As much as we love a good party invitation, our obligatory offer to bring something often leaves us flummoxed once we’re in the kitchen. Long after our host has said yes to our offer to contribute, we’re still thumbing through recipe books, trying to find the perfect one. The chosen dish has to stand out, be the first to go and, above all, be easy to make. The good thing about spring appetizers in particular (lighter than their fall and winter counterparts) is that most of them are remarkably simple to put together and don’t demand a lot of fuss, though they certainly deliver on flavor. Because they tend to be finger foods, they’re also guaranteed to be crowd-pleasing favorites.
Since today is National Pecan Day, we’re honing in on appetizer recipes that highlight the buttery nut. One requires an oven, the other does not. Either way, we’re pretty sure you’ll be delighted with the results, as well as the ensuing discovery that pecans can either play sweet or savory.
Dried Beef Pecan Dip
Ingredients
8 ounce package cream cheese (softened)
2 tablespoon milk
1 (2 1/2 ounce) jar dried beef (chopped)
2 tablespoons minced onion
1/4 cup green pepper, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup whole pecans
Choice of crackers
Swing by Cooks for the cooking directions.
Cheesy Pecan Puff Pinwheels
Ingredients
1 box (2 sheets) puff pastry
2 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup chopped pecans, divided
4 ounces diced pimentos, drained & divided
Magnolia Collection Recipes features the recipe how-to.