Easy Outdoor Appetizers
Appetizers can make an outdoor gathering a little more special. Whether you're serving light snacks by the pool or hosting a romantic picnic for two or a backyard barbecue for two dozen, outdoor appetizers need to be tasty, portable and easily eaten by hand. Always practice safe food handling techniques, keeping chilled food cold, covering plates and bowls to keep out insects or wind-blown dust and using separate serving utensils for each dish.
Grilled Appetizers
A gas or charcoal barbecue grill or hibachi allows you to serve hot appetizers to your guests. While they're waiting for the burgers or steaks to be done, they can enjoy shrimp marinated in your choice or marinade and grilled until pink. Or serve bacon-wrapped asparagus. Wrap bundles of asparagus in bacon, baste with olive oil and sprinkle with black pepper. Grill over a hot fire, turning frequently, until the bacon is brown. Serve with a dipping sauce of half cup mayonnaise mixed with 2 tbsp. each chili sauce and lime juice. Grilled chicken skewers served with peanut sauce or grilled steak chunks are other good choices for grilled appetizers.
Chilled Appetizers
Cold appetizers can be made ahead of time and served right from the cooler. Deviled eggs or celery stuffed with chicken salad are simple favorites. Or marinate cheddar cheese cubes in half cup olive oil, half cup white wine vinegar, 3 tbsp. each minced green onion and chopped parsley, a 2-oz. jar of pimentos, 1 tbsp. of fresh basil and salt and pepper. Marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
Dips
Dips work well as outdoor appetizers as long as you provide sturdy items for dipping--pita chips, bagel chips or dip-sized corn chips are less fragile that potato or tortilla chips. Vegetable crudites also make good items for dipping. Anything from onion to bean dip will work, or be more adventurous and offer your guests homemade crab dip made with 1 cup crab meat mixed with 8 oz. of softened cream cheese and half cup sour cream seasoned with salt and a dash of cayenne pepper.
Storing and Serving
Transport your outdoor appetizers in a cooler with ice, and use the cooler for storing extra appetizers. If you set things out on picnic tables, cover them to keep out bugs. If it's a warm day, consider serving directly from the cooler to insure items don't become too warm and spoil.
Provide guests with plenty of paper plates, napkins, and toothpicks for spearing small appetizers. Have wet wipes handy so guests can clean their hands on the spot if they need to.
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