Snacks Start a Party

Southern Living, Sep 2004 by Poellnitz, Vicki A

These make-ahead nibbles are ready in minutes.

Be ready to wow everybody at a moment's notice with easy, portable appetizers. Spicy Pistachios and Caribbean Cashews are a good snack for those counting their carbs, and your guests will like having a choice of sandwiches that start with one cream cheese spread. VICKI A. POELLNITZ

QUICK PARTY NUTS

MAKES 4 CUPS

PREP: 10 MIN., STAND: 10 MIN., BAKE: 35 MIN.

2 cups pecan halves

2 cups whole almonds

1 ½ cups sugar, divided

4 cups warm water

¼ cup butter or margarine, melted

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons grated lime rind

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon ground red pepper

PLACE pecans and almonds in a large bowl; stir in 1 cup sugar and 4 cups warm water. Let stand 10 minutes. Drain well; return to bowl. Pour butter over nuts, stirring to coat.

STIR together remaining ½ cup sugar, chili powder, and next 4 ingredients; pour over nut mixture, tossing to coat. Spread in a single layer on a 15- x 10-inch jellyroll pan.

BAKE at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally. Arrange in a single layer on wax paper, and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

BACON-OLIVE PARTY SANDWICHES

MAKES 2 DOZEN

PREP: 10 MIN.

16 white bread slices

Bacon-Olive Cream Cheese

REMOVE and discard crusts from bread; toast bread.

SPREAD 1 side of 8 bread slices evenly with Bacon-Olive Cream Cheese; top with remaining 8 bread slices, and cut evenly into 3 strips.

MINI MUFFULETTA BACON-OLIVE PARTY SANDWICHES: Layer bottom of 24 split cocktail bun or dinner roll halves evenly with Bacon-Olive Cream Cheese and 48 pepperoni slices; cover with bun halves. Makes 12 appetizer servings. Prep: 15 min.

Bacon-Olive Cream Cheese:

MAKES ABOUT 1 ½ CUPS

PREP: 15 MIN.

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

8 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

24 pimiento-stuffed olives, chopped

4 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

¼ teaspoon pepper

COMBINE all ingredients.

TO MAKE AHEAD: Cover and chill for up to 3 days. For easier spreading, let stand 30 minutes or until softened.

SPICY PISTACHIOS

MAKES 4 CUPS

PREP: 5 MIN., BAKE: 25 MIN.

This snack is a homemade version of the spicy pistachios available in pricey food catalogs.

3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

4 cups shelled dry-roasted pistachios (about 8 cups unshelled)

STIR together first 5 ingredients; add pistachios, tossing to coat. Arrange pistachios in a single layer on a lightly greased 15- x 10-inch jellyroll pan.

BAKE at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. Arrange in a single layer on wax paper, and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

DEBORAH STONE

PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA

NOTE: For testing purposes only, we used McCormick Gourmet Collection Chipotle Chile Pepper.

SUGAR-AND-SPICE PEANUTS

MAKES 4 CUPS

PREP: 5 MIN., COOK: 12 MIN., BAKE: 30 MIN.

¾ cup sugar

½ cup water

2 cups shelled raw peanuts

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

COOK sugar and ½ cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Stir in peanuts, and cook 10 minutes or until sugar starts to crystallize on peanuts. Sprinkle pumpkin pie spice evenly over peanuts, stirring to coat. Spread nuts in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet.

BAKE at 300° for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheet. Store in an airtight container.

LISA U. SMITH

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

CARIBBEAN CASHEWS

MAKES 2 CUPS

PREP: 5 MIN., BAKE: 23 MIN.

1 ½ teaspoons butter or margarine

2 cups lightly salted whole cashews

2 teaspoons grated orange rind

2 teaspoons Caribbean Jerk Seasoning

PREHEAT oven to 350°. Heat butter in an 8-inch cake pan in oven for 2 to 3 minutes or until melted; stir in nuts and remaining ingredients, tossing to coat.

BAKE at 350° for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

ARRANGE cashews in a single layer on wax paper, and let cool. Store in an airtight container.