RecipeMuncher

I was approached by Cookware.com to see if I would be interested in partnering with them. This article was supplied by them. Check it out, there are some great sounding appetizer recipes listed here, perfect for the upcoming holiday season!

I love that Thanksgiving isn’t even here yet and we’re already thinking about Christmas and Hanukah! Oh well, tis the season, right? While many families prefer to keep their holiday menus traditional, adding a few fresh new appetizers to the mix is a great way to keep things interesting. So get out your finest Christmas dinnerware and prepare to serve up some great-tasting, holiday-inspired appetizers this season! Here are 5 of my favorites!

1.) Sweet Sesame Five-Spice Popcorn
This delicious appetizer comes to us courtesy of Rachael Ray on the Food Network! This light, fluffy and slightly sweet treat is perfect before a meal or before bedtime!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup un-popped corn kernels
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Directions:

Simply place the popcorn, sugar, oil and five-spice powder in a large kettle with a tight-fitting lid and set your heat to medium. When the corn starts popping, start shaking the pot. When the popping slows, remove the kettle from the heat and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve in a festive bowl.

2.) Cheddar Cheese Bite-Size Biscuits:

WebMD, your source for all things health and nutrition-related also has some great recipes! I found this section on healthy, easy “Make-Ahead” Holiday appetizers that all look delicious.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup unbleached white flour
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup light cream cheese
• 2 cups shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar
• 4 tablespoons margarine
• 1/4 cup low-fat milk

Directions:

• Put your flour (both kinds) in your food processor, adding cream cheese, cheddar and margarine. Set on your ‘pulse’ setting for about 5 seconds.
• Drizzle your milk over the top and ‘pulse’ until your ingredients are of a dough-like consistency.
• Use a tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball, placing it on a cookie sheet
• Cover and refrigerate your cookie sheet, preheating the oven to about 400 degrees.
• Bake for about 15 minutes, or until set.
• Serve at room temperature or slightly warm.

3.) Cucumber, Pomegranate and Goat Cheese Toast

I found these tasty morsels on RecipeZaar.com and according to the site, they are adapted from a recipe by Top Chef’s Padma Lakshmi. Pomegranates are in season during autumn and early winter, add to that their rich, red color and you have a festive looking and tasting treat!

Ingredients:

• 10 slices toasted whole wheat bread
• 1/4 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 ounces goat cheese
• 1 - 1 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1/2 - 1 seedless cucumber

Directions:

• Combine your olive oil and goat cheese and spread evenly onto the slices of toast.
• Sprinkle toast slices with pomegranate seeds, pressing them gently into the goat cheese. Arrange between 4 and 6 cucumber slices and sprinkle with dill.
• Cut each slice in half along a diagonal and serve open faced on a festive platter.

4.) Mini Mac & Cheese Bites

Mac & Cheese just warms the soul, making these mini mac & cheese bites perfect for a holiday appetizer! This delicious dish comes to us from Reader’s Digest!

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Pepper to taste
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
• 4 ounces cooked elbow macaroni
• Thin baguette slices
• Fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• Paprika

Directions:

• Using your favorite piece of kitchenware, melt 2 tablespoons of butter on medium to low heat, adding flour until properly blended. Add salt, pepper, and milk. Stir while it cooks, it should get nice and thick. Add cheese and stir until melted. Finally, add your macaroni.
• Line a slice of baguette with a basil leaf, topping it with 1 tablespoon of mac & cheese.
• Toss breadcrumbs with remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and press onto macaroni. Sprinkle it with paprika and broil about 4 inches from the heat until browned.




5.) Drunken Stuffed Figs

Oooh, this one sounds so sweet and tasty! Perfect for before or after dinner, really. I found this one on AllRecipes.com.

Ingredients:

• 24 fresh figs
• 1 cup cognac
• 1 cup mascarpone cheese
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 1/2 cups toasted hazelnuts
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves

Directions:

• Using a marinade injector/baster, inject the figs with about 1 tablespoon of cognac and chill in the fridge.
• In a medium bowl, blend the remaining cognac, mascarpone cheese and about 3/4 of your confectioners’ sugar - chilling it in the refrigerator when done.
• Now, using a food processor or blender, mix in the toasted hazelnuts, mint and the last of the confectioners’ sugar, placing your concoction in a medium bowl after blended to perfection.
• Finally, remove the stems from your figs, cutting them in half (length-wise). Fill the halves with equal portions of your cognac/mascarpone cheese mixture. Roll your figs in the hazelnut mixture and arrange them on a festive serving platter, cheese side up. Chill until serving.

No matter what you are planning to serve as your main course this holiday season, any one of these mouth-watering appetizers would be a delicious addition to your table. Why not try out a couple of them now and choose your favorite?