Ideas for summer finger foods(appetizers and desserts)

I am doing the food for community time after church service Saturday. I want to do a summer theme.
I need some ideas for summer finger foods, just appetizers and desserts, things that don't need to be heated or kept warm.

I am doing a watermelon boat, berry trifle, filled cherry tomotoes with a pesto blend, peach cupcakes and received some ideas from the recipes forum but want some more ideas.

Thanks!!!!

Strawberry Jello Pie Recipe
1 package (4 serving size) Jello, strawberry flavor
2/3 C boiling water
1/2 C cold water
ice cubes
1 8 oz tub of Cool Whip
1 cup or so of chopped strawberries (save some big ones for the top of the pie!)
1 prepared no bake crust

Stir boiling water into gelatin in large bowl for 2 min. until dissolved.

Mix cold water and ice to make 1 1/4 cups. Add to gelatin, stirring until slightly thickened, Remove any remaining ice.

Stir in 8 oz of Cool Whip with wire whisk until smooth. Mix in fruit.

Put in fridge (in the bowl) for 30 min until mixture is thicker and smooth.

Spoon into prepared crust.

Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight if possible, till firm.

Garnish with more strawberries!

Store leftovers in fridge. Makes 8 servings.

This is one of my family's favorite desserts in the summer, it's cool, light , and refreshing.

This message was edited Jul 19, 2010 6:24 AM

Another thing I make in a 13 X 9 pan is a 7 - layer Taco dip served with tortilla chips'

7 Layer Taco Dip
Ingredients
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream 1 (16 ounce) jar salsa 1 large tomato, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 bunch chopped green onions 1 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded 1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
In a medium bowl, blend the taco seasoning mix and refried beans. Spread the mixture onto a large serving platter.
Mix the sour cream and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Spread over the refried beans.
Top the layers with salsa. Place a layer of tomato, green bell pepper, green onions and lettuce over the salsa, and top with Cheddar cheese. Garnish with black olives.

I also use this as my vegetarian dish for those who don't do meat. If they don't do dairy, they are sh*t out of luck. ^_^

This message was edited Jul 19, 2010 6:31 AM

Oh yeah, love that strawberry pie!
I had that layer dip once...yummy
Thanks Celeste

I sampled something the other day that was incredible and never thought I would like it...

A cherry tomato, fresh mozzarella cheese and a piece watermelon a touch of basil, made like a kabob on a large toothpick drizzled with a balsamic glaze. It looks nice and tasted great!!

Sounds yummy...


I was going to try this one....
http://www.foodnetwork.com/skewered-appetizers/video/index.html

Both sound great!

I make little dessert cups - pre made phylo dough cups, fill with equal parts vanilla pudding and whipped cream (mixed together first), and top with a raspberry or blueberry. Very light, bite size, and they disappear.

Those phlyo dough cups in the freezer section?

Yup, and those sound yummy Deb!

actually not frozen, they are already baked and in the baking aisle here, they are only about 1 inch

deviled eggs?
Martha

Hubby loves those

Salsa and chips? or does it have to be more breakfasty?
Martha

I'm kinda doing salsa and chips but a fruit salsa with cinnamon/sugar chips

I made a lemonade pie

I was going to make 2 but I dropped one crust...sheesh...so scooped out some extra filling and put over broken crust, we'll keep that one.
I have enough food I think...


Made a pimiento dip

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 ounces (about 1 cup) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
4 ounces (about 1 cup) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons chopped pimiento
1 teaspoon grated onion
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Freshly ground black pepper
Celery sticks

In a food processor, process the cream cheese until smooth.
Add the remaining ingredients, except the celery sticks; pulse until just combined. Scrape cheese mixture into a bowl and serve with celery sticks for dipping.
VERY GOOD!

I'm going to do a berry trifle
Pesto stuffed cherry tomatoes
Ricotta strawberry flowers
Prosciutto Wrapped Melon balls
Dirt cake
Fruit salad
Marinated feta skewers
Ham roll ups



I think that should be plenty of food...what do ya think???

Jen that sounds great!! What are Ricotta strawberry flowers?

I was wondering the same thing......
I've had the Lemonade Pie before and it's good, very light and refreshing.

Here's the strawberries
http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/strawberry-ricotta-flowers/

So simple, & yet I bet they taste wonderful. Speaking of strawberries, the farm next to my art class has everbearing berries, & the patch had quite a few pickers last Sun., when a bear just ambled right among the pickers....my art teacher said no one panicked, & he just walked away.

I'm going to have to try that pimento dip. Thanks for the recipe.

Want to hear how dumb I used to be, and I came from a farming family, albeit tree farmers, but still....I always though a pimento was some exotic fruit. Probably grown somewhere where olives grow, LOL. When I found out it was a pepper, it's been a staple in my garden since. We grow those mini pimento peppers. Boy, those would be good stuffed with the cheese mix.

I grow those pimento peppers and stuff them with a sausage and cheese mix, baked, mmm, so good and cute too

Pimento cheese sandwiches are a Southern staple.

We used to be able to buy pimento cheese up here. I haven't seen it locally in ages.

Easy to make...

Why are you doing all this cooking yourself? Don't you have some helpers?
Martha

ROFTL, "helpers" that is FUNNY. Hard enough time talking hubby into cutting the watermelon for me.

Families take turns to do community time after church(we don't have a very big church) we usually plan for 25 people then once a month we go out to local diner.
Hubby was telling me I went overboard, "put some chips in a bowl and be done with it"...but it's fun for me (when I plan enough time for all the prep work)....the night at the hospital and morning at the doctor just threw me off schedule though. I didn't have enough time to do the strawberry flowers.
Everything else came out REALLY good.

Kids LOVED the dirt cake put it in a pail with gummy worms and you served it with a shovel.
I also brought ice pops and stuck them in a pail with ice so they'd stay frozen

I am glad it went over so well. I actually wouldn't want to eat my DH's cooking, now that you mention it. He can turn on the stove or the grill and make the coffee. The rest is usually up to me.
Martha

My hubby makes pretend he doesn't know how to cook...LOL
He's our bbq'r

Glad everything turned out fine for you, Jen!

I even had one person ask me if I cater parties...LOL I'd be a wreck trying to plan that!!!

I peaked in to see if there were any ideas I wanted to try.. Glad it all turned out well! I am impressed with what you did get done! I can hardly get the pasta and potato salad prepared before a cookout. Nevermind all the fancy stuff you made! : )