I am not a "throw-a-can-of-peanuts-on-the-table" kind of
gal! When I am planning a party, it is important to me that
I choose thoughtful, satisfying recipes that:
Are simple to make
Have few ingredients
Hold up well over time
Are pleasing to look at and of course,
Taste great!
Over the years, I have tried out a lot of recipes on my
friends and family and no doubt about it, the "Most
Requested Hot Appetizers, Delicious Desserts and Summer
Drinks" are those listed below (in no particular order).
Top 2 Hot Appetizers
Number One Most Requested Hot Appetizer--Warm Chipotle
Cheddar Dip
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1-8 oz. can whole kernel corn, drained (3/4 cup)
1-4 oz. can chopped green chili peppers, drained
2 teaspoons finely chopped canned chipotle chili peppers in
adobo sauce (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped (3/4 cup)
1/4 cup sliced green onion
2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro
Vegetables, crackers or chips
I found this dip when I was on a low carb diet and was
looking for a party appetizer that would work well with
vegetables. Something with a robust flavor that would perk
up the veggies. Well this one definitely fit the bill.
This appetizer has become a favorite among my friends. It's
served multiple times throughout the year at various
parties that I either host or attend.
You can make it as smokey and spicy as you want by
adjusting the amount of chipotle peppers (smoked jalepenos)
but watch out. You can easily go from mildly spicy to
blow-your-face-off hot by adding too much!
Steps to Make Cheddar Chipotle Dip
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir together cheeses, mayonnaise, corn, green chili
peppers, chipotle chili peppers and garlic powder in a
large mixing bowl. Spread mixture into a 1 quart, covered
dish. Bake for 30 minutes until bubbly.
Top with tomato, green onion and cilantro. I like to make a
pattern out of the toppings so I put the tomatoes all in
the middle, make a ring around them with the green onion
then sprinkle the cilantro over all.
Serve with vegetables, like red, green and yellow peppers.
Tostido and Frito Scoops work well too.
Number Two Most Requested Hot Appetizer--Warm Green Chili
Dip
8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
8 oz. shredded mild cheddar cheese
2 cups mayonnaise
1 small sweet onion, minced
1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilis, drained
1-1/2 oz. chopped pepperoni
1/2 cup sliced ripe olives
Tostidos or Fritos Scoops
In a shallow baking dish, combine the first five
ingredients. Top mixture with the pepperoni and olives.
Bake at 325 degrees about 25 minutes or until bubbly.
Serve with Scoops, crackers or assorted fresh vegetables.
Note: I do not recommend using reduced fat mayonnaise.
Speaking from personal experience, both of these hot
appetizers are guaranteed to be a hit at any get together.
WARNING: Get ready to hand out the recipes!
Top 2 Delicious Desserts
Number One Most Requested Delicious Dessert--Raspberry
White Chocolate Dream Bars
1 box white cake mix
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1-1/2 sticks melted butter
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
12 oz. white chocolate chips
Combine cake mix, milk, butter and nuts. Makes a very gooey
dough. Spray a 9 x 13 pan and spread half of the dough into
the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
Melt the jam in the microwave (about a minute) and spread
on top of hot crust. Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips
over jam. Crumble remaining dough on top and bake an
additional 20-25 minutes.
Cool completely before cutting. For bigger parties, this
recipe easily doubles and can be made in a 15 x 10 pan.
Once you get the hang of this technique, you can think of
all sorts of combinations. How about using chocolate cake
with mint chips? Or lemon cake with white chocolate?
Number Two Most Requested Delicious Dessert--Chocolate
Amaretto Bundt Cake
1 pkg. chocolate devil's food cake mix
1 small pkg. instant chocolate pudding mix
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1-1/2 oz. Amaretto liqueur
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup fresh raspberries (optional)
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam (optional)
Whipped cream (optional)
Glaze
1 stick butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup Amaretto
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Combine first 6 ingredients and blend well. Stir in chips.
Grease and flour a bundt pan. Pour batter into the prepared
pan. Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.
Melt glaze ingredients in a saucepan or microwave. Pour 2/3
of glaze over top of cake while cake is hot from oven and
still in pan. Allow cake to remain in pan for 25 minutes.
Remove cake from pan and drizzle with remaining glaze.
When I make this cake dessert, I fill the middle with fresh
raspberries and present it on my grandmother's crystal
pedestal cake stand which is very dramatic.
Just before serving, I make a raspberry sauce by melting
the jam in the microwave. Each lucky guest gets a plate
with some of the sauce, a slice of cake, a few berries and
some whipped cream. Yum!
Top 2 Summer Drinks
When most people host parties, they usually have the basic
alcoholic beverages, like beer and wine, but rarely do you
see a host offer a selection of really special summer
drinks. I have perfected my list of offerings over the
years and now I share my Top 2 with you.
Number One Most Requested Summer Cocktail--Limoncello Mint
Lemonade
1/2 cup lemonade concentrate
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Ice cubes
1/4 cup Limoncello (lemon liqueur)
1/2 cup club soda
Lemon and Mint for garnish
In a small pitcher, "muddle" mint leaves together with
lemonade concentrate and lemon juice. Muddle means to
bruise the leaves so they release their flavor. I use the
end of a wooden spoon.
Stir in ice cubes, Limoncello and club soda and pour into 4
glasses. Top them off with a lemon slice, a sprig of fresh
mint and an umbrella.
Makes 4-10 oz. drinks.
Number Two Most Requested Summer Cocktail--Fruited Brandy
Punch
This one has become a favorite at my home and a lot of the
parties I attend, most likely because everyone loves it and
you can make a huge amount and serve it in a punch bowl.
1/2 part brandy (I use Christian Brothers brand)
1 part lemon-lime soda
2 parts fruit juice (Cranberry-Peach blend is my favorite)
1/2 bag frozen fruit (Blueberries and strawberries look
great)
1 fruited ice ring (see recipe below)
Slices of lemons, limes and oranges, if desired
Mix fruit juice and frozen fruit together in a nice punch
bowl or container. Pour in lemon-lime soda, gently stir and
then float an ice ring on top (see recipe below).
Rather than spike the punch, I serve the brandy on the side
so my guests who prefer non-alcoholic punch can drink it
too.
To make ice ring
Pour 1-2 cups of the juice mixture from above into a Bundt
pan or another mold. Add some of the fruit and/or fresh
citrus slices. Freeze overnight.
Just before serving, set the pan into some hot water to
loosen the ice ring and then turn it into the punch bowl.
It makes a really beautiful presentation, cools the punch
and since it's made with juice, it will not water down the
punch. Perfect!
This recipe can easily be altered so you can serve it from
a Drink Fountain which is really gaining popularity lately.
Just leave out the fruit and the ice ring.
If you went to a summer party and somebody handed you any
of these summer drinks, wouldn't you think that the hosts
went out of their way to make things special? That they
really took time to get it right? Everybody loves a special
summer drink on a warm sunny day.
So, now you have the recipes for my "Most Requested Hot
Appetizers, Delicious Desserts and Summer Drinks" to WOW
your guests with. I am certain that over time, several of
these recipes will become your favorites just as they are
mine. Enjoy!
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Sandee Lembke from Theme Party Queen.com
(http://www.theme-party-queen.com ) invites you to visit
her site for more great theme party ideas and recipes.
