Showing posts with label Appetizers. Show all posts

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

These sweet-and-spicy party bites bring the heat with a Southern twist! Frozen meatballs simmer low and slow in a bold blend of grape jelly, barbecue sauce, and Louisiana hot sauce until sticky, saucy, and irresistible. Perfect for game day, potlucks, or anytime you need a flavor-packed crowd-pleaser.

Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

My husband, aka The Cajun, loves meatballs. If there's a crockpot of meatballs at a party, you'll find him close by!

He also loves football, although that's a bit waning here lately with the performance of his favorite New Orleans Saints team, but... I regularly make meatballs and/or wings for him to enjoy over the college and NFL weekend.

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Saturday, October 4, 2025

Creamy Queso

Not your average queso, Velveeta and cream cheese bring the richness, taco-seasoned meat adds depth, and Rotel and jalapeño kicks up the heat. With a secret twist that keeps everyone guessing, it’s bold, creamy, and impossible to stop dipping.

Creamy Queso

I first learned about this recipe from an Oklahoma friend, Tommie. She and I met on a low carb board online many years ago and she's inspired quite a few recipes here on the website! (She's actually done a whole lot better with the low carb thing over all these years than I have, but I digress...)

Her family calls this one "The Greatest Queso That Ever Lived!"

I've since learned from social media that a few people have shared a similar secret ingredient queso, so I finally got around to trying Tommie's version, and I have to say... trust me on this. It's really delicious y'all!

Never would I ever have thought to use this ingredient in queso, even though it's actually a staple in my kitchen as it is in many other southern cooks' kitchens, but... who knew?!!

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Monday, September 15, 2025

English Muffin Chicken Melts - Dolly's Chicken Feed

Chicken breast, folded into a creamy blend of mayonnaise, butter, cheese and savory seasonings, spooned open-faced onto lightly toasted English muffins and passed under the broiler until golden and bubbly.

English Muffin Chicken Melts

Last year, Dolly Parton, together with her sister Rachel, published a cookbook called Good Lookin' Cookin' (#ad) and y'all know, with a name like that, I had to grab me one!

On page 23, there was a recipe for an open-faced sandwich that they called "Chicken Feed," a recipe they had received from a friend years ago and one that had become a family favorite ever since.

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Saturday, August 23, 2025

Biloxi Butter - Shrimp Cracker Spread

A creamy cracker spread made with cream cheese, butter and jumbo shrimp seasoned and sauteed in a skillet with butter and extra virgin olive oil.

Biloxi Butter - Shrimp Cracker Spread

Once upon a time it was pretty common here for home gatherings that usually involved some kind of card games, and maybe sometimes a little wager might have occurred.

Unfortunately, as society has changed and legal casinos arrived here in Biloxi, those home gatherings have pretty much dropped off - but the snacks served live on!

Biloxi Butter, a creamy cracker spread made with seasoned cream cheese, butter and local shrimp sauteed in a skillet with butter and extra virgin olive oil, is one of those snacks.

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Sunday, June 15, 2025

Summer Vegetable Salsa

A salsa made with the best flavors of summer - bell pepper, tomatoes, cucumber, chilies, zucchini and corn - nicely seasoned and tossed with a quality creamy Italian dressing.

Summer Vegetable Salsa

Okay. Question.

Is this a salsa? You know, like meant to be eaten with chips? Or as a condiment for grilled or pan seared proteins?

Or, is it a dip, solely meant to be scooped up on a chip?

Or, is it a salad? Meant to be eaten on its own?

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Saturday, May 3, 2025

Pickled Okra Roll Ups

A vintage appetizer made with a seasoned Boursin-style cream cheese filling and pickled okra, rolled up in slices of luncheon ham and sliced.

Pickled Okra Roll Ups

We're going old school here y'all!

I know some of you won't care for these because, well... okra. It's one of those somewhat divisive foods that folks either love or hate. More for me if you're in the latter group, because I love it!

Those of us who do love okra and are of a certain age, will likely remember this party appetizer from year's past. I'm not sure exactly when it became popular, but I seem to remember it from back in the 70s.

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Thursday, March 6, 2025

Olive Spread

A cream cheese based cracker spread, made with stuffed olives and simple seasonings, great for dipping veggies or your favorite crackers.

A cream cheese based cracker spread, made with stuffed olives and simple seasonings, great for dipping veggies, for tea sandwiches or your favorite crackers.

Olive Spread

First things first.

If you don't already have an affinity for all things olives, you won't like this spread. Ya pretty much gotta love olives, which I do.

Briny olives and anything pickled make for a quick snack for me.

I love it all - from kosher dills, to bread and butter pickles, pickled okra and every kind of olive. And a muffuletta sandwich slathered in olive salad? Um, yes please!

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Saturday, February 8, 2025

Spicy Honey Teriyaki Barbecue Wings

Chicken wings, lightly seasoned with salt, pepper and paprika, brushed with a spicy honey teriyaki marinade and baked.

Chicken wings, lightly dusted with seasoned salt, pepper and paprika, brushed with a spicy honey teriyaki marinade and baked.

Spicy Honey Teriyaki Barbecue Wings

The Cajun and I eat wings often and not just because there's a football game or party going on, although both of those times are common for sure! Our local Winn Dixie even has a great wing bar and we've visited that for a bucket of wings a few times.

As to my own recipes, you'll sometimes see that when I share a recipe for wings, the whole wing is in play and I've not separated my wings into drums and flats at all. I mean, it's just the two of us most of the time and frankly that's just another step.

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Saturday, February 1, 2025

Party Cocktail Sausages

Mini smoked sausages in a tangy sauce, perfect for any gathering.

Party Cocktail Sausages

Meatballs and mini smoked sausages - most notably those Lit'l Smokies - are two party staples and the best part? The sauces you use can completely customize them.

One standard mixture is the old school chili sauce and grape jelly blend and frankly everybody I know, even my grandkids, love that, whether it's on meatballs or sausages.

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Thursday, January 16, 2025

Million Dollar Cheese Bread

An appetizer bread, spread with a mix of mayo, shredded cheese, bacon, nuts and green onion, spread on French bread, baked and sliced for serving.

Million Dollar Cheese Bread

You've probably seen Million Dollar Dip and Neiman Marcus Dip all around the internet at some point. As to bloggers of food, it seems to be offered everywhere!

Million Dollar Dip was originally known simply as Almond-Bacon-Cheese Spread and later as Neiman Marcus Dip because that's where the original developer of the recipe, Helen Corbitt, happened to work as Director of Food Services at the Neiman Marcus restaurant, Zodiac Room in Texas, where it is said many of her recipes are still offered.

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Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Bar Nuts

Spicy mixed nuts, tossed with a seasoned butter and honey blend and roasted.

Bar Nuts

It's been a minute since I've spent anytime at all in a bar whether it's around town or on vacation, but I do remember a time where there were freely available snacks available.

Mostly they were intentionally savory and salty, purportedly to encourage your thirst so you'd buy more drinks!

These days it's more about offering paid for appetizer menu items, or if there are any kind of snacky freebies, it's typically small plates of food or appetizers called tapas,

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Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Spicy Party Mix

A snack mix of corn and rice squares with cheese crackers and a mix of pecans, cashews and peanuts, tossed with a seasoned butter and slow baked.

A snack mix of corn and rice squares with cheese crackers and a mix of pecans, cashews and peanuts, tossed with a spicy seasoned butter and slow baked.

Spicy Party Mix

Everyone makes these cereal-based snack mixes all year round because they are a great snack for parties, movie nights or just anytime, but for some reason they became a holiday favorite too. I think a lot of folks bag it up and gift it and frankly, once you start doing that, it will be expected every year!

What I call the original original 1952 advertised recipe was simply 2 cups each of wheat and rice Chex cereals, 1/2 cup nuts, butter, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and garlic salt. That's it! Even that original has evolved over the years and isn't the same original as is on the current Chex website.

I won't go into it here again, but you can read up a bit on that Chexistory at this link.

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Thursday, October 24, 2024

Alfredo Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Crab

The classic dip combination of spinach and artichokes in an Alfredo base, with Italian and cream cheese and crabmeat.

Alfredo Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Crab

We're kind of in that awkward stage of food seasons down here along the Gulf Coast. Summer is gone from the calendar and mostly along with all the great summer vegetables, and though fall has arrived, the weather here can get a little wacky. Some days cooler, then others downright summerlike.

One thing is for certain this time of year though.

Tis the season for football and football means appetizers and snacks! Sandwiches, wings, meatballs, gumbo, chilis, soups, snacks, a wide variety of finger foods and dips, of course! You can grab up some ideas by tapping on those categories, or right here at this link.

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Thursday, October 10, 2024

Cheesy Bacon Rotel Cup Appetizers

Tortilla scoops, filled with a blend of bacon with Rotel diced tomatoes, mayonnaise and cheese and topped with taco sauce and more cheese, then baked, for a great party appetizer!

Cheesy Bacon Rotel Cup Appetizers

Football season is king around this house with my husband, aka The Cajun. He loves the game, so I'm always looking for a good appetizer to snack on when it comes to game time, and this is a great one.

Typically made using phyllo cups, those can be a little hard to find around here for some reason. One day when I was adding my standard tortilla chips to the grocery list, I was reminded about the tortilla scoops. I thought hey, I bet those would work for those little snacks I like to make.

Turns out, somebody had already thought of that, so I made the adjustment and frankly, it worked out well!

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Monday, September 9, 2024

Air Fryer Naked Chicken Wings

Chicken wings generously seasoned and air fried naked. Saucing optional!

Air Fryer Naked Chicken Wings

I love wings. Love them!

They are one of our top favorite foods for football gatherings, movie watching or really anytime snacking.

I used to do them most of the time in the oven and still do occasionally but they are ideal and so easy in the air fryer.

Now... first a disclosure because it's important and it matters.

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Sunday, September 1, 2024

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail - Cóctel de Camarones

An appetizer of poached shrimp, marinated in a tangy cocktail sauce based on a combination of V8 and ketchup with lime and a mix of vegetables.

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail - Cóctel de Camarones

This is such a great appetizer anytime really, but will certainly go very nicely as a starter for your Taco Tuesday, any cocktail party, football gathering or tailgate and those cookouts too. Heck, just a movie night even - just bust up some saltines or tortilla chips!

A tad bit different from what you're used to seeing with our classic American-style shrimp cocktail, it's sort of a cross between that, a ceviche and a gazpacho, all in a Bloody Mary-like base!

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Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Puff Pastry Pigs in a Blanket with Mustard Sauce

Cocktail smoked sausages, wrapped in puff pastry and topped with fresh Parmesan with bagel seasoning and black pepper and served with a homemade mustard sauce.

Puff Pastry Pigs in a Blanket with Mustard Sauce

I love pigs in a blanket for an appetizer and apparently I'm not alone! Guaranteed they will be one of the first platters to be cleared at your gathering.

Usually made with a biscuit dough, they are a delicious two bite appetizer for any time, but let me tell you what... make them with puff pastry and they are out of the park!

They are also usually made with hot dogs, and me, I love hot dogs, yes, even though I know how they're made and I know what's in them. I. Don't. Care!

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Monday, February 5, 2024

Shrimp Poppers with Pepper Jelly Glaze

Collosal sized shrimp, stuffed with a jalapeno popper filling, wrapped in bacon and brushed with a pepper jelly barbecue glaze.

Jumbo shrimp, stuffed with a jalapeno popper filling, wrapped in bacon and brushed with a pepper jelly barbecue glaze.

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Poppers with Pepper Jelly Glaze

The Cajun's Dad always had an abundance of shrimp on hand. Nice ones too, many jumbos.

Back in the day, the family owned a small shrimp boat, so the boys would go out with Dad for a day of shrimping. When I was a kid, most young men and yes, even some gals around here too, would have experienced working on a shrimp boat at some point in their lives. Most families were involved in the industry and it was just part of the culture then.

When The Cajun went out, we would put up about 100 pounds of fresh from the Gulf shrimp that day. What a blessing!

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Saturday, February 3, 2024

Texas Love Dip - My Way

My version of the famous spicy tomato, garlic and cream cheese based dip sold at Central Market grocery stores in Texas and well loved by many.

Texas Love Dip - My Way

I had never heard of Texas Love Dip before.

But, I had been seeing it passed around on social media for awhile and finally gave it a try.

Apparently it originated from a Texas grocery chain, Central Market, H-E-B, or both, and is a popular party dip there.

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Monday, September 25, 2023

Firecracker Shrimp Appetizer

Wild American shrimp, dredged in a blend of flour and cornstarch, then deep fried and finished in an enhanced spicy sweet chili sauce, makes for a great snack, appetizer or main dish meal with a nice kick.

Firecracker Shrimp Appetizer

Because I'm constantly writing new recipes for this website and I cook so often, my husband aka to y'all as "The Cajun" and I don't really eat out much. On those occasions where we do, I'm often inspired to try to recreate something on the menu that we tried.

That is the case here.

Almost every local restaurant here along the Mississippi Gulf Coast has some kind of shrimp appetizer that consists of crunchy fried shrimp tossed in a slightly spicy and sweet sauce. They are known by a variety of names - like Firecracker Shrimp, Voodoo Shrimp, Bang Bang Shrimp and Boom Boom Shrimp, to name a few.

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