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It’s summer. It’s hot. Too hot – I think the heat is to blame for my missing culinary mojo. There’s just something about 95 degree temperatures that makes turning on my oven a little less appealing than normal.
With all the heat, blue skies, and an 85 acre pond in our backyard, we’re kind of used to last minute entertaining. So we keep the fridge stocked with simple, fresh ingredients that can be transformed into delicious eats without too much cooking involved.
For our recent Fourth of July festivities, I decided to keep things pretty effortless and portable, so people wouldn’t have to be tied to the table while enjoying the food. One of the most well received items on the menu were these easy Greek Salad Skewers. With only 6 ingredients and minimal prep time, these Greek Salad Skewers couldn’t be easier – or cuter!
Now, here’s where things get a little fun! I want you to share YOUR favorite appetizer recipe that uses 6 ingredients or less (see below for specifics) for the chance to win a $600 gift card. I’ve teamed up with American Express and their Dinner @ 6 promotion to create simple appetizer recipes that use 6 ingredients or less.
Are you seeing a theme here with the number 6? Let me explain. American Express recently launched two cash back credit cards – Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday.
One of the most exciting benefits of the Blue Cash Preferred card is that Cardmembers receive 6% cash back for purchases at the supermarket – the highest cash back rate available for grocery purchases! With these new Blue Cash® Cards, there are no spend minimums, cash back caps, ongoing enrollments or rotating categories of cash back benefits. Which is a pretty sweet deal when used responsibly.
Greek Salad Skewers
Ingredients:
12 grape tomatoes
4 ounces feta cheese, cut into 12 (1/2-inch) cubes
1 mini cucumber sliced into 12 pieces
12 pitted kalamata olives
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 ½ teaspoons Za’atar*.
12 (4-6 inch) bamboo or wood skewers
Directions:
1. Thread the skewers starting with a tomato, then a piece of feta cheese, a cucumber and an olive. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
2. Just before serving, arrange skewers on a platter, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Za’atar.
Notes:
- I highly recommend finding Za’atar. It’s such a great spice (a blend of sumac, sesame seeds and herbs) to have on hand. I love the brand Urban Accents because it’s flavorful and readily available at my local market.
Follow Jamie on Instagram. We love to see what you're baking from MBA! Be sure to tag @jamiemba and use the hashtag #mbarecipes!
Requirements for Participation
One winner will receive a $600 Gift Card from American Express:
1. Submit your favorite APPETIZER recipe that features 6 ingredients or less. You MUST cut and paste the entire recipe into the comment form. If you have a blog, please also provide a link to the post.
2. You may submit 2 recipes – leave each recipe in a separate comment.
Seasonings, spices and herbs, garlic, vinegars and oils DO NOT count as one of the 6 ingredients.
3.. Contest ends July 23, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Entries that do not follow the directions above will be deleted without notification.
4. Winner will be posted in a follow up post by July 29, 2011.
5. Contest open to US residents only.
6. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will have 3 days to respond or a new winner will be selected.
Additional Entries
If you also have a MAIN COURSE recipe that uses 6 ingredients or less, be sure to head over to goodLife {eats} and enter on Katie’s blog as well. Good luck!
Disclosure
This post and the giveaway are sponsored by American Express. The views and opinions expressed within this post are my own.
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
6 fresh jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
12 slices bacon
Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. Spread cream cheese to fill jalapeno halves. Wrap with bacon. Secure with a toothpick. Place on the grill, and cook until bacon is crispy.
Spicy mexican dip
1lb of spicy or mild pork sausage
8 oz cream cheese
8 oz sour cream
16 oz salsa dip (spicy as you can take it)
8 oz velvetta cheese
Bag of tortilla chips
brown the sausage and drain. In a slow cooker place sausage with rest of ingredents. Set on high for 1 hour then mix. Turn to low for 2 hours or until all together. EAT
I like a Classic Bruschetta (baguette, garlic, roma tomatoes, basil, olive oil) or Bacon-wrapped Dates.
Quick and Delicsious Shrimp Dip
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 medium onion, diced small or grated
4 ½ oz can of shrimp, drain and reserve the liquid
3 t lemon juice
Mix all the ingredients except the liquid from the drained shrimp. Use the reserved liquid to make the dip the desired consistency.
Serve with vegetables or Fritos.
You can also add chopped red pepper, salt, pepper, old bay seasoning or seasoned salt if desired.
Phyllo Wrapped Camembert
http://cookingwithbooks.blogspot.com/2011/05/phyllo-wrapped-camembert.html
Ingredients
1 Camembert Round
1/4 cup organic raspberry jam
10 Phyllo Sheets
Melted butter, to brush top
Method
Pre-heat oven to 375F.
Slice Camembert in half, lengthwise.
Layer with raspberry jam (or the jam of your preference). Top with cheese half.
Wrap the Camembert as you would a present, tucking under. Brush with melted butter.
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Serve with toast or crackers and enjoy with a glass of wine. Enjoy the simple moments of life!
Hummus (or as I like to call it, Chickpeas Whipped to Submission!)
http://cookingwithbooks.blogspot.com/2011/06/hummus-recipe-and-tahini-review.html
Ingredients
1 can chickpeas, drained
1 garlic clove, raw
1 lime, juiced
2 tablespoons Once Again Tahini
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper
Method
Throw everything BUT the oil in the food processor. Blend and start adding the oil. I’ve suggested 1/2 cup, but eyeball it to your preference. Some prefer a thinner version of hummus, some prefer a thicker version. Do what your heart tells you to do.
Taste! Season with salt and pepper. Taste again. Re-season. Taste one more time just to make sure.
Serve in a bowl and make a well around it. Drizzle with olive oil (the good kind!) and sprinkle a dash of Paprika. Enjoy!
Another super simple app.
Baked Brie
1 wedge of Brie
1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup of sliced almonds
Pour the Honey and the almonds over the Brie. Bake at 375 for about 15 min. At least once during baking spoon the honey back on top of the almonds, this helps them to carmelize. The cheese is ready whem it is very runny.
Serve on slices of baguette, or apples, or crackers, or as my daughter prefers it by the spoonful.
Best Guacomole — this is simple, but many people have told me this is the best they have ever had
2 Avocados
2 limes
1/2 teaspoon of salt
Cut avocados — add juice of 2 limes — stir together careful not to mash the avocados too much. When lime juice is fully incorporated. Add salt.
*** can also add cilantro, and or garlic, but is wonderful without
Bruschetta Dip
15 minutes, makes 2 cups
4 medium-large fresh from the garden tomatoes
~1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 gloves garlic, finely minced
8-10 basil leaves, finely minced
good glug – about a tablespoon – of olive oil
sliced crusty baguette for serving
1. finely dice the tomatoes. place a good scoop in the palm of your hand and lightly squeeze out some of the liquid. don’t get it all out, but get most of it. you don’t want tomato soup. repeat with the rest of the tomato.
2. mix the salt into the tomato and let it sit while mincing the garlic and basil.
3. mix in the garlic, basil, and olive oil.
4. enjoy with crusty bread.
http://kitchentrialanderror.blogspot.com/2010/07/kinda-brushetta-dip.html
Sweet & spicy brie
1 round baby brie
1 jar Harry & David pepper relish (or homemade equivalent)
crackers of choice
2 ways to do this.
1) Heat brie according to package instructions. Pour relish over top & serve with crackers.
2) Pour relish over top of brie & serve with crackers.