Appetizers For Any Party

THREE EASY APPS

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It’s the busiest time of the year! I don’t know about you, but my calendar and my fridge are both full of party invitations from Friendsgivings to ornament exchanges to family events. Most are potluck, which I love! What I don’t love, however, is not knowing what to bring. A lot of my friends attend the same functions, so they’re going to get tired of my fruit trays pretty quickly. Luckily, I have found three easy appetizers that I can alternate this time of year! Almost all of them make a surplus recipe, so I store some away for the next party!

Cranberry Brie Bites

These cranberry brie bites are irresistible to me! I may be in the minority, but I love cranberry relish, especially around the holiday season. This dish combines two of my favorite things — brie cheese and cranberries. They come in bite size portions, so bringing utensils is not needed.

Ingredient List

1 Sheet of Frozen Puff Pastry - 17 oz box
4 oz of Brie Cheese
1/2 Cup Cranberry Sauce -Homemade or Canned
2 tbsp Whole Cloves
1 Orange (Thinly Sliced)
2 Cups Water or Cider

How to Make

1.) You’ll want to pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees to start. The next recipe also cooks at 400 degrees, so you can have both going at the same time! Grab a muffin pan and spray it with non-stick cooking spray. You’ll also want to set your brie in the freezer for about 20 mins.

2.) Lightly sprinkle your countertop surface with flour. Roll out your puff pastry into a rectangle. You will want to cut it into four strips long. You’ll cut it six strips across to make 24 squares.

3.) Press your squares into the muffin pan and give a little edge room over the muffin tops.

4.) Next, take your brie out of the freezer and cut it into 24 slices. Add the brie to each square. Top off with 1 teaspoon of cranberry sauce. Sprinkle with pistachios.

Last Step!

5.) You will want to bake your bites for 15 minutes or until the puff pastry gets slightly golden brown around the edges. The cheese will start to bubble. Let them cool about 5 minutes before enjoying!

Sausage Rolls

Ingredient List

3 Slices of Bacon
1/2 Onion (Finely Chopped)
1 Piece of Celery
1 Clove of Garlic (Finely Chopped)
1 14 oz Pack of Puff Pastry
1 lb Pork Sausage
2 Tbsp Parsley
1/2 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs
2 Large Eggs
Salt + Pepper

How to Make

1.) Heat your bacon and all your veggies in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook for about four minutes or until they’re all soft! Add your cloves of garlic and cook about one more minute. Transfer to a plate and let cool about 10 minutes.

2.) In large bowl combine your chopped sausage, parsley, breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings. You’ll add your cooled bacon in here too. Mix it up and stick in the fridge!

3.) When its in the fridge, put your puff pastry sheets on a very lightly floured cutting board (you should have 2 sheets, measuring 10-inches by 10-inches). Cut each in half to make 4 rectangles, 5-inches by 10-inches each.

4.) Take your sausage mixture out of the fridge. You’ll want to make it into four 1 inch in thickness, long, logs. You’ll put them in the middle of the puff pastry strips.

5.) You are going to roll your pastry strips over the sausage logs until they are totally enclosed. Make sure your borders are overlapping slightly. You’ll give each log a good egg wash.

6.) Place them on a sheet lined with parchment paper. You’ll put them in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Final Step!

7.) After you remove them from the freezer, cut each roll into 6 portions. Place in a 400 degree heated oven for 20 - 22 minutes. Make sure the seam size is down. They will be golden brown when they are ready!

Easiest App of them All

Ingredient List

8 oz Mozzarella Balls
24 Cherry Tomatoes
12 Fresh Basil Leaves
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 cup Balsamic Vinegar
Skewers
Italian Seasoning
Red Pepper Flakes

How to Make

1.) Stir mozzarella, olive oil, and seasoning and set aside.

2.) Assemble your skewers. Layer your tomato, basil, and marinated cheese.

3.) Make your balsamic glaze. Bring balsamic vinegar to a low simmer in a saucepan. It should cook about 15 minutes to thicken.

4.) Drizzle the skewers.