Make fresh and light appetizers for summer meals.
Summer is a time for relaxation and casual entertaining. Summertime barbecues include many main meals, so appetizers need to be simple and nourishing. Using fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables, along with a variety of cheeses and meats, you can create some new appetizers for your summertime gatherings.
Fruit
Fresh fruit is at its peak in summer and makes a great appetizer when served with a simple dip. Yogurt is a good basis for a fruit dip. Add honey, lime juice and ground ginger to make a nutritious, but not too filling, appetizer before dinner. Serve with sliced apples, strawberries, kiwi, grapes and bananas. For a sweet appetizer to whet your appetite, whip cream cheese with marshmallow creme and a squeeze of fresh orange juice. Grate in orange peel for zest.
Cheese
For a salty-sweet appetizer, drizzle honey over a wedge of blue cheese. Cook bacon until very crispy, let it cool and crumble over the top of the wedge. Serve with crackers or celery sticks. For a spread, mix softened cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese. Drain a can each of crushed pineapple and chopped green chilies. Add chopped toasted pecans, chopped roasted sweet red peppers and garlic. Mix to a smooth consistency and garnish with additional toasted pecans. Serve with fresh vegetables sticks and crackers.
Vegetables
Stuff large white mushrooms with a healthy mix of ingredients. Saute rice, chopped mushroom stems, minced shallot, chopped basil leaves and chopped tarragon in olive oil. Cook a rice mix in chicken broth until tender. Add mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese, and stuff the mushroom with the mix. Grill it for a few minutes in a tray with olive oil, or broil in the oven. Dust with Parmesan and paprika. For a heartier appetizer, mix cream cheese and ranch dressing to make a spread. Chop fresh broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, tomatoes, sweet red peppers and green peppers. Roll any type of bread slices flat and cut off crusts. Spread cream cheese mix on bread, sprinkle on the vegetables and chill.
Meat
Turn kielbasa into a sweet appetizer. Mix chunky applesauce with brown sugar in a baking dish. Add some chopped onions and 1/2-inch slices of kielbasa. Bake until bubbly and serve hot or cold. Give chicken tenders a tangy sweet taste by marinating. Halve tenders and pound them flat. Place them in a shallow and sprinkle with olive oil, garlic powder and pepper. Refrigerate for an hour then thread on prepared skewers. Make a glaze of honey-barbecue sauce, sweet chili sauce, yellow mustard and white and brown sugar. Pour over chicken and grill or oven bake.
Tags: cream cheese, Serve with, baking dish, brown sugar, over wedge
