Appetizers can you hold the carbs, please!

Ever go to a dinner party and fill up before the main course arrives?  It’s usually because the appetizers that are circling are loaded with carbs and will fill you up.  Then you are presented with a beautiful feast that  you’re regrettably unable to enjoy.  It’s nice to keep appetizers a light fare, a little something  to warm up your guest palate so that their taste buds are awake to fully enjoy the main event.  Here are a couple recipes that offer a nice range but just minus the carbohydrates.

Crab Salad on Endive

Ingredients:

• 6 oz. lump crab meat
• ¼ red pepper chopped
• 1 shallot, finely chopped
• Zest of 1 Orange
• 3 radishes, grated
• 3 T. celery leaves, chopped
• ¼ c. mayonnaise
• 3 T. heavy cream
• 24 leaves Belgium endive
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chopped chives for garnish

Directions:

1. Mix crab meat in bowl with fingers
2. Add bell pepper, shallot, orange zest, grated radish, celery greens and salt and pepper
3. Combine mayonnaise and milk in separate bowl
4. Combine both mixtures together
5. Scoop a spoonful onto root end of endive
6. Garnish with chopped chives

Ham and Cheese Mini Quiche

Ingredients:

• 3 T. butter, melted
• ¼ lb. sliced Swiss cheese, chopped
• ¼ lb Canadian bacon, chopped
• Splash of milk
• 3 T. chopped chives
• Hot sauce to flavor
• 8 eggs, beaten

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Oil a 12 muffin pan
3. Divide cheese and ham equally among muffin cups
4. Add the milk, chives, salt, pepper and hot sauce to beaten egg mixuture
5. Fill each muffin cup to just below rim
6. Bake until golden about 12 minutes

Parmesan Crusted Asparagus

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. thin asparagus spears
• 1 T. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 oz. shaved Parmesan cheese
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar, or to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450
2. Place asparagus on a baking sheet
3. Drizzle with olive oil, and toss to coat
4. Arrange asparagus spears in a single layer
5. Spread Parmesan cheese over asparagus, and season with freshly ground black pepper
6. Bake 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until cheese is melted and asparagus is tender but crisp
7. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar to taste
8. Serve immediately

Tags: Appetizers, Brunch, brunch party, dinner parties, dinner party, dinner party ideas, dinner party menu, low carb, low carb appetizer

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 12:04 am and is filed under Appetizers, brunch party, buffet ideas, buffet menu, dinner parties, dinner party menu, outdoor dinning. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.