I don’t know about you but food is the highlight of my day everyday. And what’s even better than food? Finger foods!! Especially walking into a house that has some prepared. It makes all the difference which is why I decided to list some of my favorite recipes! Jot them down & enjoy them at your next social gathering – I guarantee your guest will be impressed from the second they walk in and smell the food to the second they take their first bite.
Bruschetta
Bruschetta is one my favorite hors d’oeuvres to make because it’s easy, quick, and extremely tasty!
Ingredients: 3 tomatoes, 1 baguette, 1 garlic clove, 1 tsp of salt, 1 tsp of balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp of olive oil, 1 tsp of fresh basil & 1/2 tsp of pepper
I like to make mine like this:
-dice up three tomatoes of your choice (if you like cherry tomatoes, dice up the entire box of them)
-1 garlic clove, minced
-add tomatoes & garlic to a bowl
-add 1 tsp of salt, 1 tsp of balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp of olive oil, 1 tsp of fresh basil & 1/2 tsp of pepper
-slice a baguette thinly & toast it
-now put about a spoonful of the tomato mixture on each piece of sliced baguette and voila! You are ready to serve!
Cheese plate
I don’t think there’s ever been a time where I’ve turned down cheese, so your guests probably won’t either. We’ve written a post on how to master the ultimate charcuterie board which I’ve attached here! Enjoy!
Dips – because they’re easy, savory, & filling
Hummus
If you want to make it fresh instead of buying already made hummus:
Ingredients: 1 can of chickpeas, two garlic cloves, 1/4 cup of tahini, 2 tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp red pepper, 1/2 tsp of salt & 1/2 tsp of pepper, 2 tbsp of olive oil, 2-4 tbsp of water for consistency
In a food processor, put:
-1 can of chickpeas
-Two garlic cloves
-1/4 cup of tahini
-2 tbsp of lemon juice
-1 tsp cumin
-1/2 tsp red pepper
-1/2 tsp of salt & 1/2 tsp of pepper
Close the processor & start blending
As it’s blending add:
-2 tbsp of olive oil
-2-4 tbsp of water for consistency
Add to a bowl – sprinkle olive oil on top & serve with pita chips/pita bread or chips/bread of your choice
Baked Brie in Phyllo dough
Ingredients: 10 sheets of phyllo dough, a stick of melted butter, 1 wheel of Brie, raspberry or strawberry jam, honey, fruits & nuts of your choice to serve
Directions:
-preheat oven to 400
-get 10 sheets of phyllo dough
-start with sheet 1 & lay it out horizontally
-brush it with melted butter & then add sheet 2 and repeat
-on sheet 5, continue brushing with melted butter but lay out of sheet vertically on top of the already buttered horizontal sheets
-once you get to sheet 10 (vertically), add the Brie cheese in the center & coat with raspberry or strawberry jam (up to you)
-start wrapping each sheet of phyllo dough in an envelope shape around the Brie cheese
-once you’ve wrapped all 10 sheets, coat the final product in butter again
-bake for 25-30 minutes & serve! I recommend adding raspberries on top & either honey or more jam on the side.
Pico de Gallo
Ingredients: 4 tomatoes, 1 white onion, 1 jalapeño, handful of cilantro, 2 limes, 1 tsp of garlic salt (Lawry’s brand), 1/2 tsp of pepper
Directions:
-dice 4 tomatoes
-dice an entire white onion
-dice a jalapeño (leave the seeds in)
-add a handful of cilantro
-add 2 tbsp of lime
-add 1 tsp of garlic salt and 1/2 tsp of pepper
-Mix & serve! I personally prefer to eat these with lime flavored tortilla chips but it’s up to you!
Guacamole
Ingredients: 4 avocados, 1/4 of diced red onion, 1/4 cup of finely chopped cilantro, 1/2 of diced jalapeño, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, 1 tsp of salt & 1/2 tsp of pepper
Directions:
-dice 4 avocado & mash them
-add 1/4 of diced red onion
-add 1/4 cup of finely chopped cilantro
-add 1/2 of diced jalapeño (leave seeds in)
-add 2 tablespoons of lime juice
-add 1 tsp of salt & 1/2 tsp of pepper *If you like diced tomatoes in your guac, add them now*
Mix & serve! This is another dish that I prefer eating with lime flavored tortilla chips. I think it accentuates the taste!
Mini Cheeseburger Sliders
Because who doesn’t love sliders?!?
Ingredients: 2 pounds of ground beef, 2 tsp garlic powder, 12 Hawaiian bread rolls, 6 slices of cheddar cheese, 1/2 onion, 2 tbsp melted butter, 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Directions:
-preheat oven to 350
-start by putting 2 pounds of ground beef on a baking pan
-sprinkle 2 tsp of garlic powder on top & mix thoroughly/spread the meat out on the pan
-bake for 20 min
-take meat out of pan, don’t drain the juice
-add a dozen of Hawaiian rolls & add the meat back, on top of them
-dice 1/2 a white onion & add on top of the meat
-add 6 cheddar slices
-add your second set of Hawaiian rolls (the top buns) & brush 2 tbsp of melted butter on top of them
-add 1 tbsp of sesame seeds & bake for another 20 minutes
-cut them evenly & serve!
Cheesy Pretzel bites
Because who would ever turn down bread?
Ingredients: pound of pizza dough, 3 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, 2 tbsp of corn starch, 1/2 cup of beer & then 2 more tbsp of beer, 5 cups water, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 egg, sea salt
If you are not buying frozen pretzel bites & want to make them fresh:
-preheat oven to 425
-lay dough out
-slice the dough thinly & evenly (vertically)
In a separate bowl:
-3 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
-2 tbsp of corn starch
Mix!
-Put a pan on the stove & boil 1/2 cup of beer
-add your cheese mixture & mix thoroughly
-put half a spoon of the mixture in each piece of thinly sliced dough & seal each ball tightly
In a separate pan:
-boil 1/4 baking soda in 5 cups of water
-add each ball & boil for 20-30 seconds
-place all balls on a baking sheet
-crack an egg & mix it
-add 2 tbsp of beer into egg mixture
-brush this mixture onto each ball
-sprinkle some sea salt on top of each ball
-bake for 15 minutes at 425 & serve!
Fruit Platter
Because it’s light & refreshing
Ingredients: any fruit you & your guests like!
If you’re going for an aesthetically pleasing look, make sure you categorize by color. Try to make vertical lines with each fruit & place them next to each other.
Mozzarella sticks
If you are not buying frozen mozzarella sticks & want to make them fresh:
Ingredients: 2 eggs, 1 tbsp milk, 12 mozzarella string cheeses, 1 cup breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup flour, 1 cup vegetable oil, marinara sauce
Directions:
-whisk 2 eggs & 1 tbsp of milk together
-gather 12 string cheeses
-put 1 cup of breadcrumbs in a separate bowl
-put 1/4 cup of flour in a separate bowl
-coat each piece of cheese in flour, then dip in egg, & then roll in bread crumbs
-freeze for 30 minutes before frying
-Heat 1 cup of vegetable oil in skillet and cook each stick for about a minute on each side, or until golden and before cheese starts to leak
-drain with paper towel to release excess oil
-serve with either freshly made marinara or already bought marinara sauce