Appetizers for Your New Year’s Eve Party

It is so hard to believe 2012 is almost over.  How are you celebrating?  We usually visit friends for a very low key New Year’s Eve.  And, of course there must be food.  Here are three great appetizers for your New Year’s Eve party that everyone will love!

The first is an adaptation of Skinny Taste’s Skinny Baked Mozzarella Cheese Sticks.  These are really good and so much better for you than the fried full fat version!

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Appetizers for Your New Year’s Eve Party

Prep 1 hour, 10 mins

Cook 10 mins

Total 1 hour, 20 mins

Author Michelle

Ingredients

• 12 sticks, part skim mozzarella string cheese sticks
• 1 large egg beaten
• 2 Tbsps. all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/2 tsp. garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp. dried basil
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• marinara sauce for dipping

Instructions

1. Cut each cheese stick in half and freeze until firm (about an hour).
2. Mix together panko and seasonings in a small bowl. Put beaten egg in a second bowl, and flour in a third bowl.
3. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
5. Roll the cheese sticks in the flour, then dip them in the egg, and finally dredge them in the panko mixture, and place them on the prepared pan.
6. Bake for 4-5 minutes on each side for a total of 8-10 minutes.
7. Be sure to watch them carefully, so that they do not melt enough to loose shape.
8. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce for dipping.

Source:  Adapted from Skinny Taste.

Then, we have Buffalo Chicken Dip, which is an adaptation of the Frank’s Red Hot Sauce recipe.  I make mine really hot, but you can decrease the hot sauce if you prefer a milder version.

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Prep 10 mins

Cook 30 mins

Total 40 mins

Author Michelle

Ingredients

• 1 lb. chicken breast, cooked and chopped
• 1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese, cubed
• 1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
• 3/4 cup hot sauce (I used Frank’s.)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Stir together all ingredients in a 2 quart casserole dish.
3. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
4. When the dip is finished baking it should be hot and bubbly with the cheese melted. Stir it well before serving.
5. Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.

Source:  Adapted from Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.

And finally, creamy collard green dip.  It is perfect if you will still have people snacking after midnight as it will help you get in some of those lucky New Year’s greens!

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Appetizers for Your New Year’s Eve Party

Prep 10 mins

Cook 20 mins

Total 30 mins

Author Michelle

Yield 8

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese, cubed
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 cups cooked collard greens (I used leftovers that were already seasoned. If you are making some just for this, make sure to add salt and pepper. Onion and bacon taste great mixed in too.)

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large sauce pan.
2. Add garlic, and saute just until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
3. Stir in cream cheese and sour cream.
4. Cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until cheese is melted.
5. Stir in collard greens and cook until heated through.
6. Serve warm with crackers or tortilla chips.