recipes

Gorgonzola and Hazelnut-Stuffed Mushrooms

Gorgonzola- and Hazelnut-Stuffed Mushrooms

Gorgonzola and Hazelnut-Stuffed Mushrooms

Portions:36 appetizers
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Ingredients

  • 36 medium whole mushrooms
  • ⅓ cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
  • ¼ cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup chopped hazelnuts filberts
  • ¼ cup finely chopped red bell pepper
  • 4 medium green onions chopped (¼ cup)
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Twist mushroom stems to remove from mushroom caps; reserve caps.
  • Finely chop enough stems to measure about ½ cup; discard remaining stems.
  • In medium bowl, mix chopped mushroom stems and remaining ingredients until well blended.
  • Spoon into mushroom caps, mounding slightly.
  • Place in ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan.
  • Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until hot.
  • Serve warm.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Festive Touch

Add whole hazelnuts and oregano or parsley sprigs to the serving platter for a dramatic flair.

Kitchen Secrets

Italian Gorgonzola is rich and creamy with a mild, yet slightly pungent flavor and aroma. If you can’t find Gorgonzola, use blue cheese instead. And walnuts or pistachios can be used in place of the hazelnuts.
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Course Appetizer / Cheese / Nuts / Vegetables
Cuisine American
Holliday Christmas
Diets Vegetarian

Maple Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Maple Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Maple Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Portions:16 appetizers
Total time 30 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 16 fresh asparagus spears*
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon dried sage leaves crushed
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 package 16 oz bacon
  • 2 tablespoons real maple syrup

Instructions

  • Set oven control to broil.
  • Line broiler pan and broiler pan rack with foil; cut slits in foil on rack.
  • Snap off tough bottom ends of asparagus.
  • In pie plate, mix brown sugar, sage and pepper.
  • Dip bacon strips into mixture, turning to coat both sides.
  • Wrap bacon slice around each asparagus spear.
  • Place asparagus on broiler pan with tips toward center.
  • Broil with tops 6 inches from heat 13 to 15 minutes or until bacon is crisp, turning and brushing with syrup halfway through baking.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

*

Use the same amount of spears as slices of bacon. Depending on which brand you purchase, you will have 14 to 16 slices per pound of bacon.

Kitchen Secrets

If you like, try smoked bacon (such as applewood or mesquite) or, for a little extra heat, peppered bacon.
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Course Appetizer / Pork / Vegetables
Cuisine American
Holliday Christmas

Meatballs in Tomato Chutney

Meatballs in Tomato Chutney

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Ingredients

  • 3 cans 14.5 oz each fire-roasted diced tomatoes with garlic, drained
  • 2 cups chopped onions 2 large
  • 1 jalapeño chile seeded, chopped
  • ½ cup golden raisins
  • 1 can 6 oz tomato sauce
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ cup cider vinegar
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 lb bulk Italian pork sausage
  • 1 lb ground beef round
  • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 egg
  • Additional chopped fresh parsley if desired

Instructions

  • Spray 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
  • In slow cooker, stir together tomatoes, 1½ cups of the onions, the chile, raisins, tomato sauce, tomato paste, vinegar, brown sugar, curry powder and ½ teaspoon of the salt.
  • Cook uncovered on High heat setting 3 hours or until thickened.
  • Meanwhile, heat oven to 400°F.
  • Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray.
  • In large bowl, mix sausage, beef, ¼ cup parsley, the egg, remaining ½ cup onion and remaining 1 teaspoon salt.
  • Shape mixture into 36 (1-inch) balls.
  • Arrange in single layer in pan.
  • Bake 15 minutes or until thoroughly cooked and no longer pink in center.
  • Add meatballs to slow cooker.
  • Reduce heat setting to Low.
  • Cover; cook 1 hour.
  • Sprinkle with additional parsley.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Make-Ahead Magic

You can make the sauce and meatballs up to 2 days ahead of time. Spoon cooled sauce and meatballs into large microwavable bowls; stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate. The day of serving, microwave bowls on High 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until hot. Transfer hot meatballs and sauce to slow cooker. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 1 hour.
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Course Appetizer / Pork
Cuisine American
Holliday Christmas

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Wings with Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Wings with Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Wings with Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

Portions:40 appetizers
Total time 1 hour 25 minutes
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Ingredients

CHICKEN

  • 3 lb chicken wings and drummettes*
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 16 to 20 slices bacon cut crosswise in half

BARBECUE SAUCE

  • ½ cup ketchup
  • ½ cup bourbon
  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 425°F.
  • Line 2 cookie sheets with sides with heavy-duty foil; spray with cooking spray.
  • Sprinkle chicken with pepper.
  • Wrap each chicken piece with a half slice of bacon.
  • Place on cookie sheets.
  • Bake 30 minutes.
  • Turn chicken pieces over; rotate placement of cookie sheets in the oven.
  • Bake 20 to 30 minutes longer or until golden brown and juice of chicken is clear when thickest part is cut to bone (at least 165°F).
  • Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, mix sauce ingredients.
  • Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring frequently.
  • Reduce heat; simmer uncovered, stirring frequently, until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat; set aside.
  • In large bowl, toss chicken with half of the sauce.
  • Serve warm with remaining sauce on the side for dipping.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

*Purchase already cut chicken wings in the meat or frozen foods section of your grocery store. They’re sometimes called chicken drummies or wingettes and drummettes. You can use just wings or just drummettes if you prefer.
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Course Appetizer / Chicken / Sauce
Cuisine American
Holliday Christmas

Crab Bites

Crab Bites

Crab Bites

Portions:45 appetizers
Total time 40 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 3 packages 2.1 oz each frozen mini fillo shells (15 shells each)
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
  • ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon finely chopped garlic
  • 8 medium green onions finely chopped (½ cup)
  • 1 can 14 oz artichoke hearts, drained, finely chopped
  • 1 can 6.5 oz special white crabmeat, drained*

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 375°F.
  • Line cookie sheet with foil or cooking parchment paper.
  • Place fillo shells on cookie sheet.
  • In large bowl, mix remaining ingredients until well blended.
  • Spoon about 1 tablespoon crab mixture into each fillo shell.
  • Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until puffed and golden brown.
  • Serve warm.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

*

Refrigerated pasteurized or imitation crabmeat can be substituted for the canned crabmeat.

Make-Ahead Magic

Save yourself some time on hectic days by making the crab filling up to 24 hours in advance. Then just fill the shells and bake right before serving. You may need to bake them a minute or two longer.

Festive Touch

Garnish each crab bite with a cherry tomato half to add color.
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Course Appetizer / Fish / Seafood
Holliday Christmas

Gluten-Free Bacon-Wrapped Figs

Gluten-Free Bacon-Wrapped Figs

Portions:30 appetizers
Total time 25 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 package 12 oz fully cooked gluten-free cottage or Canadian bacon
  • 2 packages 8 oz each dried whole Calimyrna figs, stems removed
  • 30 pistachio nuts
  • 30 small fresh basil leaves

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 425°F.
  • Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray (without flour).
  • Cut each bacon slice in half.
  • Cut slit in each fig; stuff with nut.
  • Place basil leaf on bacon strip; wrap around fig.
  • Place seam side down in pan.
  • Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until bacon is browned.
  • Serve warm with toothpicks.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Make-Ahead Magic
Assemble appetizers 3 to 4 hours ahead of your party and refrigerate. You may need to add 1 to 2 minutes to the bake time.
Kitchen Secrets
Calimyrna figs are large, squat, green-skinned, white-fleshed figs grown in California. Instead of the figs, you can use dried apricot or peach halves, folding them in half around the nut.
Cooking Gluten Free?
Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is gluten free. Products and ingredient sources can change.
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Course Appetizer
Holliday Christmas
Diets Gluten Free

Cheesy Broccoli Puffs with Sriracha Mayonnaise

Cheesy Broccoli Puffs with Sriracha Mayonnaise

Cheesy Broccoli Puffs with Sriracha Mayonnaise

Total time 45 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 bag 12 oz frozen broccoli and cheese sauce
  • ¾ cup Original Bisquick™ mix
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 6 slices packaged precooked bacon from 2.1-oz package, chopped
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce
  • Sliced green onions if desired

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 375°F.
  • Generously grease 24 mini muffin cups with shortening or cooking spray.
  • Cook broccoli & cheese sauce as directed on bag for minimum time.
  • Chop broccoli.
  • In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, pepper flakes, salt, milk and eggs with whisk or fork until blended.
  • Stir in broccoli & cheese sauce, Parmesan cheese and bacon.
  • Divide mixture evenly among muffin cups (cups will be full).
  • Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and tops are light brown.
  • Cool 5 minutes.
  • With thin knife, loosen sides of puffs from pan; remove to cooling rack.
  • In small bowl, mix mayonnaise and Sriracha sauce until smooth.
  • Top each warm puff with 1 teaspoon mayonnaise mixture; garnish with onion

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Kitchen Secrets Satisfy your vegetarian guests by substituting either ¼ cup finely chopped red or green bell pepper or 2 tablespoons sliced green onions for the bacon.
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Course Appetizer
Holliday Christmas

Cranberry, Pomegranate and Caramelized Onion Flatbread

Cranberry, Pomegranate and Caramelized Onion Flatbread

Portions:12
Total time 45 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 large onion cut in half, thinly sliced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 package 10 oz prebaked thin Italian pizza crust (12 inch)
  • 1 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
  • ⅓ cup pomegranate seeds
  • ¾ teaspoon grated orange peel
  • ½ cup crumbled chèvre goat cheese (2 oz)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

Instructions

  • In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
  • Add onion, salt and pepper flakes; cook about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is browned and caramelized.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Heat oven to 400°F.
  • Place pizza crust on ungreased cookie sheet.
  • In small bowl, mix cranberry sauce, pomegranate seeds and orange peel.
  • Spread over crust.
  • Sprinkle cheese over cranberry mixture; spread onions over top.
  • Bake about 12 minutes or until cheese is melted.
  • Sprinkle with chives.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Make-Ahead Magic To get a jump-start on this appetizer pizza, cook the onions, then transfer to a microwavable bowl. Cover and refrigerate up to three days in advance. When you’re ready to make the pizza, microwave the onions on High about 30 seconds or until warm. Assemble the pizza and bake as directed.
Kitchen Secrets Use your favorite thin pizza crust in this recipe. Or if you have time, make your own flatbread dough from scratch.
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Course Appetizer / Bread
Holliday Christmas

Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers

Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers

Portions:32 appetizers
Total time 50 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 16 mini sweet peppers red, yellow and orange
  • ¾ cup refried beans from 16-oz can
  • ¾ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 3 oz
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 2 teaspoons taco seasoning mix from 1-oz package
  • ¾ cup corn chips crushed
  • Chopped fresh cilantro if desired

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 375°F.
  • Line large cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper; set aside.
  • Cut each sweet pepper in half lengthwise, leaving stem intact.
  • Remove seeds and membranes.
  • Place halved sweet peppers on cookie sheet, cut side up.
  • In medium bowl, mix refried beans, cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning until well blended.
  • Place mixture in resealable food-storage plastic bag.
  • Cut ½ inch off one corner of bag.
  • Pipe mixture into pepper halves.
  • Top each pepper half with crushed corn chips.
  • Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until peppers are crisp-tender.
  • Cool on cookie sheet 10 minutes.
  • Top with cilantro.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Make-Ahead Magic
To speed up the final prep, make as directed through Step 3. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate up to 6 hours until ready to bake. Top with corn chips, and bake as directed.
Festive Touch
Take these over the top by sprinkling a couple pieces of crisply cooked, crumbled bacon on top of the peppers along with the corn chips.
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Course Appetizer
Holliday Christmas

Christmas Tree Roll-Ups

Christmas Tree Roll-Ups

Portions:64 appetizers
Total time 2 hours 20 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 package 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup chopped drained roasted red bell peppers from a jar
  • ¼ cup chopped ripe olives
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
  • ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese 1 oz
  • 4 spinach-flavor flour tortillas 8 to 10 inch
  • Additional ripe olive pieces

Instructions

  • In medium bowl, mix cream cheese, roasted peppers, chopped olives, basil and Parmesan cheese.
  • Spread mixture evenly over tortillas, spreading to edges; roll up tightly.
  • Press each tortilla roll into triangle shape, using fingers.
  • Wrap in plastic wrap.
  • Refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
  • To serve, cut rolls into ½-inch slices.
  • Place olive piece at bottom of each triangle to look like tree trunk; secure with toothpick.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

Kitchen Secrets
Short on time? Or making this appetizer for an occasion other than Christmas? Don’t shape the rolls into triangles. Simply cut into round slices and serve, skipping the olive pieces and toothpicks. This recipe can also easily be cut in half for a smaller group.
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Course Appetizer
Holliday Christmas