Appetizers

You probably won't be bringing a lot of appetizers to your friend who just had a baby, but let's see a raise of hands of how many of us there are out there who could just eat an appetizer for a meal.....  Me too!


Layered Taco Dip
This is one of the oldest recipes I know because my mom made this all the time when I was a kid.  I loved when my mom would entertain because she'd probably make this dip.  It really is the best with Taco-flavored Doritos, but try it with the Lime Tostito Chips too.  Equally yummy!

Ingredients:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1-2 avocados (I use 2 lately because I'm finding small avocados in my stores)
1 T. lemon juice (I use bottled, but you can use fresh)
1 T. milk

Toppings:
Iceberg lettuce, chopped fine
Tomato, chopped
1/2 Onion, chopped
Cheddar Cheese, chopped
Black Olives (I'm not an olive fan, so I omit these, but my mom would add them for sure)

Chips:
Doritos Taco flavored Chips
Tostitos Hint of Lime Chips

Preparation:
Mix cream cheese, avocados, lemon juice and milk in a blender, with a mixer or food processor until smooth.  Spread on a flat dinner plate.  Layer with chopped lettuce, tomato, onion, shredded cheese and olives.  Serve with chips.  Leftovers will turn brown as the avocado oxidizes, but it's still tasty the next day.


Donna's Hot Cheese Dip
I don't know who Donna is.  Probably a friend of my mom's.  Whoever she is, she deserves serious kudos for this dip.  It gets rave reviews anywhere and people will be begging you for the recipe.  And you want to know my stepsister's trick?  She likes to spread the leftovers of this on a hot ham sandwich.  I have yet to try that, but I think she's brilliant!  Love you, Brandi!

Ingredients:
2 packages cream cheese, 8 oz. each, softened
1 c. shredded Swiss Cheese
3/4 c. mayonnaise (use real mayo and not salad dressing)
2 bunches green onion, chopped

Preparation:
Mix all ingredients together.  Spread into a glass pie plate.  Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Can bake a little longer if you like the top more brown like we do, but watch it so it doesn't burn.  Serve dip hot on your favorite cracker.  We like Wheat Thins the best.



Veggie Pizza
Let's lighten things up a little.  I said just a little.  This is a yummy fresh appetizer that I could gobble down as a meal.  A little cream cheese keeps all the veggies on the bread.  And its loaded with veggies, so it's completely good for you and you can eat as much as you want, right?

Ingredients:

2 packages crescent rolls

Cream Cheese Mixture:
8 oz. brick of cream cheese
2/3 c. mayonnaise (use real mayo and not salad dressing)
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. garlic powder
1 t. dill weed
1 t. parsley

Toppings:
1 c. chopped broccoli
1 c. chopped cauliflower
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 chopped red pepper
1 pound Monterey Jack Cheese

Preparation:
In a prepared 11x14 pan, lay out crescent rolls flat, into 1 whole crust with no holes or gaps.  Bake according to package directions (watch your timing as it might bake faster than the instructions).  Let cool completely.  Mix all ingredients to make the Cream Cheese Mixture above.  Spread Cream Cheese Mixture on top of cooled crust.  Chop all toppings very fine.  Add toppings as you would a pizza, on top of the Cream Cheese mixture.  Shred cheese very fine and layer on top.  Cut and serve.