Party Appetizers - Phyllo Wrapped Baked Brie Appetizer

When making the list for your party appetizers at this busy time of year, for the easiest and most popular party appetizers (or for those unexpected guests who drop by unannounceh), always make certain to keep a round of brie cheese and some artisan crackers on hand for a quick and easy baked brie appetizer.

This delicious recipe for Phyllo Wrapped Baked Brie Appetizer can be prepared, baked and served in under 30 minutes. And there is a good reason that this baked brie appetizer is one of our most popular party appetizers recipe - it just tastes so darn good!!

From the Kraft Appetizer Recipes Collection:

Phyllo Wrapped Baked Brie Appetizer

Ingredients:
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 green onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. Balsamic vinaigrette dressing
4 sheets frozen phyllo, thawed
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 pkg. (125 g) brie cheese
Selection of crackers for serving

Directions:
HEAT oven to 400°F. Cook mushrooms and onions in dressing in skillet until tender. Cool.

BRUSH 1 phylllo sheet with butter; cover with remaining phyllo sheets, brushing each layer with butter before stacking. Cut 10-inch circle from stack; discard trimmings.

CUT cheese horizontally in half; place 1/2 in centre of phyllo stack. Top with 1/2 the mushroom mixture, remaining cheese and mushrooms. Fold phyllo around cheese, folding as necessary to completely enclose cheese; brush with remaining butter. Place on baking sheet or in pie plate.

BAKE 15 min. or until golden brown. Serve with crackers.

Substitute: Whole cooked cranberries, cooled, for the mushrooms for a festive touch.
Tips: To cut down on preparation time, purchase pre-sliced mushrooms for use in this recipe.
Tips: Use a clean pair of kitchen shears to cut out the phyllo circle.

Recipe courtesy Kraft Canada.

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Easy Appetizers - Brie Crab Appetizers Recipe

This time of year is a continuous whirlwind of parties, and trying to throw together some quick easy appetizers for unexpected get togethers can throw most people into a a tizzy but with a few easy appetizer recipes on hand, you can pull off that impromptu soiree like a pro.

Easy appetizers don't need to be frozen appetizers or a bag of chips with dip. Instead keep a variety of cheeses on hand for some easy to make appetizers that will compete with even the gourmet appetizers offered by catering companies. Brie cheese recipes such as an easy baked brie appetizer or this delicious Brie Crab Appetizers Recipe, courtesy Alouette Cheese, will have your guests raving about your gourmet appetizers!!

Baby Brie Crab Appetizers Recipe

Ingredients

1 pkg. (8 oz.) Alouette Baby Brie Cheese
1 can (6 oz.) crab meat with leg meat, well drained
2 tbsp. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. diced pimiento (from 2 oz. jar), drained
1 tbsp. minced shallot
2 pkg. (2.1 oz. each) frozen phyllo tartlet shells
1 tbsp. chopped fresh chives

Directions

Heat oven to 350 F.

Trim rind from outside edge of cheese.
Cut crosswise into 6 strips. Trim rind from each strip.

To form 30 pieces, cut the 4 longest strips each into 6 cubes.
Cut the 2 shortest strips each into 3 cubes.

In small bowl, combine crab meat, mayonnaise, pimiento and shallot.

Arrange tartlet shells on large cookie sheet. Spoon crab mixture evenly into tartlet shells, about 1 tsp. each. Top with cheese cube.

Bake 5 minutes or until cheese is soft and melted.
Sprinkle with chives.

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Baked Brie Appetizer with Pear and Red Onion Chutney

Just in time for the holiday entertaining season comes this updated version of the basic baked brie appetizer - a delicious Bake Brie Appetizer with Pear and Red Onion Chutney!!

A baked brie appetizer is one of the most versatile appetizers you can serve and is always a party appetizers favorite. Change your toppings with the to include seasonal produce to create a whole new baked brie appetizer suitable for any occasion.

This Baked Brie Appetizer with Pear and Red Onion Chutney is a perfect additon to any holiday party appetizers table - make lots as this baked brie appetizer is so delicous, it will have your guests lining up for more!

Baked Brie Appetizer with Pear and Red Onioin Chutney

Ingredients
2 x 125g packs Rosenborg-Castello® Brie Cheeses
Chutney :
2 x medium red onions - thinly sliced
1-2 tbsp oil
1/4 cup sugar
1 ripe pear - peeled, cored and diced
2-3 tbsp. apple juice
Walnut bread and a few salad leaves to serve.

Method
Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C).
1. Make chutney by gently sauteeing the onion in the oil until soft and transparent - this will take about 10 minutes. Stir in sugar, pears and a little apple juice and continue cooking to soften pears and combine all the ingredients. Remove from heat and cool.
2. Place Brie on a baking sheet and bake for 10 - 12 minutes - until they feel soft when gently pressed on top.
3. Serve Baked brie appetizer with chunks of walnut bread, or artisan crackers and the chutney.

Recipe courtesy Rosenborg-Castello.

For more great baked brie appetizer recipes visit www.appetizersunlimited.com
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Baked Brie Appetizer - Carmelized Pear on Warm Brie

Cheese is a staple at any party, but this holiday season 'kick up' your party appetizers with a delicious baked brie appetizer!

In an earlier article, we published a recipe for our favorite baked brie appetizer, and in subsequent articles suggested many different topping ideas to personalize your own baked brie appetizer, but now we have found another winning baked brie appetizer recipe from Living Well and the Canadian Living Test Kitchen!!

Caramelized Pear on Warm Brie

1 green onion
2 tsp (10 mL) butter
1 pear, diced
pinch each salt and cinnamon
1/4 cup (50 mL) pear juice or apple juice
3 tbsp (50 mL) chopped pecans
2 tbsp (30 mL) brown sugar
1 tsp (5 mL) chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp (5 mL) cider vinegar
1 round (200 g) Brie cheese

Directions
Thinly slice green onion, keeping white and green parts separate.
In nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat; fry pear, white part of onion, salt and cinnamon for 5 minutes or until pear is softened.
Add pear juice, pecans, brown sugar, thyme and vinegar; boil, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until no liquid remains.
Place Brie in brie baker or on ovenproof serving dish; top with pear mixture. Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 10 minutes or until cheese is softened. Let stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with green part of onion.

Enjoy!

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Thanksgiving Appetizers - Cranberry Baked Brie Appetizer

Just in time for the start of the holiday entertaining season comes this variation on the traditional baked brie appetizer - our Cranberry Baked Brie Appetizer makes the perfect Thanksgiving appetizers for your party.

If you have a brie baker, perfect, but if you don't then you can use a small casserole with a lid or small oven proof dish and cover with foil. Preheat your oven to 350F, top the brie with pecans, dried cranberries, pinenuts or sunflower seeds, drizzle about 1/4-1/2 cup of honey or maple syrup over the top and bake for approximately 15 munites until heated through. Serve in your brie baker or remove to a platter, and surrounded with an assortment of crackers or artisan breads.

A baked brie appetizer is one of the most versatile appetizers you can serve since you only need to change the topping to update the baked brie appetizer to suit the season. Use ingredients geared to the occasion, add a little bit of creativity, and get ready to accept endless compliments about your scrumptious Baked Brie Appetizer!!

For more great appetizer recipes, check out www.appetizersunlimited.com
For more great recipes, chef's tips and tools visit www.amateur-chef.net

Trick or Tr-eating with Halloween Appetizers

With the devilishly fun day quickly creeping up now is the time to plan some frightfully quick and easy Halloween party appetizers for the big day.

Halloween appetizers are fun to create and can be very easy to make simply by converting your regular party offerings into scary appetizers with a few everyday ingredients. A baked brie appetizer can be made to look like a scarecrow by adding black olives as eyes, a thin slice of orange or red pepper as a nose and sliced almonds as a mouth. Pour ¼ to ½ cup of maple syrup on top and bake at 350F for 15 to 20 minutes or until warm. Garnish with shredded wheat around the top and bottom as hair and a beard and serve.

Transform everyday meatballs into delightful Halloween appetizers by topping with marinara sauce, adding a small round of cream cheese and dotting with olive pieces for the eyeballs and serve on wooden toothpicks.

As you can see, it is easy to transform everyday party appetizers into spooky Halloween appetizers with a few everyday ingredients and a little bit of imagination, so put on your witch’s hat and mix up your own brew of unique easy appetizers this Halloween.

For more great appetizer recipes visit www.appetizersunlimited.com
For more great recipes, Chef's tips and tools visit www.amateur-chef.net

Gourmet Appetizers - Individual Brie and Fig Strudels

Although we strive to present recipes for easy to make appetizers, we recognize that there will be times and occasions that call for gourmet appetizers which will take more time and effort to prepare.

But time and effort does not have to mean difficult to prepare! If you do have a special occasion coming up, or are just trying to impress the boss, give this wonderful baked brie appetizer recipe a whirl. Brie and fig compote are perfectly paired in these elegant strudel gourmet appetizers. Don't be scared off by the number of ingredients required for these delicious appetizers - the recipe is easier than it looks, and you won't be disappointed with the end result!

Individual Brie and Fig Strudels

6 oz (175 gm) dried figs, stems removed and chopped
1/2 cup (125 ml) chopped red onion
1/2 cup (125 ml) water
1/4 cup (50 ml) balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup (50 ml) lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (125 ml) golden raisins
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tblsp (15 ml) minced fresh ginger
2 tsp (10 ml) orange zest
1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt
1/4 tsp (1 ml) cayenne pepper
1/4 cup (50 ml) toasted pine nuts
8 sheets phyllo pastry
1/4 cup (50 ml) butter, melted
8 oz (250 gm) brie, rind removed and sliced

1. Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).
2. In heavy saucepan, combine figs, onion, water, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, raisins, garlic, ginger, orange zest, salt and cayenne over medium-high heat; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer until most of liquid has been evaporated, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in pine nuts. Let cool.
3. Place 1 sheet of phyllo on a work surface, keeping remaining sheets covered with damp tea towel to prevent drying out. Brush sheet lightly with some of the butter. Fold in half lengthwise; brush lightly with more butter. Arrange 2 slices of brie along 1 narrow end of the phyllo, leaving a 1-inch (2.5 cm) border. Top with 1/4 cup (50 ml) of fig mixture and top with another slice or 2 of the brie (use 1 oz/30 gm per strudel). Fold sides over to enclose filling and roll up.
4. Place seam side down on parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheat. Brush with butter. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 7 more strudels. Using the tip of a sharp knife, make diagonal slits about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart in the tops of the strudels.
5. Bake in the centre of the oven until pastry is golden, about 13 to 16 minutes. Serve warm with sliced apples and pears.

Makes 8 servings.
Recipe courtesy Food & Drink

For more great gourmet appetizer recipes visit http://www.appetizersunlimited.com/
For more great recipes, Chef's tips and tools visit http://www.amateur-chef.net/