Ingredients

• 2 dozen Kings Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (these are great for their sweet and buttery taste, but other slider-sized buns or even hot dog buns cut in thirds work)
• 1-1/2 ponds ground beef
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup water with ice
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 6 slices American cheese
• 24 pickle slices
• ketchup

Season ground beef with salt and pepper and place loosely in a, 11 x 17″ baking dish. Add ice water and combine, pressing flat. Bake at 350 F for about 12 minutes until no longer pink (will shrink into one large patty). Cut beef into 24 squares. Meanwhile, sautee onions in butter on stove until softened.

It’s best to set up a little assembly line for putting the burgers together: Slice the rolls and on each, place a teaspoon of onions, a pickle, a burger square, one fourth a slice of cheese, and a squirt of ketchup. Stack on a platter if serving immediately, or wrap individually in tin foil if bringing to an event, or to save for later.

Additional Toppings:

None are needed, but some of our favorites include

Fried Onion Strings

Buffalo Mayo

In a pan on stove, combine 1 tablespoon butter with 2 tablespoons Louisiana-style hot sauce. Cook until hot, and then cool. Add this to 1 cup mayo, or a combination of 1/2 cup mayo and 1/2 cup Greek yogurt.

Chipotle Mayo

Add 1/2 can Chipotle chiles (diced up) with their sauce to 1 cup mayonnaise, or a combination of 1/2 cup mayo and 1/2 cup Greek yogurt.

Filed under: Category Appetizers, Beef, Recipes | Tags: buffalo sliders,chipotle mayo,kings hawaiian sweet rolls recipes,mini burgers recipe,sliders by No Comments »

Ingredients

• 1 onion, sliced very thin
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (can substitute paprika, or a very small amount of cayenne)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups oil

Heat oil in heavy bottomed pan. In one bowl, whisk eggs. In another, combine flour and seaonings. Using tongs, dredge onions in eggs and then flour mixture. Place in hot oil and fry for two minutes, or until golden brown.

Filed under: Category Appetizers, Recipes | Tags: fried onions recipe,shoestring onions by 1 Comment »

While I am not a huge fan of making deep fried food for my family, I could not deny that this is one that I can’t wait to make again. It was absolutely delicious! And did the great trick of using up the 8 leftover lasagna noodles I always seem to have after making lasagna in a 9×13″pan. I think it is just as good without the Alfredo sauce, though the Alfredo sauce is true to the Olive Garden copycat, and does make for a richer taste.

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Filed under: Category Appetizers, copycat recipes, Recipes | Tags: appetizers for company,copycat olive garden lasagna fritta,lasagna fritta,unique appetizers by No Comments »

Ingredients

• 1 large baguette
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 cup gorgonzola cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 apples, peeled and sliced thin (granny smith or your favorite variety)
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice baguette about 1/2 inch thick. Brush toasts with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic salt. Toast for two minutes until slightly firm. Meanwhile, blend cheese and butter. Spread cheese mixture on toasts, top with apples and optional walnuts, and return to oven for 6 minutes until cheese bubbles.

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We use this sauce for our crab cakes, hush puppies, and — with some fresh dill — as our favorite vegetable dipping sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Greek yogurt, such as Fage, OR 1/2 cup Mayonnaise + 1/2 cup sour cream
• 3 tablespoons dijon or honey mustard
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Juice of one half lemon
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, minced (optional)

Combine ingredients and chill.

Filed under: Category Appetizers, Recipes, Sauces & Dips | Tags: best dill dip,mustard dill dip,mustard dip by No Comments »

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1⁄4 cup onion, diced
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tablespoons parsley
• 2 teaspoons garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 (12 oz.) bottle chili sauce
• 1 (14 oz.) can of whole berry cranberry sauce

Mix all ingredients except chili and cranberry sauces together and form into small meatballs. Place in a single layer in a baking tray and bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 35 minutes.

Add meatballs to crock pot, and cover with chili and cranberry sauces. Cook for 3 hours in crock pot before serving.

Filed under: Category Appetizers, Recipes, Thanksgiving Recipes | Tags: cranberry recipes,thanksgiving appetizers by No Comments »

These tasty baked crab cakes can be made for an elegant appetizer, or served as a main course. Use leftover crab legs for cook once, eat twice success, or use packaged or fresh crab. Serve with lemon dill mustard sauce.

Ingredients

• Approximately 3/4 pound crab meat
• 15 Ritz or other puffy crackers, smashed
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise or Greek Yogurt
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 1/4 cup diced green onions
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, break apart crab meat with fork. Add remaining ingredients, and mix well. Form into patties: 1-1/2 inch diameter for appetizer size, and 2-1/2 inch diameter for entree size. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes for appetizer size, and 20 minutes for entree size, until edges are browned. Serve with rice, or on rolls with mustard sauce.

Dill Mustard Sauce

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Dijon Mustard
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, sour cream or mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon dill
• 1 teaspoon white wine or white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Filed under: Category 40 Dinner Duos, Appetizers, Light Cooking, Recipes, Seafood | Tags: baked crab cakes,best crab cake recipe,crab cakes recipe,easy crab cakes by No Comments »

Looking for a great copycat recipe for your favorite P.F. Chang’s or California Pizza Kitchen Lettuce Wraps? Look no further. Here’s one that’s delicious and easy to make at home!

Ingredients

Cook sausage and szechwan seasoning in hot oil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat until well browned, stirring to break meat into small pieces.
Add water chestnuts, carrots, green onions, walnuts and soy sauce; cook, stirring until heated through.
To serve, spoon about 1/2 cup sausage mixture into center of each lettuce leaf. Roll and eat.

Filed under: Category Appetizers, Recipes | Tags: California Pizza Kitchen copycat lettuce wraps,copycat recipe,lettuce wraps,P.F. Chang's copycat lettuce wraps recipe,sausage lettuce wraps by No Comments »

These mini-Reuben sandwiches make a great appetizer for a St. Patrick’s Day party, or anytime of year.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. corned beef
• ½ pound Swiss Cheese
• 2 sleeves mini rye toasts
• One bottle Thousand Island dressing
• 10 oz. sauerkraut
• butter

1. Thinly slice corned beef into 2 inch square pieces or smaller. Split cheese into four equal squares.
2. Load corned beef, one teaspoon sauerkraut, 1 teaspoon dressing and one slice of cheese onto a rye toast. Top with another rye toast to make sandwiches.
3. Either grill sandwiches in lightly buttered pan, or bake in oven on baking sheet for 10 minutes.
4. Serve immediately, or individually wrap sandwiches in foil if transporting or to keep warm. Once in foil, sandwiches can be kept warm in warm oven.

Filed under: Category Appetizers, Recipes | Tags: mini reuben,reuben sandwiches,rueben,st patrick's day appetizers by No Comments »

Great recipe for St. Patrick’s Day, interesting flavors for any time of year.

Ingredients

• 1 prebaked pizza crust
• ¾ cup sauerkraut
• 1/4 pound thin sliced deli corned beef , broken into pieces
• 4 slices Swiss cheese, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Caraway seeds
• ½ teaspoon Parsley

1. Spread mustard on pizza crust. Top with sauerkraut, beef and then cheese. Sprinkle with caraway seeds and parsley.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 15 minutes.

Filed under: Category Appetizers, Recipes | Tags: Rueben Pizza,St. Patrick's Day Appetizer by 1 Comment »