HEALTHY APPETIZERS
These easy to prepare appetizer's ideas are the perfect start to your holiday party.
Smoked Salmon Cucumber Appetizer
Ingredients
200g cream cheese softened
1 large cucumber
1 tbsp dill chopped
3 oz smoked salmon
Instructions
Combine softened cream cheese, chopped dill, and smoked salmon into a smooth spread.
Using a vegetable peeler, peel the cucumber into thin strips.
Spread the smoked salmon spread onto each strip and roll up.
Serve chilled.
Caprese Bites
Ingredients
Cherry tomatoes Fresh basil leaves Mozzarella balls 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 tbsp. honey (optional) Olive oil Salt and pepper
To make the balsamic reduction, pour balsamic vinegar into a saucepan. Heat on medium-high until it begins to simmer. Lower heat to medium-low. Add honey if desired (kind of depends on the flavour of your vinegar; I liked it best with a bit of honey) and stir. Allow mixture to simmer lightly, stirring occasionally, until it is reduced by half and/or has a syrupy consistency (about 10 minutes for me).
Drizzle balsamic reduction onto a serving plate. Assemble bites by spearing a tomato, a folded-over basil leaf, and a mozzarella ball on a toothpick. I cut off the very bottom of the mozzarella balls so that they would stand upright. Arrange the bites on the plate. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Tuna Salad Cucumber Bites
Ingredients
⅓ cup of mayo
⅓ cup of thinly chopped red onions
1 can large can of Tuna
1 cucumber sliced
sea salt to taste
fresh ground black pepper to taste
Mix together mayo, red onions, tuna, sea salt, and black pepper in a bowl set aside.
Slice cucumbers, and add one small scoop approx. 1 tbsp to each cucumber.
BAKED PARMESAN ZUCCHINI
INGREDIENTS
4 zucchini, quartered lengthwise
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 180. Coat a cooling rack with nonstick spray and place on a baking sheet; set aside.
In a small bowl, combine Parmesan, thyme, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste.
Place zucchini onto a prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan mixture. Place into oven and bake until tender, about 15 minutes. Then broil for 2-3 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown.
Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.