Appetizer good for hot weather

I need a suggestion for a yummy appetizer suitable for this hot weather--meaning, don't want to heat up the kitchen cooking it, and it would be an added bonus if it were something kind of "refreshing."

What about Hummus?

I need a suggestion for a yummy appetizer suitable for this hot weather--meaning, don't want to heat up the kitchen cooking it, and it would be an added bonus if it were something kind of "refreshing."

just make margaritas and forget it;-) :blink:

What about Hummus?

Oh, I love the Sabra hummus varieties in the red and clear containers at Publix. I have become addicted. I gained too much weight last month 😱 partly due to the chip and hummus factor, so I switched to carrot sticks. Just as good. :clap_1: No cooking. Even better!

what about a fruit tray with dip???

like this one???

What about Hummus?

Yeah, hummus makes my short list, definitely. I was actually thinking of trying a new recipe I found recently for black bean hummus.
IBD, it's to go with cocktails, so I was looking for something more savory. Good suggestion, though!

1 pound medium shrimp
4 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon dried tarragon (or 2 teaspoons fresh), optional
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper, to taste
6 tablespoons olive oil
3 large garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 lemon, sliced thinly

Cook shrimp in salted boiling water for 1 minute. Drain, peel, and devein. Whisk together the lemon juice, fennel, tarragon, red pepper, salt, pepper, and oil. Stir in shrimp, garlic. Marinate at least 6 hours. Garnish with sliced lemon. Serves 8 as an appetizer.

For a refreshing summertime appetizer, fill bite-size cherry tomatoes, round or pear shaped, with a mixture of savory fillings.

24 cherry tomatoes (can use a mixture of red and yellow tomatoes)

Cut a small portion off the bottoms of each tomato so they will sit on a try without rolling. slice off the tops of each tomatoes and scoop out centers with the small end of a melon scope to make a hollow yet sturdy shell; discard centers. TIP: Turn cherry tomatoes upside down and use the bottom for the top when stuffing. This keeps them standing straight.
Invert tomatoes onto damp paper towels and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to fill.

Using a small spoon, fill each tomato with about 1 teaspoon of the filling of your choice. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before serving.

Goat Cheese Filling:
1/4 pound fresh goat cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

In a bowl, combine the cheese, basil, salt, and pepper. Mix with a fork until well blended.

Mozzarella Cheese Filling:
2 teaspoons pine nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
4 ounces fresh soft Mozzarella Cheese
2 tablespoon chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 teaspoon pine nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place pine nuts on a baking sheet; bake for 10 minutes or until a light golden brown. In a bowl, combine mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper.


Creamy Shrimp Filling:
1/4 pound cooked shrimp - peeled and deveined
1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

In a food processor, mix the shrimp, cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, horseradish, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.

Crab Filling:
1/2 pound cooked crabmeat, finely chopped
1/4 cup diced celery, very finely chopped
1 tablespoon cashew nuts, chopped fine
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon salt or to taste
1/2 teaspoon fresh tarragon, chopped (or 1/4 tsp. dried)
1/2 to 1 tablespoon mayonnaise

In a bowl, combine crabmeat, celery, cashew nuts, Worcestershire sauce, salt, tarragon, and mayonnaise (use just enough mayonnaise to moisten and hold ingredients together).

Can I just say YUMM!

Mozzarella Cheese Filling:
2 teaspoons pine nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
4 ounces fresh soft Mozzarella Cheese
2 tablespoon chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 teaspoon pine nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place pine nuts on a baking sheet; bake for 10 minutes or until a light golden brown. In a bowl, combine mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper.



These recipes sound yummy! Thanks for posting. Question on the Mozzarella Cheese Filling - is it 1 or 2 tsps of pine nuts?

Mozzarella Cheese Filling:
2 teaspoons pine nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
4 ounces fresh soft Mozzarella Cheese
2 tablespoon chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 teaspoon pine nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place pine nuts on a baking sheet; bake for 10 minutes or until a light golden brown. In a bowl, combine mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper.



These recipes sound yummy! Thanks for posting. Question on the Mozzarella Cheese Filling - is it 1 or 2 tsps of pine nuts?

You can never have too many pine nuts. I rob my kids' piggy banks for pine nuts!!:wub:

Linda the tomato recipe looks great!!!!

Linda, I make the same tomatoes, but sometimes use mayo, chopped green onion and crumbled bacon for filling. Everyone loves the little BLTs.

For a refreshing summertime appetizer, fill bite-size cherry tomatoes, round or pear shaped, with a mixture of savory fillings.

24 cherry tomatoes (can use a mixture of red and yellow tomatoes)

Yum! I'm crazy for goat cheese--I think this may be it!

Not quite so fancy, but VERY quick.. mix together chilled cocktail sauce and a package of those tiny salad shrimp, then pour over a block of cream cheese and serve with crackers. About 2 minutes prep time, which makes it very easy to make more!

LBH, these tomato recipes sound devine!
I'm printing it out now!

2 can black-eyed peas drained

1 can shoe peg corn

1 green pepper

1 can of of rotel with diced green chilis

1 package of good seasons Italian dressing (the one who make in the bottle with oil and vinegar)

This is so simple and everywhere I take it people die for the recipe. If for a big group you can easily double.

A little variation of Tamara's recipe.

Texas Caviar

11 oz can white shoe peg corn (drained)
15 oz can black eye peas (drained)
4 green onions (chopped)
1/2 red onion (diced)
15 oz can diced tomatoes and jalapenos (drained)
1/2 teaspoon sugar
8 oz bottle of Italian dressing

Mix everything the night before. This can really be eaten with just about anything. Use it as a dip with tortilla chips, or as a side salad.

You can never have too many pine nuts. I rob my kids' piggy banks for pine nuts!!:wub:

I agree & thought the same thing when I saw this but wanted to make sure I wasn't missing some integral ingredient!

Mozzarella Cheese Filling:
2 teaspoons pine nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
4 ounces fresh soft Mozzarella Cheese
2 tablespoon chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 teaspoon pine nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place pine nuts on a baking sheet; bake for 10 minutes or until a light golden brown. In a bowl, combine mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper.



These recipes sound yummy! Thanks for posting. Question on the Mozzarella Cheese Filling - is it 1 or 2 tsps of pine nuts?

Wow, good catch - have to admit I haven't made these before, the recipe came up when I googled "refreshing appetizer." :idontno:

But I'm with Jdarg - what's a few extra pine nuts among friends - more is better.

And Sea Star, they did have a bacon filling recipe as well - it just didn't seem as refreshing so I omitted it. But I bet it's yummy too!

So glad Peapod likes this idea (among others!) I'll have to try making them myself soon!