4 Tasty Appetizers You Can Make With Potato

4 Tasty Appetizers You Can Make With Potato



By Misha Anatolia

It's time for the party and you need to put your appetizers together. It doesn't matter if you're hosting a large family reunion, a friendly holiday party, or a special bridal shower, you don't want to spend the entire time in the kitchen. You want appetizers that are yummy, crowd-pleasing, and easy to make ahead of time so you can be with your guests and enjoying the fun. Why not look to a food that everyone loves-potatoes-to make some enjoyable appetizers to tickle the taste buds and get the party going.

Here are 4 tasty appetizers you can make with potatoes:

1. Chunky potato wedges are a great way to utilize potatoes. The skins bake up crisp and delicious and the potatoes can be flavored with different salts, seasonings and spices. Cut up baking, russet or Yukon gold potatoes long ways into wedges. Toss in extra virgin olive oil and add your favorite flavorings. Seasoned salt, pepper, or kosher salt are good, but you can also add chopped rosemary, paprika, parmesan cheese, or even curry powder. Pick and choose which will go over well at your party. You can make a large batch ahead of time and keep them set on a low warming heat in the oven until it's time to serve them at the party.

2. Potato skins are a hit in restaurants, so why not serve them at your party. Again, this is a bake ahead item you can keep warm and serve hot to your guests. The best way is to bake several potatoes until they're soft on the inside and crisp on the outside. After they cool down, slice in half and scoop out the potato pulp, placing it in a bowl on the side. Cut the two halves of the potato into to more halves. Add salt and pepper and place on a baking sheet. Take the potato pulp that's in the bowl and add butter, sour cream, salt and pepper. Mix together well like you're making mashed potatoes. Then, layer a spoonful of the mixture on top of the potato shell. Add shredded cheese, bacon bits, and sliced scallions. Bake until golden brown and the cheese it melted. Serve with a dollop of sour cream on top. If you're keeping these warm in the oven before your guests arrive, it's best to save putting the cheese on until last. Then your guests can enjoy a warm, gooey, delicious appetizer.

3. Potato balls are delicious and easy to make. Peel and chop a pound of potatoes. Place in a pot of water and boil until soft, about 20 minutes. After draining, mash the potatoes with two tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a cooking sheet with cooking spray. Spoon potatoes into your hand and form a one inch ball. Mix a half teaspoon of paprika with a half cup of wheat germ. Roll the potato ball in this mixture and place on baking sheet. Repeat until all of the potatoes are rolled and on the sheet. Spray the balls with the cooking spray and then place in oven to bake for 20-25 minutes. When finished, remove to paper towels and then place on a serving platter with toothpicks for your guests to enjoy.

4. Spicy potato chips. This is certain to be a crowd pleaser and very easy to make. Purchase your favorite bag of brand name potato chips. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place potato chips in a large bowl and add two tablespoons of your favorite seasoning like Cajun spice or Old Bay. Spray everything generously with a vegetable oil or olive oil cooking spray. Get your hands into the game by mixing the chips and spices together, careful that every chip gets seasoned and has spray on it. Spread potato chips out onto a baking sheet in one layer. This may take a couple of batches. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes and then serve. This is a great way to kick up your favorite store bought chips into a delicacy that will make your friend think you made it all yourself.

These foods are great for all kinds of parties, even weddings and bridal showers. So next time you have some spare potatoes lying around, be sure to remember these delicious recipes.

Misha Anatolia writes about party planning for various occasions, including bridal showers. For more bridal shower food ideas or other appetizer ideas for parties, check out more of Misha's bridal shower recipes.

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LWC - Blue Cheese Appetizers and Blue Cocktails

Lisa's Weekly Coffee: Thinking Blue









When thinking blue for recipes immediately blue cheese comes to my mind.


I love blue cheese and I find it to be an interesting and delighftul cheese for appetizers. I came across several recipes but I've only decided to feature three of my favorite ones: the red onion and blue cheese flat bread, the walnut, arugula and gorgonzola crostini ( my absolute favorite) and finally the asparagus appetizer.





When it comes to thinking blue for drinks and cocktails, I couldn't resist not sharing the Blue Tini, The Blue Bikini and The Blue Lagoon.


When I think of any blue cocktail I think of a very pleasing drink, simply because it looks cool and refreshing. I must add that all the credit, for blue cocktails and drinks, goes to the Blue Curacao liqueur which not only adds the color but also that orange sweetness of all curacaos





Blue Cheese Appetizer Recipes






You will love the Red Onion and Blue Cheese Flat bread source: myrecipes.com

Walnut, Arugula & Gorgonzola Crostini source: whatscookingamerica.net

Butter, room temperature
18 (1/4-inch thick) slices diagonal baguette bread slices
6 tablespoons toasted and chopped walnuts
3 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled*
3 tablespoons finely-chopped arugula leaves
Freshly ground black pepper
Arugula leaves

* Blue Cheese may be substituted.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Spread butter over one side of each baguette slice. Arrange baguette slices on baking sheet, butter side up. Bake until golden, approximately 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. NOTE: These can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container. Be sure to let cool completely before storing.

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, mix walnuts, Gorgonzola cheese, and arugula leaves. (At this point, mixture may be refrigerated until ready to use.)

When ready to serve, spread walnut-cheese mixture evenly on top of each baguette slice, pressing in to adhere. Season with pepper. Bake just until cheese melt, approximately 6 minutes. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Arrange crostini on serving platter and garnish with arugula leaves.

Makes 6 servings.

Asparagus Appetizers source cooks.com

1 can asparagus spears
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 egg
1 (3 oz.) pkg. Blue cheese
20 slices white bread, trimmed and rolled

Mix egg and cheeses. Spread about 1 tablespoon on a slice of the bread. Roll 1 spear up in bread. Insert 3 toothpicks in each slice, then cut in thirds. Brown lightly in butter. Keep warm in oven until served or they freeze well.

Blue Cocktails



Bikini Martini source; in-the-spirit.co.uk


1.5 Measures Hendricks Gin
1 Teaspoon Peach Schnapps
1.5 Measures De Kuyper Blue Curaçao

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into glass





Blu-Tini source; bluecocktails.blogspot.com


1 part blueberry-flavored vodka (recommended: Stoli Blue)
1 part vanilla-flavored vodka (recommended: Stoli Vanilla)
Splash sweet blue liqueur (recommended: Blue Curacao)
Fresh or frozen blueberries, for garnishFill cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Add all ingredients except berries and shake well. Pour into martini glass and garnish with blueberries


Check out this video from Barschool.com and learn how to make The Blue Lagoon Cocktail

Lisa
Lisa's Weekly Coffee
ShesDaily.com


Disclosure: the above publication is for entertainment purposes. The above recipes are based on Lisa's own personal online research and credit has been given to the source of the above recipes. Images are source of google and may or may not reflect the actual recipe.

She's Cooking Pinwheel Frittata

Pinwheel Frittata

Preperation 20- 25 minutes
Refrigeration 1 hour or more
Serves 4-6


Ingredients:
6 eggs
1 tablespoon parmiggiano cheese
3 tablespoons virgin olive oil
3 basil leaves
3 slices of mild provolone cheese
3 slices of ham
salt
Warm up a skillet on high heat and add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet. Meanwhile beat 6 eggs, with salt and parmiggiano reggiano cheese. Once skillet is hot , lower the flame to medium, then place eggs in skillet as if you are making an omelete, cook for at least 3 minutes then flip the omelete and allow to cook the other side for an additional 3 minutes.

Once the frittata is cooked place on a dish and let is cool for about 15 minutes. Once the frittata has cooled down, place 3 slices of ham in the center of the frittata, then place the basil leaves on top of the ham and finish by topping the basil with the mild provolone.
Roll the frittata into a log and wrap the log in alluminum foil and refregirate for at least one hour.
This dish can be made a day a ahead, the more you keep it refrigerated the tastier.

Before you are ready to serve this dish: remove the frittata from the alluminum foil and place on on slicing board and diagonally cut out about 1 1/2 - 2 inch slices and place them on a serving plate. Slices will look similar to a pinwheel.

A side salad is ideal for this refreshing and tasty meal. You can also top a salad with 3- 4 pinwheel slices. Makes a great appetizer too.

A very colorful dish to share with family and friends

By Simply Sweet Basil Recipes

ShesDaily.com