Recipes - Appetizers

Savory Swiss Cake- Gloria Bush from Pittsburgh, PA

CBN.com — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:27:13 GMT

Prep Time: 20
Total Time: 135
Servings: 16

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Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups finely crushed low-salt thin wheat crackers
1/2 cups margarine, melted
1-1/2 (8 oz) package light cream cheese (Neufchatel)
2-8 oz. cartons plain yogurt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. dried basil, crushed
1/8 tsp. dried rosemary, crushed
1 egg
1 egg yolk
8 oz. process Swiss cheese, shredded (2 cups) Wheat or rye crackers, rye party bread rounds, or toasted French bread slices

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Cooking Instructions:

For crust,combine crushed crackers and melted margarine. Press onto bottom and about 1-1/2 inches up the sides of an 8-inch springform pan. Set aside.

Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until softened. Add yogurt, pepper, basil, and rosemary. Beat until well blended. Add egg and egg yolk. Beat on low speed just until mixed. Stir in processed Swiss cheese. Pour into crust-lined pan. Place pan on a baking sheet.

Bake in a 375 degree F. oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until nearly set in center. Cool 5 minutes on rack. With narrow spatula, loosen crust from sides of pan. Cool 30 minutes. Remove sides of pan; cool completely. When cooled, return sides of pan. Cover loosely; chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.

To serve, cut into small wedges; spread on crackers, bread rounds, or French bread slices. Makes 16 appetizer servings.

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Memorable Moment:

The first time I made this was for our Red Hat wine and cheese tasting party. Unfortunately, there was only 3 Red Hats and 2 husbands. There was certainly enough food for us.

Festive Cheese Ball- Bettina Dickerson from Parachute, CO

CBN.com — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:34:07 GMT

Prep Time: 10
Total Time: 10
Servings: 6

Ingredients:

1 8oz. cream cheese
1 regular pkg of deli thim smoked ham
1 bunch of green onion
pinch of garlic powder
pinch of ground red pepper
Snowflake Ritz crackers

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Cooking Instructions:

Sit your cream cheese out about 1 hour prior to mixing, so it can soften. Combine cream cheese, chopped green onion, smoked deli ham chopped, pinch of garlic powder and red pepper, mix real well ,and roll into a ball. Serve on snowflake Ritz crackers.

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Memorable Moment:

This recipe everyone wants and sure to like because it is simple, quick ,and inezpensive. Mst of all delicious and the ham and green onion bring out the red and green so it looks festive. I would take it to our Sunday School party and work, and it was always a big hit.

Savory Swiss Cheesecake - Gloria from Pennsylvania

CBN.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:33:26 GMT

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 135 minutes
Servings: 16

Ingredients:

1/2 cup low-salt thin wheat crackers, finely crushed
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1-1/2 (8 oz) pkg light cream cheese (Neufchatel)
2 (8 oz) cartons plain yogurt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp dried basil, crushed
1/8 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
1 egg
1 egg yolk
8 oz Swiss cheese, shredded (2 cups)
Wheat or rye crackers, rye party bread rounds, or toasted French bread slices

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Cooking Instructions:

For crust, combine crushed crackers andmelted margarine. Press onto bottom and about 1-1/2 inches up the sides of an 8-inch springform pan. Set aside.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until nearly set in center. Cool for 5 minutes on the rack. With narrow spatula, loosen crust from sides of pan. Cool 30 minutes. Remove sides of pan; cool completely. When cooled, return sides of pan. Cover loosely; chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.

To serve, cut into small wedges; spread on crackers, bread rounds, or French bread slices.

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Memorable Moment:

The first time I made this was for our Red Hat wine and cheese tasting party. Unfortunately, there was only 3 Red Hats and 2 husbands. There was certainly enough food for us.

Artichoke Cheesecake - Chiqui from Louisiana

CBN.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:51:34 GMT

Total Time: 115 minutes
Servings: 20

Ingredients:

CRUST
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
2 tbsp romano cheese, finely grated
1 tsp lemon zest, grated

FILLING
16 oz Philly cream cheese, room temp.
1 cup crumbled feta cheese, room temp.
1 cup sour cream
3 large eggs
3 tbsp all purpose flour
(3) 14 oz cans artichoke hearts, reserve one can for center
1 large head garlic (roasted with olive oil and Italian herbs, cooled and squeezed out of the peel)
1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning
1 tbsp Lea & Perrins
Crystal hot sauce to taste
1 tsp lemon-pepper seasoning
1 tsp lemon zest, finely grated
1 tsp olive oil
3 tsp Romano cheese, finely grated

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Cooking Instructions:

CRUST
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Line a Souffle dish measuring 6 inches across and 5 inches deep with two long overlapping pieces of aluninum foil. Make sure there is at least 4 inches hanging over the sides. Repeat with plastic wrap. Spray plastic wrap with Pam spray. Place 2/3 of the breadcrumb mixture into the bottom of the lined dish and roll the dish around to lightly coat the sides. Press the crumbs firmly into the bottom of the dish and chill while you prepare the filling.

FILLING
Place all filling ingredients except the whole can of artichoke hearts reserved for the center, into the bowl of a processor. Process until smooth. Pour half of the filling into the prepared crust. Coarsely chop up the reserved artichoke hearts and spread over the filling. Carefully spoon the balance of the cheese filling over the cut-up artichoke hearts. Roll back the plastic wrap and place the cheesecake in a Bain Marie with the hot water at least half-way up the sides of the dish.

Bake the cheesecake in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 50 minutes.

Carefully remove the cheesecake from the oven and spread the top with a thin layer of sour cream and sprinkle with the remaining breadcrumbs. Return to oven for an additional 10 minutes until lightly browned. Allow it to cool completely to room temperature.

Refrigerate, covered until well chilled (overnight is best). Cover carefully with heavy-duty foil and freeze.

Four hours before serving, remove from freezer and carefully lift the cheesecake out of the dish using the foil to pull it out straight up.

Place cheesecake on a cutting board and using a heavy-duty, sharp knife, cut into desired wedges (usually 8 equal wedges). You can wrap and re-freeze any portions you do not need right away. Make sure they are well wrapped and sealed in a plastic freezer bag. Arrange the wedges on a lettuce lined platter with roasted garlic and lemon.

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Memorable Moment:

Here in the New Orleans the Italian stuffed artichoke is a favorite during the holidays. This savory cheesecake spread has all those wonderful flavors in an easy and beautiful presentation for a party appetizer. Just serve with a basket of toasted thin slices of french bread or assorted crackers. Stand back and wait for the compliments. Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year!

Cream Cheese Dip - Karin from Texas

CBN.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:12:14 GMT

Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

8 oz jar of pineapple jam
1 small box of cream cheese
1 tbsp horse radish
1 box Wheat Thins

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Cooking Instructions:

Chill all ingredients. Mix jam with the horseradish thoroughly. Unwrap the cream cheese being careful to preserve its shape. Place on a large platter. Spoon all the jam and horseradish mixture on top of the cream cheese.

Serve with Wheat Thins around the platter. Provide a spreader knife to put the cheese and jam on the crackers.

Enjoy!

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Memorable Moment:

In New Orleans, we always serve cream cheese with hot pepper jelly. Some friends served this variation at a Christmas party and no one could figure out what it was. We passed a bowl around and collected money from everyone, gave her the money and then she divulged her secret. It was a lot of fun.

Mixed Nuts with Rosemary - Leina from California

CBN.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:09:06 GMT

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 10

Ingredients:

3 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp dried crumbled rosemary or fresh minced
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne, or to taste
3 cups mixed nuts (pecans, cashews, and hazelnuts)

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Cooking Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt butter with rosemary, salt, and cayenne. Pour this mixture over 3 cups mixed nuts, tossing to coat them.

Bake the nuts on a cookie sheet for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cinnamon Toast Chicken - Yvonne from South Carolina

CBN.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:03:27 GMT

Ingredients:

20 pieces of drumlets, chicken wings
1/2 cup self rising flour
1/2 cup cinnamon/sugar
Gold Medal seasoning salt
black pepper

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Cooking Instructions:

Wash chicken, dry with paper towl. Put seasoning of salt black pepper and cinnamon/sugar into bowl. Place chick in bowl, then flour the chicken. Deep fry the chicken to a golden brown or fully cooked.

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Memorable Moment:

I made a mistake when I reaching for the seasoning salt and put the cinnamon on my chicken and before I knew it it was to late. But, it was still good and my husband and friends love my cinnamon toast chicken in the morning with eggs.

Crab Dip - Shelley from Kansas

CBN.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:06:11 GMT

Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 15

Ingredients:

8 ounce cream cheese (softened)
1 pound package of artificial crab meat
12 ounce jar of picante sauce

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Cooking Instructions:

Soften cream cheese in a medium size bowl. Chop crab meat with a food processor. Add crab meat and picante sauce to cream cheese and blend with mixer.

Serve with tortilla chips.

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Memorable Moment:

Crab Dip is a must at all of our holiday family gatherings. I make it ahead of time so it is a treat for the cooks while we bake at Christmas family bake night or cook Thanksgiving dinner.

Crab Dip - Lori from Oregon

CBN.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:58:28 GMT

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 25

Ingredients:

1 whole cooked shelled crab, or 2 cans of crab meat
(1) 8 oz pkg of softened cream cheese
1/2 of individual package of plain gelatin, disolved in 2 tbsp cold water.
1 bunch of 6 green onions, finely chopped
3 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1 cup real Mayonaise

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Cooking Instructions:

In a 3 quart sauce pan over med-low heat, melt cream cheese, adding the finely chopped onions, celery and the dissolved gelatin. Stir and simmer for 5-8 minutes in the pan until the mixture is just about to bubble. Mix in Crab meat and simmer for another couple of mins. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of mayo.

Mix well and place in glass bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

It can be served with crackers, veggies or dry french bread pieces. Can be made ahead two days before serving.

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Memorable Moment:

I serve this every Christmas Eve when we get together for singing, food, and playing games until midnight. It has become a tradition that none of the family will let me forget to make because it is soooooo yummy and rich!

Cheesy Beef - Billie from New York

CBN.com — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:49:32 GMT

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 30

Ingredients:

3, 8 oz cream cheese
3 green onions
2 jars dried beef

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Cooking Instructions:

With a food proccesser, chop onions and beef until very fine, add softened cream cheese and process until well incorporated. Remove and shape into a ball with your hands, put in bowl, cover with foil and refridgerate overnight.

Serve with Ritz or Town House crackers.

It's delicious!

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Memorable Moment:

It is one thing that my kids, all 8 of them, liked so I made it often.

Sweet N Spiced Nuts - June from California

CBN.com — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:25:02 GMT

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 10

Ingredients:

3/4 cups of pecans haves
3/4 cups of walnuts haves
1/3 cup of blanch almonds
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1/3 cup of Splenda sugar subsitute
1 to 2 egg whites

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Cooking Instructions:

Preheat oven for 300 degrees.

Spray a 15 by 10 Inch pan with cooking spray combine nuts with egg whites. Add Cinnamon and Splenda toss to coat. Add to pan evenly.

Bake for 15 to 30 minutes or untille brown cool on wax paper.

Enjoy! ; )

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Memorable Moment:

It is a sugar-free appetizer for people that cannot have sugar.

Salmon Ball - Isabel from Arizona

CBN.com — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:05:35 GMT

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 20

Ingredients:

1 16 oz can Sockeye Salmon (drained)
8 oz Philladelphia cream cheese (softened)
1 tsp Horseradish
1 tbsp finely chopped onion
1 tsp. lemon (fresh squeezzed or RealLemon)
1 loaf party pumpernickel or party rye bread
1 bunch of parsley, finely chopped (Italian or Flat leaf are also good choices)

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Cooking Instructions:

In large glass mixing bowl, place drained Salmon Carefully remove bones/skin from the center of the salmon. Flake salmon with fork. Add horseradish, onion,lemon juice, mix thoroughly. Next blend in cream cheese using hand mixer at low speed.

Chill covered in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator, form salmon mixture into a ball, and roll in chopped parsley.

Place on festive (clear glass) platter. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Place party Pumpernickel/Rye bread slices and sprigs of parsley around the salmon ball.

Enjoy, Merry Christmas!

Note: Make parsley covering as thick or sparse as you like.

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Memorable Moment:

I always serve it during family holiday gatherings. It's always a big hit in the flavor and presentation departments.

Yummy Artichoke Dip - Rev. Marion from Georgia

CBN.com — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:28:36 GMT

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients:

2 cans of artichokes (drained & chopped)
2 cups of mayonnaise
2 cups of parmesan cheese
5 cloves of garlic (finely minced)

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Cooking Instructions:

Mix ingredients well and place in a baking dish at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Serve with your favorite crackers.

Yummy!

Crab Dip - Joanne

CBN.com — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:33:26 GMT

Ingredients:

1 can crab meat
1 8oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese
2 green onions chopped
1 tsp lemon juice

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Cooking Instructions:

Mix together and pour into a microwave dish. Heat until dip is bubbling then stir and serve with your favorite crackers.

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Memorable Moment:

Here is a fabulous recipe to go with your favorite crackers. We often have it Christmas Eve with the family. Yummy Good !