasta sauce) set them aside on a paper towel to dry
Fry up your pancetta till crisp, if you didn't know pancetta is an italian bacon, this too you will drain on a paper towel

Chop up your brussel sprouts and green onion, now chop the crispy pancetta

Add them all to the pan you used to fry the pancetta in, cook about 8 minutes
You want it to be a bit tender but still a little crispy
Remove from the heat and add your blue cheese, mix well

Place your mushrooms on a baking sheet stuff those mushrooms with your delicious mixture
Now bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees

They are very flavorful!

Enjoy!