"Dawn" > wrote in message
...
> I'm planning my New Year's cocktail party and trying to find recipes
> for vegetable appetizers beyond the tray of cold celery and carrot
> sticks.
>
> I've already filled out the protein servings with shrimp cocktail,
> steak bites in puff pastry, and deviled eggs. I've got plenty of
> sweets, a box of Russel Stover chocolates, a rum cake, and cream puffs
> (and I know people will bring cookies).
>
> I'll probably have some good olives and cheese, and some kind of
> stuffed mushroom. Does anyone have suggestions for other vegetable
> snacks I could serve? They don't necessarily have to be finger foods.

A big hit that I've made have been BLT bites. I don't have an actual recipe
offhand. I just do it by taste. If you look online you will see a ton of
recipes.

Basically, you start with some cherry tomatoes. Carefully cut the tops off
and scoop out the seeds using a melon baller or small spoon so that you have
a shell. Turn these upside down on paper towels to drain while you make the
filling.

The filling is crisply cooked, crumbled bacon, thinly sliced green onions,
chopped parsley, mayo and some black pepper. I've seen parmesan cheese
added, but I don't personally care for the taste of it in there.

To assemble, put a bunch of curly parsley on a platter. This serves as a
base and helps keep them from rolling around. Then, using a small spoon,
stuff the tomatoes. Chill until ready to serve.

These are best made shortly before serving so that the filling doesn't get
soggy.