The Kitchen

4 Easy Recipes for the Busy Hostess

Entertaining can be a lot of fun, but it’s also a little daunting. Here are four easy recipes that are sure to impress your guests, but won’t have you running around like crazy and placing frozen appetizers into the oven.

 

Prosciutto with Apricot Panetini

Top New York Style Panetini® crisps with apricot spread, then place a slice of sharp cheddar and prosciutto.

Goat Cheese with Fig, Pistachio and Cranberries
Ingredients:
– 1 8-11 oz. package goat cheese
– 3 Tbsp. fig spread
– 1/3 cup coarsely chopped pistachio
– 1/3 cup coarsely chopped dried cranberries
Directions:
Place goat cheese on shallow plate and brush fig spread over goat cheese. Combine pistachios and cranberries and pour over goat cheese. Roll goat cheese in pistachio mixture, pressing mixture into goat cheese until evenly coated. Serve with New York Style Pita® Chips.
Apple & Brie Cups

Ingredients:

  • 2 pkg. store-bought Phyllo cups
  • 1 large granny smith apple (Shortcut: Use Apple Jam)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 4 tbsp. butter

Handful of crushed walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Chop apple into small bite-size pieces and cook it down in a small sauce pan with 2 tablespoons of butter and the brown sugar. Let it simmer down 6-8 minutes and set aside. (Shortcut: Skip this step and use Apple jam)

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and use it to brush all over the Phyllo cups and then arrange your cups on a baking sheet.

Time fill them! Put a bit of the apples in each cup, then a dollop of brie, and top with a walnut if desired.

Simply bake them for about 8 minutes. Enough to make the cups golden brown and the brie to melt.

 

Spinach, Artichoke & Bacon Dip

One of my favorite go-to recipes is this Spinach, Artichoke & Bacon Dip from Food Network. It pairs perfect with New York Style Pitas® or Bagel Crisps®. The bacon and the lemon zest set it apart from your typical Spinach and Artichoke dip.

The great thing about this recipe is that you can make it ahead of time and as it refrigerates all of the flavors fuse together.

 

Do you have some favorite easy apps to share?

 

*Disclosure: New York Style provided samples for review, but all opinions are my own.