Simple Shrimp Appetizer Recipes

I have always loved shrimp. Shrimp can be served both hot and cold and both as an appetizer or as the main course.

Here are several ways to serve shrimp as an appetizer:

Shrimp and Bacon Appetizers

1 pound of shrimp
2-3 tablespoons of hot sauce
1 pound of bacon

Rinse and drain shrimp, pat dry. Marinate shrimp in hot sauce for about 15 minutes. Partially cook bacon, slice in half. Roll one shrimp per half slice of bacon, secure with a toothpick. Bake in oven at 400*F until crisp.

Shrimp Cocktail

We have found cocktail sauce both in mild and in hot. Experiment with cold cooked shrimp. We serve shrimp cocktail in glass ice cream dishes. Place a few tablespoons of cocktail sauce in the dish. Put 4-6 shrimp around the glass. If you want, insert a lemon wedge in the middle of the dish.

Shrimp Spread

1 – 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
1 – 8 ounce jar of cocktail sauce (try both spicy and mild)
1 – 2.25 ounce can of sliced black olives, drained
1/2 pound cooked bay shrimp
3 green onions, chopped
Crackers for serving

Spread cream cheese on a medium round serving platter. Spread the cocktail sauce on top of the cream cheese. Top with baby shrimp, green onions and olives. Chill in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve with crackers.

Hot Shrimp and Cheese on Bread

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup butter, softened
1 egg, separated
25-35 bread squares (I use a bread that is not soft, such as multigrain or rye. I also remove the crusts)
25-35 shrimp, cooked, peeled and deveined

Cream together the butter and cheese. Blend in egg yolk. In a separate bowl, beat egg white until stiff peaks form. Mix egg white into cheese mixture. Place the bread squares on an ungreased cookie sheet. Top each bread square with one shrimp and cover with rounded teaspoonful of the cheese mixture. Bake at 350° for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve hot.

Each of these recipes is simple to make and can be prepared in a very short amount of time.

Audrey :)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

We love to buy the cookie mixes when on sale. This is a recipe using a package of Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix:

Cookie Base

1 bag double chocolate chunk cookie mix
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons cold strong brewed coffee or water
1 egg

Filling

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed
9 ounces miniature chocolate-covered peanut butter cup candies, chopped

Topping
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons sugar
3 ounces bittersweet baking chocolate, melted
1 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, mix together the cookie mix, oil, coffee and egg until soft dough forms. Spread dough in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or just until set. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

In a seperate bowl, beat together the cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Fold in the whipped topping and chopped candies. Spread over cooled cookie base.

In a small microwavable bowl, use a wire wisk to beat peanut butter, milk and 2 tablespoons sugar until smooth. Microwave uncovered on high 30 to 60 seconds, stirring after 30 seconds, to thin for drizzling.

Drizzle mixture over filling (which is on top of the cookie dough base).

Melt the baking chocolate and drizzle on top. Sprinkle with peanuts. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until set. Cut into bars. May be stored in refrigerator, covered.

Audrey :)