Does anyone have good appetizer ideas?

I'm cooking my boyfriend dinner for our one year anniversary. (This will be my first time ever cooking a real meal...) I'm probably going to do just a simple chicken and potatoes...and maybe chocolate fondue for dessert, but I was hoping to find a cool appetizer idea.Does anyone have good appetizer ideas?
Umm Chips and dip! always a favorite!!!



Spicy Chicken dip



1.cup cooked diced chicken

1/2. Cup ranch dressing

1/4 Cup Hot sauce

1.Pkg Cream cheese

shredded cheese



Cream the first 4 things together and put in glass piepan ( you could use anyother pan I just like this kind) and put as much cheese as you want on top stick it in the oven at 350* and cook till the cheese is all melted ...serve with tortilla chips



this is super easy and it soooo good!
soup, bread?Does anyone have good appetizer ideas?
i don't a recipe on hand but how about a shrimp cocktail or a cevichi
chop a tomato and half an onion. add garlic and basil. cover with about 3 tbsp. of olive oil. let sit for a couple of hrs.

add some crumbled feta cheese and serve with warm cut up pita bread. - very simple but really tastyDoes anyone have good appetizer ideas?
I like warmed brie with crackers. Or try goat cheese.



If you don't mind being a bit adventurous, home-made guacamole and chips is always delicious.
how about a cheese fondu with bread and crisp vegetables? kind of sexy, I think.
a good dipping salad dressing, like Ranch?, and a selection of crisp veggies and cherry tomatoes.



Enjoy your dinner and don't stress about getting it all ready at the same time!! That is a habit that comes with practice.
Here is an easy one that you both will enjoy, promise. and it is easy and good.









Mini Onion Quiches





3/4 cup crushed saltine crackers

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, melted

Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup chopped green onion with tops

2 tablespoons butter

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 cup grated Swiss cheese



Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.









combine cracker crumbs and melted butter. Divide crumbs among mini muffin tins that have been sprayed with a nonstick cooking spray. Saute onion for 10 minutes in 2 tablespoons butter. Cool, then divide evenly on top of cracker crumbs. Beat eggs; add milk, salt, pepper, and Swiss cheese. Pour by spoonfuls on top of onions in tins. Do not fill to top, as they will run over. Bake until set, about 15 to 20 minutes. Do not over bake. May be stored in refrigerator or freezer. Warm in oven before serving.
try a nice healthy salad
Bruschetta:

Take a loaf of French bread and cut it into 1/4-1/2 inch pieces on a 1/2 bias (angle)

Brush the bread pieces with olive oil (optional)

Toast the bread on a baking sheet for 4-5 minutes on 350 degrees

Top the bread with pieces of mozzarella cheese, toast until cheese melts.

When you pull them out top with store bought bruschetta- you can find this with the tomato sauce, Bertoli makes a good one. If you are near Trader Joes, they have a great one.

If you cant find it, chop up tomatoes (get roma or vine rippened) and a little red onion, mix with jarred chopped garlic (fresh is too potent), olive oil, salt, pepper, and a couple tablespoons of pesto.



Serve immediately.



This is something you should start making after he comes over, it is best right out of the oven.
shrimp cocktail, olive tempenade on crustinis, Brie en crute, Cheese and Grapes with Champagne.
Okay, but this is pretty indian, I am not sure if you would like to experiment, but it tastes great if you do it right.



Make a batter with some



rice flour - 2 tbsp

salt - to taste

fenugreek powder - a wee bit, just for a slight flavour, say a small teaspoon (a pinch)

turmeric powder (a pinch for color)

chilli powder - add a small spoon and see if its not too hot...and if its okay, dont add more.

garlic powder - a wee bit again, perhaps a ''full'' small teaspoon

gram flour (called besan in india) - 4 tbsp

corn flour - 2 tbsp



Mix all of the above together and make sure it has a batter which has a consistency to coat what you want to fry. I would suggest ladies fingers...because ladies fingers are so soft and tender, you could choose something thats tender inside, and coat it with the batter because the batter would be crisp after frying with the inside all tender, just like it would melt in your mouth.



Try it and let me know. You can add your own variations, If you want, say, shrimps, or perhaps tiny brinjals...or..even home made cheese...as long as the out is tough and the inside is soft....it makes a great appetizer, serve it with sauce of your choice...good luck on your date..
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

1 sleeve buttery rectangular crackers (recommended: Waverly Wafers)

1 pound sliced bacon cut in 1/2



Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.



Place 1 teaspoon ( I use more)of the cheese on each cracker and wrap tightly with a strip of bacon. Place the wrapped crackers on a broiler rack on a baking sheet and put the baking sheets on the oven rack. Bake for 2 hours, or until the bacon is done. Do not turn. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot or at room temperature



Cook's note: You can also bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes if you're in a hurry!
I make a really yummy cream cheese dip for appitizers when I'm having company or just making a special meal. Just take 2, 8oz blocks of cream cheese and soften them in a bowl with your hands. Add about half a teaspoon of garlic powder and some salt to taste. Add some chopped green onions and mix it all together. Form into a ball and roll in some slivered almonds. I serve it with plain Wheat Thins. Dissappears every time ;)
BLT Dip



1 envelope onion soup mix

8 ounces sour cream

1 cup mayonnaise

1 medium tomato, chopped and deseeded

6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled



1. Combine soup mix, sour cream, mayonnaise, tomato and crumbled bacon in a bowl.



2. Garnish with lettuce and serve with favorite dippers.



3. Chill for an hour before serving, however not necessary.
WATER CHESTNUTS WRAPPED IN BACON



1 CAN WHOLE WATER CHESTNUTS

1 LB BACON

KETCHUP AND BROWN SUGAR



WRAP EACH CHESTNUT WITH A SLICE OF BACON, SECURE WITH TOOTHPICK, PLACE UNDER BROIL UNTIL BACON IS CRISP. DRAIN GREASE FROM PAN. MIX EQUAL PARTS KETCHUP AND BROWN SUGAR IN BOWL. POUR OVER CHESTNUTS AND PLACE UNDER BROIL UNTIL BUBBLY.



SINCE MAKING THIS FOR A SUPERBOWL PARTY FOR FRIENDS I AM CONSTANTLY REQUESTED TO BRING THIS TO ALL OUR PARTIES.



IT'S TIME CONSUMING BUT WORTH IT.