Girls Night Out: Mini Apps & Dessert Recipes

There was quite an interest in the tasty treats that mom & I stirred up for our Girls Night Out a few weeks back so I decided to share them with you all. These are perfect small bites for a casual gathering or for your large summer parties. Many of them can be prepped ahead of time which I find to always be a plus!


Veggie Baguettes (makes as many as you prefer):


     Ingredients

• baguettes
• carrot sticks
• celery sticks
• veggie dip (or any dip you prefer)        

     

     Directions

1. Cut baguettes into pieces at a diagonal
2. Remove the middle breading (but be sure to leave the bottom so the dip won't seep through)
3. Spoon (veggie) dip into bread
4. Place veggie sticks inside

**To make things easy, I just used store bought dip, but you can certainly whip up your own homemade should you prefer.     

Chicken Almond Bites (makes 40 bites):


     Ingredients

• 1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons orange marmalade
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 cups cooked chicken breast (or tenders), finely chopped
• 1/4 cup finely chopped dried apricots
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 cup finely chopped almonds

     

     Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, marmalade, curry, lemon pepper, salt, & pepper until smooth
2. Stir in chicken, apricots, & celery
3. Shape into balls (1 in) and roll in almonds
4. Chill at least 1 hour before serving

**Feel free to add green onions into the mix when you add the chicken, apricots, and celery. I don't care for them so I omitted.

***These can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated or frozen up to 1 month ahead! If you choose to freeze them, don't roll into the almonds until you plan to serve (letting them thaw).

Shrimp Tartlets (makes 30 pieces):


     Ingredients

• 1/3 cup shredded cheese (calls for Swiss but any kind will do)
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
• 3/4 cup mayo
• 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 can (4oz) tiny shrimp, drained
• 2 packages (15 count) frozen mini phyllo dough shells

    

     Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Combine cheeses, mayo, and sauces
3. Fold in shrimp
4. Divid mixture evenly in mini shells
5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes

**IF you can't find the phyllo shells (which I couldn't), simply use refrigerated biscuits or rolls and separate them. Then press the dough into muffin tins and bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes. Proceed as directed.


***You can garnish the tartlets, once baked, with a small frozen *cooked* shrimp if you prefer.




Banana Cream Delight (makes 12 minis):


     Ingredients

• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 large box vanilla pudding
• 2 cups milk, skim is fine
• 5 to 6 banana, sliced
• 1 container whipped topping

    

    Directions

1. Mix cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar
2. Divide the mixture equally into 12 dessert dishes and press firmly into bottom
3. Put 5 to 6 slices of banana in bottom of each dish
4. Make pudding as directed on box
5. Cover bananas with pudding
6. Chill until set (approx 1 hour)
7. Top with whipped cream

Summer Fruit Cake (makes 12 minis):


     Ingredients

• 12 small 1-inch square pieces of angel food cake
• 15 to 20 strawberries sliced
• 4 bananas sliced
• 1 can (10oz) crushed pineapple, drained but save juice
• 1/2 can mandarin oranges, drained and sliced
• 1/2 box of instant vanilla pudding
• 1 container whipped topping

     

     Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix pineapple, 1/2 pineapple juice, oranges, and vanilla pudding
2. Add half the whipped topping & fold together
3. Place small square of cake in bottom of dessert dishes
4. Drizzle with pineapple juice
5. Top with spoonful of pudding mixture
6. Add 3 to 4 slices of bananas and strawberries on top of pudding mixture
7. Cover with another layer of pudding mixture
8. Garnish with a dollop of whipped topping and slices strawberry

Chocolate Mousse (makes 12 minis):


     Ingredients

• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1 container whipped topping
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
• 4 oz baking chocolate or chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon milk or water

     

    Directions

1. Melt butter and add cracker crumbs & sugar; mix well
2. Place teaspoon of mixture in bottom of dessert dishes and press firmly into bottom
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and vanilla until fluffy
4. In another bowl, melt milk/water and chocolate until melted & creamy
5. Add chocolate to cream cheese mixture and mix well
6. Fold in whipped topping
7. Fill each dessert dish to the top with chocolate mousse
8. Garnish with a dollop of whipped topping and chocolate chips or shaving

Happy Cooking/Baking!