Need suggestions for Appetizer Potluck, please :)

We are invited to a wedding, and for the reception they have asked us to bring a potluck appetizer. I'm a bit stumped because I don't really want to take something in my crockpot or something that needs to be heated up, since I don't know if they will have several people to tend to that, or not. I was thinking that they might end up with a lot of heart shaped cheeseballs! LOL
Do you have any ideas for something that doesn't need chilling or heating? I guess chilling wouldn't be a problem really, because it's at a church and I'm sure they'll have fridge space.
Thanks!

This is a dip I used to make all of the time and had forgotten about it until recently. It is really good.

BACON CHEESE DIP

32 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 (4 oz. each) cans green chilies, diced
1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt


In a bowl, beat cream cheese, mayonnaise and lemon juice until smooth. Stir in all other ingredients and mix well. Serve with crackers.

Either one of these would be good with chips.

MEXICAN CORN DIP
3 cans mexicorn
6 green onion, sliced
1 can green chilies
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 10 oz. package cheddar cheese, grated
Cilantro to taste
Garlic powder and cumin to taste

Mix all ingredients and chill several hours. Serve with fritos or chips.

LARRY’S CORN DIP

2 cans mexicorn
8-12 green onions, sliced
1 large can green chilies, chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1 10 oz. package cheddar cheese, grated
Jalapenos, chopped (from a jar)
Garlic, chopped

Mix all ingredients and chill for several hours. If it seems too thick, thin it with a little jalapeno juice.

cjintexas: Thanks! Those all look yummy! I talked to the bride-to-be's aunt at the store the other day and she told me they had invited 800 people to the wedding! That's a lot of appetizers, huh?!?! (Course, I realize they won't all be able to come, but still...)

Wow 800 people! That sounds like a huge wedding. I have doubled the following recipe and used a large pizza pan as the platter. It won't feed 800 but it is a big appetizer and everyone loves it (at least I never have any left over).

MEXICAN LAYERED DIP

31 oz. can refried beans
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon dried minced onions

1 8 oz. package cream cheese
1/2 cup Mexican hot sauce (Albert’s or Picante)

Guacamole (you can buy already prepared guacamole in the refrigerated salad section)

1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheese (either cheddar or Monterrey Jack)
Chopped green onions
Chopped ripe olives
Chopped tomatoes

Mix refried beans, chili powder and dried minced onions; spread on serving platter as first layer. Mix cream cheese and hot sauce; spread on refried beans. Stir guacamole and spread on cream cheese layer. Layer remaining ingredients on top of guacamole. Serve with tortilla chips.

These are super easy, super tasty, super "pretty looking", are served cool OR at room temp. They are inexpensive to make and you can get 8 slices from each tortilla!


Cranberry Feta Pinwheels


1 pkg (170 g) Craisins dried cranberries
1 tub (250 g) spreadable cream cheese (room temp)
1 cup (250 g) crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped green onions
4 large tortillas (plain, whole wheat or spinach)

Combine all ingredients except tortilllas, mix well.

Divide and spread mixture evenly among tortillas. Roll up tightly, wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least one hour. To serve, cut into 8 or 9 slices.



donnac

Serve this with corn tortilla chips.

Black Eyed Peas Salsa

2 (15 oz.) cans black eyed peas with snaps, drained
1/2 cup of red onions, thinly sliced and separated into rings
1/2 cup of chopped green pepper
1/2 clove garlic
1/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of vinegar
1/4 cup of vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon of salt
Dash of pepper
Dash of hot sauce

Combine peas, onions, and green pepper in a medium bowl. Stick a toothpick through the garlic, add to vegetables. Combine remaining ingredients stirring well. Add to vegetable mixture and toss lightly to coat. Cover; refrigerate at least 12 hours. Remove the toothpick with garlic before serving. Yield: 6 to 8 servings

how about a veggie tray, cheese and crackers, chips and dip, fruit and dip, antipasta plate, pepperoni and crackers....of fruit kabobs?

pretzels? bowls of nuts? snack mixes?
hmmmm...

tell us what you decide to do :)

how about...
BLT Bites

These quick hors d'oeurves may be mini, but their bacon and tomato flavor is full size. I serve them at parties, brunches and picnics, and they're always a hit...even my kids love them.

INGREDIENTS

16 to 20 cherry tomatoes
1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
1/3 cup chopped green onions
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley

Cut a thin slice off of each tomato top.
Scoop out and discard pulp.

Invert the tomatoes on a paper towel to drain.

In a small bowl, combine all remaining ingredients; mix well. Spoon into tomatoes.

Refrigerate for several hours.

Yield: 16-20 appetizer servings.

I made the bacon cheese dip for our Christmas party at work and everyone just love it and wanted the recipe. Instead of cooking the bacon, I bought the real bacon bits in a jar which worked really well. My daughter wanted me to bring the leftovers home but there weren't any! Thank you so much for posting the recipe.

Question on the bacon cheese dip?

Is the cream cheese amount right-32 oz.? This must make alot!

 

The bride and groom and their families have invited 800 to the wedding, and they expect their guests to provide the food for the reception??!!  That's one heck of a lot of chutzpah....and I assume the invitees are to bring a gift, too?  What a deal!  Wish my daughter had thought of that 25  years ago.

If I remember correctly, at our last wedding we had 250- 285 invited and about 200 responded they were coming and that 20% of that came. So one can figure that about 480 or less will come. That still is a lot of people.

But these recipes will serve a lot of people without a lot of expense and work.

Little Stuffed tomatoes could work. Perhaps use roma's and when you cut them in half you will have 2 servings or 2 pieces.

Pinwheels are good. Use pieces of ham or ham slice's that you would use for sanwiches's oanother wors "luncheon meat". spread them with softened cream cheese.I use about 3 or 4 slices for each roll, then roll up in them a dill pickle. Start rolling with one slice of meat, continue with the next slice where you left off with the previous slice and continue like that. Then wrap in plastice wrap tightly, twist the ends tightly and then place in a bread pan and keep in frig. you can do this the day before , so that they become very firm. make sure the pickle in drained and throughly dry before using it. I use whole pickle's, drained and wiped dry with a paper towel. I also have another pinwheel type appetizer using a large tortilla. You make a filling and it makes lots of them for not a lot of money. There is a filling but I have to look it up and then when I return home later tonight I will post it here for you. This recipe makes a lot without a lot of time and expense. Before serving ,slice about1/2 inch thick.

I have another one made with a spread and tortilla's . I will post them later today or tomorrow. But both of these are asy to make, inexpensive and easy to carry somewhere.

These are perfect to carry somewhere and when I serve these I am always asked for the recipe.

caramellatte,

here is the recipe I promised you.

 Tortilla Rolls 

Large flour tortillas

16 oz.of cream cheese, mix with mixer

1/ 2  c. shredded cheddar cheese

1 bunch green onions chopped

4 1/2 oz. choppd black olives

2 1/2 oz canned diced green chiles, mild

2 or 3 c. cooked diced chicken

In a pan cook chicken with butter,garlic,salt and pepper to taste.Then blend all ingredients except chicken. Then fold in chicken. Spread mixture over tortilla about 1/4 inch thick. roll up gently and very tightly so they are not hollow.Place seam side down in a glass dish. Take a kitchen towel dampened and lay over the tortilla's. Cover with plactic wrap. Lasts longer unsliced. When ready to serve slice 1/4 inch thick.

Can substitute the chicken with ham or beef. Can be served with a salsa sauce but I serve without. You can serve with hot or mild sauce or salsa to dip in. I didn't care to do this but at least you have all sorts of options with this recipe. I also have used hamburger browned, leftover beef pulled or ground or diced.

I have also omitted the first line of the instructions and just mixed everything together without cooking it in the pan . However you still can mix in some of those spices to your taste.   

Hope you enjoy wether it is for the wedding or for any other occasions or social events.                                                                                                     

 

How about veggie pizza? 

 

Roll-ups of ham, cream cheese and pickle?  They can be cut into bite size pieces.

 

Stuffed cherry tomatoes?

 

My mind is drawing a blank.