Festive Holiday Appetizer
While I have my favorites, I always try to keep things original around here and really wanted to create something instead of do my best work copying a familiar recipe. Every year my pasta salad is a huge it at the Janac Christmas so why not mix it up a little and turn it into a little appetizer!
Tortellini Poppers
Let’s just say all the samples I made were quickly eaten by my family so I’m going to give this a thumbs up! It also gets the thumbs up from me because it is super easy and quick to make. 
Here’s all you need
1 pkg Buitoni cheese tortellini pasta
1 pkg Buitoni pesto
1 red bell pepper
1 can large black olives
1 pkg salami or pepperoni
Boil and drain the tortellini. After adding a dab of pesto to a piece of pasta layer a small piece of bell pepper, the salami folded in half and half a black olive and secure with a toothpick. So easy! I think these work in this bite size form or use a longer skewer and double up. 
Add to a tray and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. I think they turned out very festive what do you think? 
Shrimp Dip
One recipe my mom always made for Christmas Eve was this shrimp dip. While it doesn’t look super appetizing, it is seriously amazing. Let’s just say Carly and I were knocking each other over testing this after it chilled!
Shrimp Dip
Boil 1 lb small shrimp (deveined)
Blend 1 package cream cheese with 3 tbsp Heinz Chili Sauce
Add 1/3 cup mayo
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp lemon juice
Fold in shrimp
Chill before serving
The consistency of chili sauce is a personal preference and I have typically added in a little more than 3 tbsp after tasting. I personally love this dip the very best with Fritos but we were using the stock on hand!
Any little appetizer can be made to look Christmasy with a little garnish. I love the rosemary sprigs but would also use cranberries, grape tomatoes or even green olives to a platter. Oh, and of course you need a little Christmas drink! I made the cranberry mule to test out and it was yummy but a little sweet for me. Sure does look festive though!
We hope you will share your favorite party recipe so we can all have something new to try this Christmas! Thank you Sarah and Victoria for hosting such a festive linkup.
They both look delicious! I’m not familiar with that pasta, did you have to cook it first?
Yes! Thanks for pointing that out Amy…definitely have to boil the pasta first.
The pasta bites are GENIUS!!! I am definitely going to have to try to make that–I can totally see how your family gobbled them up! My mom made a crab dip that was similar to your mom’s shrimp dip not too long ago! Thank you for cohosting today!!!
Thanks so much for having me Sarah!
That pasta salad appetizer is so fun & festive! These recipes all look great 🙂
Thank you Rechelle. The shrimp dip has seriously been my dinner for the past two nights.
Perfect lil apps! You are a hosting pro pretty lady! I’ll come over and indulge, lol. Yum!
I’m not the greatest at presentation Andrea, and I hold myself back too much from inviting friends over thinking my house is not the greatest….I NEED to get over that!!
They want to see beautiful you, not food or house, just liquor them up, lol. But I totally get it but my guest room better be ready when I come! 😉
Aww…you are so sweet! I really need to remind myself of that.
Those look delicious!
It all was so yummy Kathy!
um! Those look so good! Want to bring those to our Christmas dinner, hehe.
For years, I have cooked a big meal on Christmas eve. This year, after input from the family, we are just going to have a charcuterie platter with lots of snacks. Sounds like a win-win situation!
We have always done chips and dips, tamales and chili with my family and it’s always easy. We have found ourselves with a free Christmas Eve this year…and I am thinking about a fancier dinner but we will see!
These would be perfect for a small gathering I am going to this weekend. Thank you for the inspiration!
Easy peasy!
Those skewers look amazing and I bet they taste amazing too! So awesome and I love that my girls could probably put them together for me #winning
Mmmmmm that cranberry moscow mule sounds delicious and I love your pasta salad appetizer. Super idea. I always love your recipes, between you and Andrea I have my weeknight meals covered! We eat your chicken enchiladas once a week and your pork chops too. The Cinco de Mayo recipes you shared were the best. Thanks for sharing all this! Cheers!
xo,
Kellyann
That makes me so happy Kellyann! I have been not feeling the cooking lately and really, really need to get back to it. Hope we can grab some appetizers and drinks one day in person friend!
Yes! I hope you come to FL for spring training! I’ll travel to you so we can meet up, that would be wonderful!
that all looks so good!!!
Both dishes look amazing, that dip sounds amazingly delicious!
Yum! These look delicious & my family would love them!
Super easy….and they work for most people!
That shrimp dip sounds so good. And what an easy recipe. Right up my alley. Merry Christmas.
I may or may not have eaten it all by myself over the course of 2 days! Oops!