Macaroni and Cheese Bites are a hearty appetizer for any occasion. Bake them in tart pans for Bitty Bites. Bake them in a regular muffin tin for a big guy appertizer or a light meal. Serve them for a prom after-party, an informal wedding reception, a couples potluck, the Big Game Food Table. I’ve mentioned before that we like hearty appetizers for a light meal that is different and out of the ordinary for us. It takes 20 minutes to prepare the big macaroni muffins. If you do the prep as directed and multi task while the water is coming to a boil and the pasta is cooking, you’ll feel less hurried during assembly. I used a small ladle to fill each muffin cup to the top. The recipe makes exactly 12. Serve hot. Garnish with fresh ground pepper and chopped parsley. If you ... [Read More]
appetizer
Cheeseburger Dip
Everything you love about a cheeseburger in one creamy bite. Cheeseburger Dip has it all -- hearty beefy burger, creamy cheese, ketchup, mustard -- in one spoonful. Serve it on a cracker, scoop it with a chip, it's all good! Top it with bacon chunks for even more goodness. Cut the bacon into small pieces before browning. It will crisp faster that way. It also saves burned fingers because you won’t be trying to cut hot bacon into pieces. I add half the mustard because its not my favorite flavor so I would order my cheeseburger without, but you can go all out and add all the recipe calls for. If you brown your bought on sale hamburger before popping it into the freezer, measure out two cups browned ground beef and save yourself some time. You can use any cheddar cheese or even ... [Read More]
Mississippi Sin Dip
Mississippi Sin Dip is creamy, cheesy, flavorful and so sinfully good! I understand the "sin" part of the name, but not why Mississippi should get all the glory. But then I am woefully undereducated about Mississippi, My mother taught us to spell it: M I crooked letter crooked letter, I crooked letter crooked letter I poke bonnet poke bonnet I -- a rhyme drawn from her incredible store of oral tradition and folk stories. I can tell you that we were hundreds of miles from Mississippi's location on the Gulf Coast and this still tasted sinfully good. It's sinfully easy to make, too. You can bake it in a dish, but the bread bowl makes a special presentation. Use the bread chunks torn from the inside of the loaf for dipping and when the dip is halfway gone -- start tearing chunks off ... [Read More]
12 Awesome Appetizers and Delicious Dips
Here's a dozen great appetizers and dips to consider for your next party. Plus a bonus appetizer for a Christmas / New Year Party that has been a seasonal top post since it appeared on A Pinch of Joy! I was so surprised to see the total number I just had to add it! How's that for a deal? You'll find it at the very end! Starting at the upper right hand corner and going clockwise: Cheesy Chicken Enchildada Dip -- Memorable, cheesy and flavorful, easy and quick -- disappears quickly! Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms -- a bite of delicious melty cheese, colorful spinach atop a hot and flavorful mushroom. Cinnamon Apple Baked Brie -- Better than apple pie -- and easier, too! Pineapple Bacon Bites -- Sugared bacon wrapped around pineapple bits, baked to perfection! Ham ... [Read More]
Chili Cheese Dip
So quick and simple to make, Chili Cheese Dip goes together during the commercial and is ready to eat before the next break. Use the microwave, it will be ready in about 10 minutes including preparation, depending on your microwave. When ooey, gooey and hot through—it’s done. Or pop it in the oven and concentrate on the game, until the timer chimes. The ingredients are likely ones on hand and the directions are so simple anyone can do it themselves! If you can follow a Chilton’s manual, you tube directions on building a fence or figure out the newest phone – you can follow a recipe. No excuses, especially when the recipe is this easy. I used a handful of quartered grape tomatoes on top in the photo -- the last ones from the garden -- instead of chopping a whole tomato. You know ... [Read More]
Bacon Onion Cheese Dip
The Best Onion Bacon Cheese Dip / Spread. Based on the famous Neiman Marcus Dip, this is a little creamy, a lot cheesy, a bit crunchy and thoroughly scrumptious. I took it to a New Year's Eve party. It was gone before the rest of the goodies were in place! I have made this with all mayonnaise, but we like it best with half sour cream because that lets the other flavors shine more brightly. Do not substitute other spreads for the mayo. I also use the packaged bacon pieces – real bacon. It saves time and hassle during party prep time. I have also cooked a package of bacon ahead of time to use in recipes like this during holiday time. Cut the cooked bacon into very small pieces if you go this way. Use a four ounce package of slivered almonds and toast lightly in a small ... [Read More]
