Favorite Outdoor Summer Apps?
I have to bring an appetizer to pass for a memorial service being held outside. I'm all out of ideas, and I'm sick of the same old stuff I always make. Anyone have any ideas they want to share?
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13 Comments:
I always find filo dough oriented appetizers like mini spanakopitas light and perfect for the summer. There's always lettuce wraps with fruit and seafood (shrimp or smoked salmon) (or veggies instead of seafood), apple and brie on bruschetta, souscaille...Yum.
fritesandfries at 12:28AM on 07/01/08
I guess you'll want to avoid anything that's messy, fried, or has any kind of sauce inside. At first I thought summer and spring rolls/crab cakes would be great, but all of those have a tendency to fall apart and the spring rolls/crab cakes will leave at least a trace grease residue on fingers.
Is this a formal memorial service where people will be wearing suits and dresses or is this an open to the public memorial service where 100s of people will be coming in tshirts, shorts, and slippers? I guess that would make the difference for me.
Cassaendra at 7:30AM on 07/01/08
I cut portobello caps into slices about 0.5 cm thick, dredge in seasoned flour, then egg, then a 1/2 and 1/2 mix of panko and finely shredded parmesan. Bake on parchement paper at 400F 10 min, turn and bake another 5-10 min. Serve with a spiced mayo dip (I mix 1/2 mayo, 1/2 yoghurt, and a small spoonful of sambal olek). This is not messy or greasy, tasty and pretty healthy!
PeanutButter at 9:27AM on 07/01/08
These are great, thanks!
Cassaendra, it's not too formal, for about 50 people. So no suits or fancy dresses - more like a 'chinos and tasteful sundresses' type of thing. I think summer rolls would go over really well.
BangieB at 10:03AM on 07/01/08
Spinach Brownies (bear with me here...)
These are great appetizers...always a crowd pleaser!
Ingredients
2 eggs
1 C. milk
1/4 lb. butter or margarine, melted
1 C. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 10 oz. pkg. frozen spinach, chopped, thawed and squeezed dry
1/2 medium onion, chopped fine
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Directions
Add beaten eggs, milk, and butter to sifted ingredients. Add remaining ingredients and pour into an ungreased 9" baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Cool. Cut into small serving pieces and serve warm. They can be frozen and reheated.
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 5:04PM on 07/01/08
Very interesting, Hillary. I should try that.
BangieB at 8:17PM on 07/01/08
bear with me on this one...
but how about an upscale 'pigs in a blanket' using different sausages (chicken and apple...wrapped with a bit of cheddar and a sliver of apple perhaps) only because whenever I serve them, people tend to either get a happy nostalgic look on their face and/or exclaim ' I used to LOVE these as a kid'!
maybe a way to add little joy and humor to a memorial service...
hammondcheese at 8:38PM on 07/01/08
Fresh fruit kebobs.
Mushroom caps, filled with Italian sausage (cut the end and squeeze), then bake or broil for about 10 min. . You could sprinkle w/parm, but they are awesome as is.
Bruschetta - Small baguette, cut bread on an angle, toast in oven, rub w/garlic clove, put on slice of provolone or mozzarella, and top with mixture of finely diced tomatoes, onions, peppers, basil in balsamic viniagrette.
Eggplant rolls. Slice eggplant lengthwise, brush with garlic infused oil, s&p. Grill. Remove. Place slice of mozzarella, slice of tomato, top with basil leaf, roll eggplant. Can be secured with toothpick.
Mini muffins.
Mini quiche.
Cookies or Brownies.
Tea sandwiches.
PerkyMac at 8:46PM on 07/01/08
@hammondcheese - every time I'm faced with pigs in a blanket, I also exclaim, "oh, I LOVED these!" And I still do!
@ PerkyMac - great ideas, all of them.
BangieB at 11:35PM on 07/01/08
@hammondcheese - every time I'm faced with pigs in a blanket, I also exclaim, "oh, I LOVED these!" And I still do!
@ PerkyMac - great ideas, all of them.
BangieB at 11:36PM on 07/01/08
- grilled shrimp skewers, in a smaller size shrimp or skewers to make it more appetizer-like w/ a light dusting of cajun seasoning
- rolled prosciutto w/ toothpicks available or served with a toothpick/roll
- beef satay, skewered with light coating of peanut sauce
- yakitori chicken, another skewered thing lol
- fruit salad served in a hollowed out watermelon (add whatever colorful fruits you want -- blueberries, raspberries, watermelon, honeydew, kiwi, etc.)
- mini-pizzas aka flatbread the size of old dollar coins (a little larger than the circumference of a sliced pepperoni). I hated to suggest this, but this was pretty fun to look at at a reception that I went to recently. I didn't eat any, but they had 5-6 different varieties. I don't think any of them had any cheese...they were just combinations of 2-3 ingredients, like a sliced grape tomato+basil leaf, pepperoni with pepperoncini on top, sausage with sliced olives, etc.
Cassaendra at 12:26PM on 07/02/08
holy crap, i LOVE pigs in a blanket, be they high or low-end. a gathering just isn't a gathering without pigs in a blanket.
thursdaynightsmackdown at 2:12PM on 07/02/08
I like to make little bastilla in phylo dough. Here is the recipe I use:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/108864
They're worth the effort just for the spiced tomato sauce! These are always a hit with my family.
When it's really hot out, I also love to make a 7 layer Greek dip. I layer fresh hummus, tzatziki sauce, diced cucumbers, diced tomatoes, sliced kalamata olives, feta cheese, and scallions in a casserole dish, and serve it with homemade pita chips. It's deliciously messy, and who doesn't love chips and dip?
nosillak at 3:27PM on 07/02/08