Simple & Delicious Small Bites

I love entertaining. It's in my DNA. My super fun & amazing parents are famous for hosting parties of all kinds- family dinners, engagement parties, Sunday night dinners to eat up leftovers, holiday parties, or random "let's have a band here so we can dance" parties. We have even transformed our garage to a dining room so to host 50 for Thanksgiving dinner! Whether it's for 6 people or 200, my parents are always great to host an event. I so appreciate their continuing efforts & hard work to make these memories & fun times happen.

It is such a joy for me to be able to create & organize a beautiful spread of goodies & beverages to make memories with fun people. However, entertaining can also be stressful if it's not thought through or you try to do too much or you just get flustered. Now, I do not want to give away ALL of my entertaining secrets, but.... I have posted some of my "go to" recipes for simple & delicious entertaining. Enjoy & happy eating!

Pepperoni Poppers

{ Makes 12 regular poppers or 20 mini poppers }

Recipe credit: may have come off a Sargento cheese package a long time ago


INGREDIENTS:
     1 - 1 lb. can pizza dough
     3 T. pesto
     2 cups shredded Sargento 6-Cheese Italian Blend
     3 1/2 oz. sliced pepperoni


DIRECTIONS:

1. On a floured surface, roll out pizza dough to 20"x 12". 
• For regular muffin-cup size poppers: follow remaining directions
• For mini poppers: cut dough in half & follow remaining directions
2. Spread pesto on dough surface
• I really like pesto & just ignore the 3 T. directions- go ahead and add enough to cover the whole dough surface.
3. Sprinkle surface with cheese.
4. Top with pepperoni.
• Use as much as you see fit- I usually don't use the whole package.
5. Roll up, starting at long side.
6. Put cut side up in lightly greased muffin tins, pressing slightly.
• The pepperoni & pesto add oil to this- you don't want these to be super greasy.
7. Bake @ 375 degrees for 15-18 minutes.
8. Enjoy! These do very well made in advance, can easily make make several batches at a time & are great leftover! Serve warm.

Green Chile Quiche Bites

{ These are so good- the following is a double recipe! }

Recipe Credit: a member from P.E.O. Chapter CQ in Chicago, IL

INGREDIENTS:

     8 Tbsp. butter, melted

     10 eggs

     1/2 c. flour

     1 tsp. baking powder

     Dash of salt

     1 pint (2 c.) small curd cottage cheese

     4 cups shredded monterray jack cheese {I use 1/2 monterray jack & 1/2 pepperjack}

     2 - 4 oz. cans diced green chilies

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Break eggs in big mixing bowl. Whisk until light & fluffy.
3. Mix in dry ingredients & butter.
4. Fold in cottage cheese, shredded cheese & green chiles.
5. Pour mixture into greased 9"x12" baking dish.
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
7. Lower heat to 350 degrees then bake for 30-35 minutes until lightly browned.
8. Cut in bite-size squares & serve.