When you are having a simple dinner party, family get-together, celebrating a holiday, or just entertaining friends, these quick and easy summer appetizers will come in handy. Made with just a few ingredients and fast preparation, these flavorful appetizers will make it fun and easy to enjoy your celebration. Try these healthy appetizer recipes the next time you're entertaining.
Cheesy Bean Appetizers: Take a variety of whole grain crackers and top them with some canned refried beans, a sprinkle of cumin, a little prepared guacamole or a chunky salsa, a square of cheese of your own choosing, and a couple of slices of pitted black olives.
Tomato Roasted Corn Pita Dipper: Combine in a bowl, 2 medium tomatoes (diced), 2 celery stalks (diced), one-half cup sunflower kernels, one-half cup roasted corn kernels (these are available in the frozen food section - just thaw and drain prior to using), 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped), 1 cup low-fat sour cream, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve in small bowls with warm pita bread cut into bite-size pieces for dipping.
Sweet and Spicy Tuna Lettuce Wraps: Using Bibb lettuce leaves, place some tuna (canned in water and drained) along the center of a leaf. Then place some chopped jalapeno pepper on top of the tuna, some chopped mango, a couple of strips of green bell peppers, and a spoonful of sour cream. If desired, sprinkle a few red pepper flakes on top of the sour cream for a little more heat. Fold in the sides of each lettuce leaf and secure the lettuce wraps with a toothpick. Chill until ready to serve.
Veggie Quesadilla Appetizers: Take one 7-inch soft tortilla shell and sprinkle half of the shell with grated cheddar cheese. Then top the cheese with diced, jarred roasted red peppers, diced celery, chopped pimiento stuffed olives, some chopped onion, and little more grated cheese. Fold tortilla in half. Lightly spray a skillet with oil and over medium heat brown tortilla lightly on both sides. Cut tortilla in half and serve this summer appetizer as is or with a little bowl of sour cream for dipping.
Laura Cokherell, a food lover, maintains her site at www.quick-salad-recipes.com, offering easy solutions to meal preparation for everything from breakfast to dessert, including these easy summer appetizers. Creating fresh and healthy meals has never been easier or faster with these quick recipes that use just a few ingredients, simple preparation, and natural food.