New Year Appetizers!!

So for New Years this year – we did a bunch of appetizers / crab legs for our “dinner celebration”.  It was yummy – so thought I would post up the apps we had.  Can’t go wrong with apps – had some new ones too!!

Stuffed Mushroom Caps (Thanks Gooder)

I am in LOVE with the stuffed mushroom caps – I made them really spicy, so if you don’t like the kick – then just lower the amount of cayenne.   Also, I only use one package of stems for the chopped up part – otherwise, I think it would be too much shroom J

Ingredients:

2 packs mushrooms
1 pack cream cheese
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ tablespoons garlic
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon onion powder

Pull stems of mushrooms out – cut up into small pieces (usually only cut up 1 package).  In fry pan – use 1.5 TBL olive oil, 1.5 TBL garlic, and cut up mushroom pieces (then cool).  Mix cream cheese, 1/4 t cayenne pepper, ¼ onion powder, fried mushrooms all together.  Put those into tops of mushroom caps – then bake at 325 for 20 min or until golden on top.

Pretzel Dip

Another DAM LAKE favorite is the pretzel dip that Miss Leslie always brings up….thought I would introduce it to the family….super tasty and really easy!!

Ingredients:

2 – 8oz cream cheese

½ can miller lite (used Coors light – so that works too!)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Packet Hidden valley ranch seasoning

Mix all together and serve with pretzels.

Hot Artichoke Dip

Heidi made the hot artichoke dip – and a nice add on was the chopped tomatoes and green onions….I’ve never done that before – but it was really yummy that way.

Ingredients:

1 (14 oz) can artichokes

1c Kraft grated parmesan cheese (green can)

1c mayo

1/8 teaspoon garlic salt

½ teaspoon lemon juice

Triscuits

Drain artichokes.  Place the artichokes into an ovenproof container – mash with a fork to break up the pieces.  Add the cheese, mayo, garlic salt, and the lemon juice.  Stir to blend.

Heat to 350 oven for about 10 minutes or until heated through the center – and there are bubbles around the edges.

Note: overheating will cause the oil to separate from the mayo.  If this happens, remove excess with a paper towel and stir to blend.

Pomegranate THIS!!

Tracy brought the pomegranate appetizer.  The lovely Paulbecks up at the cabin didn’t actually carry the pomegranate seeds (costco does though….) – so she had the lovely annoying / time consuming chore of “de-seeding” the pomegranate.  This works – but just buy the seeds for this dip.

Ingredients :

Pomegranate seeds (used 2 pomegranates for this recipe)

Strawberry cream cheese

Cinnamon thins crackers

Just put down the cream cheese – put seeds over the top – and eat with the cinnamon thins.  Yum yum J

Cheese Queso

So we had this easy cheese dip at Erik’s birthday – so by request, Lori made this for New Years.  Super easy and really yummy!!

Just cut up some Velvetta cheese into little squares – and put in a crock pot…..then dump in a jar of picanta sauce and mix together.  Then just heat until it mixes all together.  Enjoy with some scoops!