What is an appetizer?

Most of us have a good idea of what we would constitute as an appetizer. But just to clarify for anyone who might not be sure, I decided to look up the official definitions so there would be no doubt.
Answers.com definition is:
Answer: An appetizer is a food or drink served usually before a meal to stimulate the appetite.
Answer: Appetizers are foods before your meal that aren't as big.

Answer: Appetizers are light foods served before the meal.

Definitions of appetizer on the Web:

• food or drink to stimulate the appetite (usually served before a meal or as the first course) wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
• Hors d'œuvre (; , literally "apart from the main work") or appetizers are food items served before the main courses of a meal. ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appetizer
• A small, light, and usually savory first course in a meal en.wiktionary.org/wiki/appetizer
• Light foods served before a meal. These may be hot or cold or served as finger food. www.glutenfreeda.com/glossary.asp
• A small portion of food served at the beginning of a meal. See Crockpot Appetizers or the Appetizers Index for recipes. southernfood.about.com/library/info/bld_a.htm
• Stimulates the appetite. Ayurvedic herbs examples: hingvastak, trikatu. www.aarogya.com/index.php
• An herb or substance that excites or increases the appetite. (Syn: digestive) www.motherherbs.com/herb-glossary.html

No matter which definition you choose for your interpretation I know that personally appetizers are most often my favorite part of a meal. If you have a favorite appetizer recipe that you love and would be willing to share we welcome it. Have a great Monday, and maybe try out a new appetizer recipe while you're at it.

Mmmmm March!

What an appetizing evening! We kicked the club off right with fabulous appetizers and good company. We even managed to get a year's worth of great themes and food ideas put together! And, we all went home with full stomachs. Two of us took home more than that....

Lynne's Herbed Garlic Cheese

Spread and Boule Bread won the Best Taste award of the evening,

Marné won for Best Presentation with her Baked Brie.

And the prizes?

For best taste, Lynne took home a Ruffly Half Apron, pattern found at Make It and Love It.

For presentation, Marné took home a pair of embellished dish towels.

Herbed Garlic Cheese Spread and Boule Bread

Made by: Lynne

Herbed Garlic Cheese Spread

8 oz package Neufchatel or cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened (no substitutes)
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp dried marjoram
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp dried dill weed
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper

In a mixing bowl, beat ingredients until well blended. Refrigerate at least 2 hours; covered. Serve with assorted crackers or artisan bread.

Boule Bread
(makes 2- 1 lb loaves)

1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) yeast
2 1/4 tsp kosher or other coarse salt
3 1/4 cups flour (unbleached, all purpose)
cornmeal for pizza peel

baking stone
empty metal pan or broiler tray

For directions, check out Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois.

Baked Brie

Made by: Marné

1 puff pastry baking sheet
1 egg
1 Tbsp water
1/2 cup apricot preserves
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup toasted, sliced almonds
1 (13.2 oz) round Brie cheese

Thaw pastry sheet according to package directions (about 30 minutes room temperature).  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Mix together egg and water.

Unfold pastry sheet onto lightly floured surface and roll out to a 14 inch square. Cut to make a circle. Spread preserves to within 1/2 inches of edge, then sprinkle with cranberries and almonds. Place cheese on top.  Brush egg mixture around edges and fold up 2 edges over cheese.  Trim remaining 2 edges to about 2 inches from the edge of the cheese and then fold those up as well, pinch to a close. Place seam side down on baking sheet and brush with egg mixture.

Bake 20 minutes or until golden.  Let sit 1 hour before serving, and serve with crackers or apples.

Marinated Grilled Shrimp

Made by: Juying

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup tomato sauce

2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

2 lbs fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

skewers

Stir together the garlic, olive oil, tomato sauce and vinegar. Season with basil, salt and cayenne pepper. Add shrimp to the bowl and stir until evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour, stirred once or twice.

Preheat grill to medium heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until opaque.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Made by: Jessica

1/2 pkg. frozen spinach (drain and squeeze water out)
1 can artichoke hearts, chopped
6 green onions, chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
8 oz. cream cheese
1-2 Tbsp garlic
1 cup parmesan cheese

Mix together and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Kristina's Stuffed Mushrooms

Made by: Kristina

30 large fresh mushrooms, stems removed
1 (6 oz) package chicken flavored dry stuffing mix
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 lb imitation crabmeat, flaked
1 stick of butter (1/2 cup) + 3 Tbsp to melt with garlic
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
salt and pepper, to taste
garlic powder to taste
crushed red pepper to taste

1. Arrange mushrooms on a baking sheet, bottoms up.  Chop and reserve stems.

2. Prepare stuffing mix according to package directions.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

4. Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat.  Mix in garlic and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.

5. Mix together mushroom stems, prepared stuffing mix, cream cheese and imitation crabmeat.  Liberally stuff mushrooms with mixture.  Drizzle with the butter and garlic and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and crushed red pepper.

6. Bake uncovered for 10-12 minutes or until stuffing is lightly browned.

*After making stuffing mixture without meat, you can split it in half and add diced ham to one and crab meat to the other.

Jiffy Corn Dog Mini Muffins

Made by: Michelle

Servings: approx. 20 mini muffins
Serving size: 1 mini muffin (Points plus per svg: 2 points+)

1 8.5 oz box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/3 cup skim milk
1 Tbsp honey
4 Oscar Meyer Turkey hot dogs, each cut into 5 pieces

1. Spray the wells of a mini muffin pan with cooking spray.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the mix, egg, honey and skim milk.  Allow to sit for 3-4 minutes.  Stir batter.

3. Fill each mini muffin well with about 1/2 Tbsp batter.  Place a piece of hot dog into each well, pressing in.

4. Top each hot dog with about a tsp of batter, covering hot dog.

5. Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing to platter.

*Great dish for kids too!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Made by: Debbie

1 8 oz. brick cream cheese
1/2 cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce
10 oz. can chicken
1/2 cup Blue Cheese Dressing
1 cup grated Colby Jack Cheese

Combine together, add 1 cup shredded cheese to top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Made by: Debbie

1 pkg. mild sausage

4 oz cream cheese

2 cups mozzarella

mushrooms

Season to taste with chili powder, garlic salt and pepper.

Brown sausage, add cheeses and seasonings.  Put into mushrooms.  Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Southwest Rice and Bean Salad

Made by: Maria

Salad:
5 cups cooked rice
2 tsp salt
1 (16 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (16 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups cooked, cubed chicken
1 cup corn
4 green onions, chopped

Dressing:

1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil
4 pickled jalapeno pepper rounds
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin

Combine all salad ingredients together in a large bowl.  Combine dressing ingredients in blender and blend until peppers are finely minced.  Toss with salad.  Serve warm on tortillas for a dinner, cold as a side salad, or with chips as an appetizer.  Makes a lot!

Welcome to TasteBuds Cooking Club!

This blog officially kicks off the creation of our new cooking club - TasteBuds! Our group is comprised of women of all walks of life who enjoy cooking and getting together to share recipes and friendship too.  This blog is the official home of the club - we will post our monthly highlights, recipes from our latest gathering, prizewinners and fun photos.  Also check here for meeting dates and themes.  Tell your friends and neighbors - new cooks welcome!