The WOW! Buzz

I always get a little sad as we approach the end of December because it means that football season is almost over.  Every Sunday I prepare our favorite appetizers that we munch throughout the day.   January 1st is one of my favorite days because it seems that there is a never ending supply of finger foods that magically appear in front of us.  How does that happen?  No, not by the food gnomes but by having some staple recipes that I have collected through the years.  For those of you searching for some quick easy to make finger foods, here are some of my favorites with links to the actual recipe.

Corned Beef Dip - I love corned beef and don’t just enjoy this delicious meat on St. Patrick’s Day.  This recipe is super easy to make and takes all of 10 minutes to put together.  I would suggest preparing it before you go to bed because it is best enjoyed in a more solid form.  Also, add one or two tablespoons of sour cream to the mixture to make it a little smoother.  If you love onions and corned beef, then you will definitely love this recipe.  I find that the dip is fully enjoyed with a bag of potato chips, preferably the ones with ridges.

Pigs in a Blanket (Mini Style) - Who doesn’t love hot dogs rolled up inside a warm crescent roll?  I prefer the mini style.  What is mini style?  Mini style uses either the Oscar Mayer Little Wieners or Hillshire Farms Lit’l Smokies.  I like the Little Wieners over the Lit’l Smokies but it is just a matter of taste.  All you need is a package of the dogs or smokies and a container of the crescent rolls and you are good to go.  This is another receipe that takes maybe 10 minutes of prep work and about 10 minutes of cook time for a delicious finger food that will get gobbled up almost immediately.  You can serve them with ketchup or my favorite is Cheez Whiz to dip them in.

Taco Dip- Yet another dip to my list of finger food happiness.  I love dips because they are pretty basic.  My mom found this recipe years ago and is a must have when we all get together.  I find that using the shredded lettuce that you can pick up at the store is the best way to go.  If you decide to add it to the top of the dip, be warned that once you put it back in the refrigerator, it tends to get soggy. 

Buffalo Style Meatballs – My mom and I actually discovered this recipe when crusing through our local Sam’s Club one Saturday afternoon.  When we tried the sample, we were hooked.  The recipe is pretty basic:

• 1 bag of frozen meatballs (I like the Sam’s Club Italian Meatballs.  The seasoning gives it some added flavor)
• 1 packet of dry buffalo seasoning
• Dipping – Your choice of Ranch or Blue Cheese

Grab your crock pot, throw the meatballs in, add a little bit of water, spread the packet of seasoning over the frozen meatballs, mix it so that the meatballs are coated and set the temperature to the desired cook time.  If you need them sooner rather than later, set it to high which usually cooks them within a couple of hours.  Occasionally stir them so that you spread the seasoning around.  Once they are cooked, just set it to warm and voila, a tasty twist on a traditional finger food.

What’s your must have finger food or appetizer?