I haven’t been able to access my blog all day long because of some server-type issues, and I probably would have been more eager to troubleshoot the whys and wherefores of that particular situation if I hadn’t been so busy playing Cruise Director for a couple of high-energy five year-olds.
Because as you probably know, five year-olds aren’t really content to watch some shuffleboard matches over on the Lido Deck and then call it a day.
So we spent most of this fine Friday having a big, fun time with Alex’s buddy C., and then our little family-o-three went to our favorite Chinese restaurant for supper, and then we went to Blockbuster to pick out a movie.
You can’t even imagine how pumped I am to tell you that we rented the new Backyardigans DVD. It’s gonna be SO STINKIN’ AWESOME, Y’ALL.
That Pablo. I’ll tell you what. He is a STITCH.
But before I move into the next phase of my Friday night plans (do I join Alex in the playroom for the Backyardigans feature presentation? do I sit here and watch David play a Top Spin 2 Wimbledon match against Lleyton Hewitt on the Xbox? do I sneak into the guest room and turn on HGTV and cross my fingers that there’s a House Hunters Memorial Day weekend marathon? do you wonder how I can even stand all the non-stop excitement around here?), I do have a question for you, internets.
Well, really I have a scenario. And I’m hoping you can offer some suggestions.
Next Wednesday night D’s men’s group buddies are coming over for the last session of the Bible study they’ve been doing this spring, and I have offered to provide all manner of hearty foodstuffs for the evening.
The catch, however, is that I won’t actually be here because my little man and I are leaving Wednesday morning to go see the grandparents in Mississippi.
So do any of you have any good, make-ahead appetizer recipes that would be pleasing to a bunch of menfolk? Something that I could leave in the refrigerator and that wouldn’t require that David to do much more than 1) remove some aluminum foil or 2) heat the appetizer in the oven for a short amount of time?
I’m at a loss – especially because it’s getting hot and everything I think of just sounds too heavy or too Superbowl-ish for this time of year.
Can’t wait to read your suggestions – y’all are always so kind to come to the rescue during my culinary times of need.
And just FYI? I’m in the guest room now. About to turn on the television. And hoping against all hope that Suzanne Whang will be there to greet me.
My life. It is very fancy indeed.
Hope y’all have a great weekend.
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CREAM CHEESE ROCKS! Is it just me, or do most of these recipes have cream cheese? And many of them are Mexican. You are allll my friends! Guess there’s just no need for me to add a recipe now. Boomama…I’ve tried many of these recipes listed and let me just say they are YUMMY! Guess you should go with the best yummyness per prep time ration. Hmmmm…..
Popeye’s. Let him pick up a box & all the sides on his way home. You’re off the hook that way. My guys are never fussy about what is served…..as long as it’s there.
Big Mama’s Mississippi Sin dip – YUMMY!!!!!
I say order Pizza’s (you could order them before you left and give them a specific delivery time later in the day) I order them for my Husbands office and they usually even give me a discount. Your Hubby could run out and pick up Fried Chicken before everyone arrived. Or, you could have a sandwich tray, chips, dips, and brownie squares. OK, it’s hot and I’m all about being lazy right now!
I don’t see this recipe on here because it may not be an Alabama thing (or maybe is too geared toward a winter dip), but here in the Lone Star State, it is a staple!
Using a 16 oz. package of Velvetta, cube and place in a large, microwavable dish. Use two cans of Ro-tel with the Mexican flavoring and dump on top of the cubed Velvetta with the juice (it is okay to use without the Mexican flavoring, aka the original kind, but don’t use the Italian because the results produce a weird taste). Add about 1/2 cup of milk.
Microwave until the cheese is melted, taking out of the microwave to stir periodically, or every two minutes or so. The whole microwave process should take about 10 minutes max. Serve with tortilla chips.
It’s easy and really good. I’m going to make it now!
If you do Knorr spinach dip, make sure to get Hawaiian bread! Mmmmmmmm…
My brother’s girlfriend makes an awesome Reuben dip. I can’t find her recipe, but I think this one is similar. And I don’t even like sauerkraut, but I sure ate it up.
Ingredients:
* 1 cup sauerkraut, drained
* 1 (8 oz.) cream cheese
* 1 (6 oz.) shredded Swiss cheese
* 6 ounces diced corned beef
* 2 tbsp. Thousand Island Dressing
Preparation:
Drain and rinse sauerkraut, mix with cream cheese and Swiss cheese. Add diced corned beef and Thousand Island dressing. Cover and heat on low until cheeses are melted, stirring occasionally to blend all ingredients. Serve warm with crackers or cocktail rye bread.
(Found at southernfood.about.com)
Oh, yeah. The recipe I just posted is a crockpot recipe. Now I’ve been googling, and there’s a bajillion different Reuben dip recipes. Maybe I should just call and get her recipe…
My idea was the Marinated cheese as seen above…….oh, just so sooooooo good! Serve with crackers of various varities….they will LOVE you!
This can be made the day before and refrigerated. You can serve it with tortilla chips. My hubby LOVES it. It is FULL of beans.
Bean Salad
1 can each pinto, black, and kidney beans drained and rinsed well.
1 can each Rotel tomatoes, plain diced tomatoes, whole kernel corn, drained but not rinsed.
1/2 white onion diced
4-5 green onions diced
1/2 bunch cilantro leaves chopped
Stir together and eat. No heating necessary and like most good things, it’s better the next day.
My hubby LOVES this appetizer….
Marinated Cheese
Southern Living
Recipe Introduction
This can be prepared the day before and it’s ready to serve the moment that guests arrive.
List of Ingredients
1 pkg. (o.7 oz envelope) Italian dressing mix
1/2 C. veg. oil
1/4 C. white vinegar
2 T. minced green onions
2 T. water
1 1/2 t. sugar
8 oz. block Monterey Jack Cheese, chilled
8 oz. block Cheddar Cheese, chilled
8 oz. pkg. Cream Cheese, chilled
4 oz. jar chopped pimentos, drained
Assorted crackers
Recipe
Whisk together first 6 ingredients. Set aside.
Cut Mont. Jack cheese in half lengthwise. Cut each half crosswise into 1/4″ thick slices. Repeat with the cheddar and cream cheese.
Arrange cheese in 4 rows in a shallow 2-qt. baking dish, alternating Monterey Jack, Cheddar and Cream Cheese. Pour the marinade over the cheese. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.
Drain marinade; arrange cheese on a platter in rows.Top with pimento, and serve with assorted crackers. …………………………… YUMMMMYYYY!!
Okay, I came back because I was grocery shopping today and thinking of you. I know. Crazy. But I’m glad I did because somehow I missed the comment earlier about the peanut butter filled bugles dipped in chocolate…and oh, my. That sounds so good!!
All I was going to add was that maybe just a deli tray would be nice. You could make a platter of meats and cheeses, put out rolls for sandwiches, add a few bags of chips and call it dinner! Well, that and some of those bugle thingies…totally…
Hey Boomama…according to Wikipedia:
Uniqua
A curious, self-confident and high-spirited pink creature with polka dots and overalls, she is almost always sweet and friendly, though her strong opinions and occasional stubbornness get in the way of her relationships. She is more tomboyish than Tasha, and often imagines herself in roles requiring brains and fortitude (scientist, pirate captain, etc). More than once, when she has got the mystery solved she will interject with a “You guys!”
Uniqua is a unique creature that is unlike any other in the world, and Uniqua is also the name of her species.[5] Creator Janice Burgess describes Uniqua as the child she wishes she was like as a child. [6] She has been called simply “Uniqua, the pink” in Knights Are Brave and Strong.
Knowledge is Power!
Rachael Ray is a favorite when it comes to recipe needs… Here are a few for you-
Chicken Quesadilla Pinwheels- http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=130&r=4,133,347,363,458,460,461,504,514,568,571
Ham and Cheese Mini Frittatas- (we make these all the time around here fro breakfast but they are perfect appetizers.)http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=810&r=4,133,347,363,458,460,461,504,514,568,571
Barbeque Chicken Pizza- PERFECT for this event… takes minutes to make.
http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=654&r=4,133,347,363,458,460,461,504,514,568,571
She has one that is similar to a pig in a blanket but it uses Keilbasa, bacon, cheese and Pillsbury Cresent rolls wrapped around it all. Can’t seem to find it on her site however. Wing it… it’ll still be SOOO GOOOD.
Meatballs in the crock pot and spinich dip. Meatball recipe: heat (liquify) grape jelly in a pot on the stove (that would be your part…),mix in chili sauce (found with the ketchup, etc. in the grocery store). Pour in a pack of meatballs and heat until meatballs are hot. Then, when he gets home,he puts them in the crockpot and heats them up. This is also a good “dinner” item put over rice or noodles.
I attended an event recently where the hostess served “strawberry shortcake.” Frozen strawberries poured over a Twinkie and topped with Cool Whip. How easy is that?
Okay, I thought long and hard yesterday about a recipe that didn’t involve cream cheese or velveeta. I am making this one today that can be used as an appetizer or goes with a cookout.
Potato Skins
8 large potatoes (micro or baked on oven) – cool, cut in 1/2 lengthwise and then 1/3.
Arrange in 9×13 pan.
Melt 2-3 tbs butter. (I use half a stick :) Drizzle over potatoes in pan.
The sprinkle the next items over potatoes
3/4 lb bacon cooked & crumbled
garlic salt – to taster
chopped green onions
1 c cheddar cheese (who really uses only 1 cup)
Cover and refrigerate until needed. I have done these a day before. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Serve with sour cream.
Trust me these disappear! I am making them today. Maybe I’ll get motivated and due a tutorial :)
Boomama
Here is the tutorial I did for the potato skins. I made them tonight and they are delish!
http://maryfredsays.typepad.com/maryfredsays/2008/05/potato-skins.html
Hope this helps!
Mary
Shrimp Dip – Mix one bottle of cocktail sauce with one can of petite shrimp (rinsed and drained). Chill until ready to use, then pour over one block of cream cheese and serve with Wheat Thins.
Ice cream sandwich dessert – layer 9 and one half ice cream sandwiches in a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Spread hot fudge ice cream topping over sandwiches, and layer with cool whip and then peanuts. Repeat layers. Freezes well for up to one month.
(The men at our church love this dessert!)
Make it easy on yourself and go to your local Chik Fil A or Walmart type place and order a chicken tray. D can pick it up before the event. Provide rolls, tortillas, chips, pickles, drinks, etc….voila!
Have you ever heard of the cookbook “A man, a Can, and a Plan”?
Every man should have one.
Mini-Pizzas? I use Pillsbury Biscuits, flatten them out and top w/ your favorite sauce and cheese. Oh! OR I also make homemade “Hot pockets” (with Pillsbury Biscuits too). If that sounds interesting to you I’ll dig up the recipe. :)
Crockpot some chip dip. You know, the velveeta, salsa, refried been stuff and leave a bag a tortilla chips sitting next to it. I’ve never seen men leave this stuff alone. And I am seriously bookmarking this post cause some of the recipes given sound fab!
I had to throw this out there its super easy and a real man pleaser’
Stuffed Jalapenos
1-Owens Sausage any flavor you like cooked and drained
add 1 block of cream cheese and mix cut jalapenos in half length wise and spoon about 1/2 to tsp of meat cream cheese mixture one roll of sausage usually I can get about 25 jalapenos or 50 halves. these can be refridgerated till ready to cook throw in oven @350 for 20 mins.
Bread + Meat = Picky Man Food
Just don’t put this one too close to any vegetables! :)
Take one can crescent rolls and spread into rectangle. Seal perforations. Spread with bulk sausage and roll into a log. Place in freezer. Before event, let thaw for about 15 minutes and cut into pinwheels. Place on foil lined baking sheet and bake at 375 until crescents are brown and sausage is cooked.
You can have the logs in the freezer for him. These are really good at room temperature so if they sit out on the counter for a bit it is fine.
I don’t have any snack ideas to add…just wanted to say that I’m totally going to steal a lot of them!
I usually make this bacon cheeseburger rollup for game nights and it is gone as soon as it finishes in the oven. Easy and good for carnivorous men.
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/recipedetail.htm?recipe_id=94445
Here’s a recipe for a chicken dip that you serve straight out of the fridge and put on top of Ritz crackers (even my husband can handle that!)
1 package of cream cheese
1 package of ranch dressing mix (the dry ingredients package)
1 can (larger can) of lump chicken meat (found near the canned Tuna)
Set out the cream cheese to bring to room temperature. Rinse and pull apart the chicken pieces, then drain. Mix everything together. We prefer Ritz crackers, but you can try different crackers.
I’ve gotten lots of compliments on this recipe! I hope you like it!
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