Everyone needs those “go-to” recipes that are easy to make, look nice, and are great to share with friends and family. In this next installment of the Camping Cuisine series, we tackle no cooking required appetizers. Pre-make or just planning to ensure you have the ingredients on hand. Following appetizers are sure to be a hit at the next Happy Hour or pre-dinner gathering.
Easy No Cooking Required Appetizers:
- Charcuterie – This doesn’t have to be elaborate. A simple plate of assorted meats and cheeses. Add a stem or two of grapes or other fruit you have on hand. Serve with a side plate or crackers or bread.
- Veggie Platter – An assortment of fresh veggies with a small bowl of ranch dressing, hummus, or other dipping sauce. Many grocery stores now have pre-made veggie platters as well.
- Spinach dip – If you can’t find a pre-made version in the grocery store, don’t worry, it’s super easy to make. All you need is a package of frozen spinach (defrosted), a cup of mayo, and 16 ozs of sour cream. Add one pack of Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix or your favorite dry soup mix or ranch seasoning. Mix together and serve in a hollowed-out loaf of french bread. Dice up the extracted bread to use with the dip. Don’t have a loaf of bread to use, don’t worry. Simply serve in a bowl with your favorite crackers, chips, or pita slices.
- Salsa – Dice up 4-5 plum tomatoes, ½ an onion, add cilantro, and jalapeño to taste preference along with lime juice and a pinch of salt. Serve in a bowl with a side of your favorite tortilla chips.
- Caprese Salad Skewers – Using a toothpick or wooden kabob skewers (any length) add a cherry tomato, piece of basil, and a small mozzarella ball. Once assembled, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Serve on a platter or if you are using longer kebab skewers you can put them in a vase and use it as an edible centerpiece.
- Greek Shrimp – Use a bag of frozen pre-cooked shrimp (defrosted) peeled, and deveined. Put in a bowl and cover with a bottle of your favorite Greek (or Italian) salad dressing. Add sliced up purple onion and a jar of capers (including the juice). Let marinate in the refrigerator for an hour or so and serve cold.
- Nanny’s Cheese Ball – This is my grandmother’s recipe and has been a staple at our family dinners and gatherings for decades. In a large mixing bowl add 2 bricks of cream cheese, 4 jars of Old English Cheddar, 1 small brick of bleu cheese (crumbled), a dash of worcheshire, garlic powder, and dried onion (can use diced fresh onion). Mix by hand or using a heavy-duty spoon in the bowl and once all the lump and bumps are out, transfer to serving dish or bowl and top with crushed walnuts and serve with your favorite cracker.
- Mexican Layer Dip – On a deep plate layer refried beans, sour cream (mixed with a packet of taco seasoning), shredded cheese, onion, shredded lettuce, and top with jalapeños, cilantro, and taco sauce. Optional: add green chilies and olives. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips
- Shrimp Cocktail – In a bowl, add a bag of pre-cooked peeled and deveined shrimp. Serve hot or cold with a side of cocktail sauce (ketchup and horseradish mixed) or a Thai chili sauce.
- Pinwheels – These easy to make snacks can be filled with anything you have on hand…turkey, bacon, ham, cheese, chicken, egg salad, etc. Simply fill a tortilla with your favorites down the center. Wrap tightly, and then cut into pieces; secure with toothpicks if needed. Don’t forget to include lettuce, onion, and whatever condiments you would normally put on a sandwich.
No matter which appetizers you make, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser. If you are doing meal planning before departure, be sure to include a few extra things for spontaneous get-togethers. If you have to make a grocery stop en route, these ingredients should be readily available. Be sure to check for the grocery store options along your travel route. A few minutes of planning will alleviate stress later.
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