Slow Cooker Cocktail Weiners

Slow Cooker Cocktail Weiners are the perfect little appetizer anytime but are always a hit at any party.

We used regular mini little smokies, but you can even use hotdogs cut up into small pieces, either way, these are a delicious little appetizer that even the kids will love.

These were very popular in the 1960s at many social gatherings and these retro recipes are still popular today.

Easy to make and can feed a hungry crowd economically.

Scroll down and to avoid ads just hit print for the recipe.

Blackberry Merlot Chilled Soup Recipe

A wonderful chilled soup called Blackberry Merlot Chilled Soup, it's so refreshing and the first one I had was on a cruise with Royal Caribbean!

Here is a delightful first appetizer and start of the summer delicious meal.

This is an adult soup, and not made for kids but guess what? Just substitute Welchs Grape Juice for the Merlot for them!

There are so many ways to adapt soups that are made with fruit, even if your not fond of blackberries you can substitute another.

Berries in abundance this time of the year makes this kind of soup so special and a usual must be on "the list" to make for me. I always look forward to berry season.

We just love anything made with berries especially Summer Berry Muffins to start the day or this Blackberry Marinade for Shrimp kabobs for dinner!

Scroll down to the recipe card for a delicious chilled soup journey!

Slow Cooker Bourbon Cranberry Glazed Meatballs

Slow Cooker Bourbon Cranberry Spiced Glazed Meatballs are the perfect little appetizer anytime.


I love making these during a game day event or holiday because you can get these ready and they stay great all day long on warm for any time so you can enjoy the day!


This is an appetizer that's so easy to throw together in a slow cooker.


I must warn you to make a double batch as they are very addicting, taste better even the next day with leftovers, and a big hit no matter where I bring them to any party!


The cranberries bring the perfect compliment of flavors in this delicious sauce smothering the meatballs in a tangy glaze.


These meatballs are baked first then the barbecue sweet flavored sauce adds just a little spicy kick to them.


Keep them on warm in the slow cooker for an all-day appetizer perfect for the office, party planning appetizers to just set it and forget it!


These can be made ahead of time for the hurried cooks!


If you would like to use sausages instead or mini hotdogs that's another great addition!


Scroll down and print off this recipe!

Nutty Cheese Ball

I have been making this vintage Nutty Cheese Ball recipe since the early 1970s.


Whenever I was asked to bring something for a New Year's Eve party, this was the first appetizer I thought about bringing.


Actually, as time went on everyone asked me to bring this, no lie it's addicting.


The cheese spreads great on anything and you can't stop eating it.


I always make two one with roasted pumpkin seeds for those who have allergies and one with my favorite, chopped pistachios on it.


You can roll the cheese ball in any nuts you like and this will be the best appetizer throughout any party, gathering or holiday.


We are huge cheese lovers but who isn't? We love mozzarella fried, blended in broccoli casseroles and even melted on pizza!


Easy to make, comes together quickly and you can serve them with the several suggestions I have below.


Scroll down to the recipe card to print off this recipe and make it for your next big get together!

Baked Chicken Kabobs

Baked Chicken Kabobs are the best of the best healthier style grilling indoor shortcut for party appetizers!


Yes, I know it's cheating but this shortcut is great!


Inside grilled in the oven is healthier and fun to serve.


Whether you use a grided cast iron skillet for your oven, baked on a cookies sheet or even on a throwaway disposable pan.


These Baked Chicken Kabobs are baked not grilled and not fried and perfect for those carb watchers and calorie watchers!


Yes, I know it's cheating but when you can't grill this is a fabulous alternative!.


Psst, they are healthier and delicious no one will ever know you cook them inside and they look and taste great, so who cares?!


Check out this marinade I make, then freeze it until I need it for a quick dinner or perfect for get together with family and friends!


Tender juicy chicken, beef or even use kielbasa, are great finger food skewers for any party!


I made them all the time along with this baked sausage and meatballs skewers and they are perfect to take along to any holiday gathering or party you have!

Best Game Day Recipe Ideas

Here are some of the best party-planning foods and menus for that perfect Game Day social gathering.

There are fun ideas to make everyone happy before the big game and during like our Baked Artichoke and Spinach Dip!

You may also like to try some of our other fun foods best potato sides dishes or these holiday festive ideas for a patriotic red white and blue event

Scroll through our favorites and check out some of these below that might be one you'll find that will please your party and add to your menu planning.

Baked Egg Muffins

Baked Egg Cupcakes are the perfect portable breakfast and can be loaded with all kinds of mix-ins that your family loves.

These are made in a muffin tin, and there are many choices to use for the crust from pie dough to bread and refrigerator biscuits they all work fine just the cooking times will vary.

If you have picky eaters in your home, this is the solution, 12 different breakfast-style quiches are all made exactly how they like they can be all cheese or with a mixture of vegetables or maybe all meat for meat lovers!

These are the easiest breakfast muffins ever and with simple basic pantry ingredients and the bonus is they freeze well so you can make a double batch and just pop them in the air fryer or microwave in the morning for a hurried breakfast.

No matter how you build your breakfast muffin, it will be exactly for that special someone and a great way to start the day.

They also can be a fantastic little appetizer before that big dinner, packed in lunch boxes, perfect for the office party or just a snack.

Just scroll down to our printable recipe card and get those creative juices flowing the additions are really endless on what you can add in these.

Leftover Broccoli Cauliflower Appetizers

I just made the best ever appetizers with leftover broccoli and cauliflower. I don't think I will ever eat broccoli and cauliflower any other way again!
Actually a perfect side dish they remind me of a vegetable meatball. So addicting!

Pizza Bread Bowl Recipe

Here is a meat lovers bread bowl. Filled with sausage, pepperoni, and cheese it's perfect for any party or appetizer! Easy to make with just a few store-bought ingredients.

Chicken Wing Recipe Showcase

Here are 24 chicken wings recipes to kick off that Game Day Spectacular Wing Showcase These are a must-try.


If you haven't visited my chicken wing dipping sauce post do so, those dipping sauces have several uses for more than just wings.


Also, how to cut wings and save money is a great way to make lots of wings economically.



These chicken wings and the sauces on them are all delicious and addicting and my baked chicken wing recipe or my beer baked chicken legs are also a fantastic change over wings, as well!

Polenta Pizzette Appetizer Recipe

A great appetizer or quick pizza. Polenta is a staple in Italy.

If really has a great taste when fried or baked. These are baked just like pizza.

You can make your own rounds or buy them in any specialty Italian section of the supermarket.

We really like these with fresh ingredients using freshly pureed plum tomatoes.

These are made with fresh tomato sauce and topped with shredded whole milk mozzarella

Sprinkled with oregano freshly dried from our garden along with freshly chopped basil.

Italian Style Sweet Potato Croquette Recipe

A great snack, side dish or appetizer. I am a big sweet potato fan or yam and these are just perfect even to pack in lunches!



1 cup cooked mashed sweet potatoes or yams, cooled off or regular potatoes (Yukon gold)

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1 package of panko bread crumbs

Italian bread crumbs

1 clove minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder, basil, oregano, parsley, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper

1/4 cup of grating cheese

Optional: pinch of cinnamon

olive oil

aluminum foil

wax paper

Take cold mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar add minced garlic and shape them into patties. Place on wax paper a combined mixture of panko and Italian flavored bread crumbs (about a cup of each) for 1 cup of potato. Add all spices and cheese to the crumbs mix together. Shape into patties and dip both sides into the crumbs to coat evenly. On a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil and sprayed with cooking oil, place the patties or whatever shape you make them into to down on the cookie sheet then drizzle the tops with olive oil,  Bake the sweet mashed potato in hot oven preheated at 430 degrees hot oven until brown and crispy. These can also be fried if you prefer in canola oil, just browned on both sides.

+claudia lamascolo  author

Baked Buffalo Chicken Mashed Potato Croquettes Appetizers

Here's one of those recipes you may say to yourself, why didn't I think of this before?

Leftover chicken, leftover mashed potatoes, a match made in heaven. Add some hot sauce, spices and roll into bread crumbs, drizzle some olive oil over the top bake until browned, can't get much easier.

Refrigerator Biscuit Pepperoni Rollups

Delicious pepperoni roll-up appetizers are just the perfect finger for a large crowd and any party event when you need something quick, delicious and easy!

This is a no-fuss way to make a party food a big hit every time, the fillings are versatile so change them to any meats or even vegetables you prefer.

Scroll to the bottom for all our printable instructions.

Microwave Potato Chips Recipe Plus Video

My favorite snack with the healthiest ingredients. I made them, I know what's in them and these taste amazing, real potatoes, salt and hardly any calories. What more can you ask for with this simple recipe that takes no more than 4 minutes for a plate of them?

Curry Chicken Wings

 12 wings baked, grilled or fried

Salt, pepper, cayenne, curry powder
1/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, or about 1 tablespoon dried
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder, or to taste
3/4 cup heavy cream
Salt, to taste

Preparation:

Dredge  wings salt,  pinch of cayenne, pinch of curry powder and pepper mixed in flour to coat both sides. Fry till crisp. In a saucepan, add the chicken broth, wine, parsley , garlic, and curry powder. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Cover and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes longer. Stir in cream and add salt, to taste. Heat through. Dip wings in  the sauce.

Potato and Tuna Fried Cakes

3 russet potatoes or if your in a hurry use instant potatoes follow instructions
2 tbsp oil
1 can tuna water packed drained
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 to 2 cups bread crumbs
1 egg, lightly beaten
Oil for deep-frying canola, olive oil, butter
salt and pepper to taste

Boil potatoes in a pot of boiling water. When they become soft, peel off skin and mash them add a tablespoon of butter, salt, pepper to taste.

Heat oil over medium-high heat in a pan. Fry garlic until lightly browned. In the same bowl as the potatoes, add tuna, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, cayenne pepper and  stir until well blended. 

Roll the tuna mixture into mounds or patties. Coat each pattie with breadcrumbs, dip into beaten egg and roll again in breadcrumbs again.

>Heat oil for frying. ( Or for a healthier version, place on parchment paper and bake on 375-degree oven, till brown)   Pan-fry tuna cakes  ( I like to add a tablespoon of butter in the olive oil) till golden brown on each side. Lower heat if they brown too soon. Drain cakes on paper towels and serve hot with tarter, tomato sauce, or sour cream and dill.

Chicken Skewer Appetizer with Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts sliced in chunks or strips or pork tenderloin cut into chunks is awesome with this sauce too!
1 teaspoon  olive oil or sesame oil
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 garlic clove minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes for some heat
salt and pepper
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons rice vinegar or balsamic vinegar
canola oil for frying
Toss chicken in sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Thread skewers with chicken strips or chunks.
Make dipping sauce.
Whisk in a small bowl, peanut butter, vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper flakes add 2 or 3 tablespoons of water.
Heat your grill or  grilling pan on high. Cook chicken until cooked through completely. Serve with dipping sauce.

Deep Fried Hearts of Palm Recipe

What are Hearts of Palm?

Fried to perfection?

A vegetable, not given enough credit in my book!
Have deep fried Artichoke Hearts for years the same way, but these are easier and taste quite similar......

Sizzling in the pan getting all browned and crispy.

A tender white part of a palm stalk.....

Deep Fried Hearts of Palm Recipe:

1- 14 oz can of Hearts of Palm drained and brine washed off

canola oil for frying

1 egg with 2 tablespoons water well beaten

2 cups Italian Flavored Panko Bread Crumbs

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder, cayenne pepper, pepper, oregano, parsley and Parmesan cheese

In a medium-sized bowl beat egg and water together, add hearts of palm to bowl.

In another bowl add bread crumbs and spices mix together well.

Dip each hearts of palm in the seasoned panko, then back into the egg and into the panko again, coating twice.

In a large fry pan heat 1/2 inch of oil in the pan till hot. Add hearts of palm and fry till golden in color. Serve with marinara sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.

Four Chicken Wing Sauce Flavors

Here are four chicken wing sauce recipes that are truly amazing.  These chicken wing sauce are a great change and addition to hot sauce wings at a party.

Different than the traditional flavors. We have spicy garlic, garlic Parmesan, lemon and a spicy mustard, all four chicken wings sauces are delightful! All four chicken wing sauces are unique and Curt's recipes, he did an awesome job!