Using Fruits For Making Party Appetizers And Side Dishes

Most of us think of raw sliced and diced vegetables along with dip for serving as simple party quick appetizers but did you realize that fresh fruit can be used in the very same way as well as in many other creative dishes? From apples to strawberries, there are so many fruity concoctions to make as side dishes and appetizers.
Although apples are perfect for dipping into sauces made with delicious ingredients like chocolate or caramel they are also ideal for using in side dishes. Combine apples with cheddar cheese and a variety of nuts for an interesting starter. You can also use apples along with all types of melons, mangos, oranges, peaches, pears, and strawberries to create a cool and refreshing fruit salad to serve either before or after dinner.

Avocados are a rather versatile fruit that you can use to create a number of crowd pleasing appetizers. Use avocados to make salsa as mild or as hot as you like and the fruit is also perfect for salads and of course, guacamole dip. Cut avocados in half and use them as "cups" for holding a number of delicious fillings that can be served before, during, or after the main course.

Dates and figs are both great for finger foods especially for parties. Stuff dates with cheese and grill ripe figs and serve them along with goat cheese and a drizzling of honey. Alternatively, for an even sweeter side dish for dessert, cover grapes with dark or milk chocolate for a sweet truffle that is a great alternative to the usual chocolate covered strawberries.


The cranberry is another delightful fruit to use in recipes for appetizers and side dishes and this small but tasty treat is full of antioxidants. In addition to cranberry sauce that is often served for holidays along side of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and gravy, use cranberries for making fruit salads and sweet, chunky salsas.

Cream Cheese and Cranberry Salsa Recipe
What You Need

• 3 cups fresh cranberries
• 1/4 cup green onions, minced
• 2 small jalapeno chili peppers, cored, seeded, minced
• 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, finely grated
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, minced
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese
• Cranberries and cilantro sprigs for garnish

How to Make It
Thoroughly rinse and drain the cranberries discarding any that are soft or bruised.
Use a food processor to process the cranberries on the pulse setting until they are crushed and chopped but not too soft and mushy.
Transfer the crushed cranberries to a bowl and add the minced green onions, the jalapeno peppers, sugar, grated ginger, cilantro leaves, and fresh lemon juice and mix all of the ingredients together.
Cover the mixture with plastic wrap completely and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
After the salsa has chilled, put the cream cheese on a serving platter and cover with the cool salsa.

Antique Oak Bookcase

Are you the kind of person who appreciates antique pieces of furniture? You need to look around your local stores for such pieces so that you can decorate your home with only the best and most exotic furniture. Having antique furniture in your home has become a common fashion statement. An antique oak bookcase will surely make the statement improving the decor of your home. Furniture stores stock antique oak bookcases in various styles, designs and colors. Purchasing a good product will see you pass the bookcase to many generations that will come after you. See more of bookcase walls.

An antique oak bookcase does not come cheap and if you wish to buy it, you must be very prepared to part with a significant amount. It has many advantages including durability where it can last for a very long time. The timber used to make these product is usually imported and it is the best kind there is. Also, artisans behind the antique oak bookcases are very skillful. They are trained to produce some of the best intricate and unique designs there are in the market. You will certainly find the products amazingly crafted to inspire great creativity and beauty. The best antique bookcase in the market today is the Victorian oak library bookcase shelf which comes complete with the Victorian era finishing taking you back in time to enjoy great splendor.

Antique oak bookcases are made of original material and are available in four stack bookshelves. Their height and width is 58.5" and 34" consecutively. According to category, you can keep the books in their four shelves.

The best thing about the four shelves of this category is that they are adjustable according to size of books, quantity and also requirement. At the bottom of many antique oak bookcases is a cupboard which is normally features. You are sure not to run out of storage space for your books and other valuables.

There are 3 kinds of bookcases that you can select from and they are light oak, Jacobean oak, medium oak and others. It is very easy to have an exotic oak bookcase matching your furniture. This can be done by a designing artisans who will match the bookcase to your already existing furniture at home. This will transform the decor of your home making it more attractive.

Why Vegetables Are Perfect For Appetizers

Even people who do not often eat vegetables tend to gobble them up when they are used in appetizers alongside a variety of cheeses, dips, and sauces. In addition, if you have kids who are not exactly fond of eating their vegetables, creating different appetizers to serve before meals is an excellent way to give them the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients growing children need with vegetarian quick appetizers.

Vegetables are also loaded with fiber and are ideal for creating a filling spread for dinner guests to choose from. Moreover, if you want to create a visually appealing display there are an incredible number of ways to prepare and garnish vegetables for a stunning food presentation.

Cucumber balls and cucumber cut-outs are perhaps one of the easiest garnishes to make from vegetables. To make cucumber balls, slice the vegetable in half and use a small melon baller to remove balls of flesh from the cucumber.

You can cut and slice cucumbers in many ways either with or without the skin and you can also use small cookie cutters to make interesting garnishes for all of your salads and side dishes. Cool cucumbers are also great for making dips to eat with bread, crackers, and vegetables.

 

If you need a simple way to spruce up your salads or appetizers, you can quickly julienne a handful of carrots. To begin, clean and peel the carrots then slice four sides of each carrot to create a rectangular shape. Then cut the rectangular pieces lengthwise into slices approximately one eighth of an inch thick. Next, stack the slices of carrots and slice again lengthwise also in one eighth inch strips.

Also, choose from all types of peppers including the green, red, and yellow bell varieties as well as hot peppers to chop, cut, and slice into different shapes and sizes to use in appetizer recipes.

Cheesy Bacon Asparagus Tarts Recipe

What You Need

• 1 package flaky pastry dough sheets
• 1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
• 1 tomato, diced
• 3 asparagus spears, cut crosswise into slices 1/4 inch thick
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make It

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Roll out the sheets of dough and cut it into 12 squares of equal size.
Line a miniature muffin tin with small baking cup and place a square of dough inside. Shape the edges of the dough up the sides of the baking cups to keep the ingredients from spilling over.
Distribute the cooked bacon, the diced tomatoes, the pieces of asparagus and the shredded cheddar cheese evenly among the baking cups. Pat the ingredients down into each cup with the back of a spoon.